Steam Trains

[Shadow Catcher]

Just got through watching three hours of a PBS pledge program on celebrating steam railroads, many of which I have ridden. My dad was an enthusiast and I rode many trains growing up.
BUT it has been a while and I am now thinking of a couple of detours on the trip to California

Oh and a trip to the Cass Scenic Railroad

[S. Heisley]

Huh? Cass Scenic Railroad is in West Virginia. That's in the opposite direction from California....? ...Two vacation trips?

[halfdome, Danny]

Put the Durango to Silverton narrow gauge railroad on your list of trains to ride. You won't regret it. Danny

[Dale M.]

You want to visit Calif State Rail Museum in Sacramento Ca....

http://www.csrmf.org/

Railtown 1897 Calif State Park......

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=491

Yosemite Mountain - Sugarpine Railroad...

http://www.ymsprr.com/

And many more....

http://www.railmuseums.com/namerica/CALIFORNIA/

Dale

[halfdome, Danny]

I had to post this picture. Danny

[Shadow Catcher]

Yes Sharon the Cass Scenic Railroad is in the other direction and a separate trip. I have long loved Shay locomotives, built in Lima Ohio btw. Nancy and I rode the West Side Lumber Company train (tourist then) on our honeymoon 39 years ago, not far from the Sugar Pine. It started life as the Hech Hechy and Yosemite Valley Rail Road and at one time the park service was contemplating using the right of way to bring tourists into the valley.

[Senior Ninja]

Those of you with RFD TV are in luck!
There are two programs featuring trains.
One has rare old black and white film of
steam engines and an occasional old
diesel engine. That was actually before
the world turned color! It was really a
black and white world. Most of you
don't remember that. Even TV was black
and white.
The other program is I love toy trains.
They feature some awesome layouts.
Mostly Lionel.
They are weekly programs. I never miss.
Steve

[Dale M.]

Yes Sharon the Cass Scenic Railroad is in the other direction and a separate trip. I have long loved Shay locomotives, built in Lima Ohio btw. Nancy and I rode the West Side Lumber Company train (tourist then) on our honeymoon 39 years ago, not far from the Sugar Pine. It started life as the Hech Hechy and Yosemite Valley Rail Road and at one time the park service was contemplating using the right of way to bring tourists into the valley.

Yeah... But when the All Weather Highway (140) opened in 1927 it sort of killed the rail line.... Incidentally one of the HHRR Shays (HHRR #6) sits at El Portal on end of YVRR line.. And I believe the HHRR line and the YVRR where two different lines... YVRR ran from Merced to ElPortal...

Dale

[asianflava]

When we were at Disney World last month we took their "Behind the Steam Trains" tour. It was pretty interesting, they meet you out front before the park opens and you ride the train back to the round house where you see them working on the trains. They use Baldwin Locos that are almost 100yrs old. Didn't really think about it until they mentioned it, but apparently running live steam at an amusement park is a big OSHA nightmare. Open flame with gallons of heating oil, and high pressure steam near park guests probably makes OSHA cringe.

[eamarquardt]

Suzy and I went to Pennsylvania a couple of years ago. A steam locomotive and train went by as we drove down the highway. Quite a sight with the smoke steam and the like. We got taken in and took the ride. I'd have rather ridden in a Pullman Car!

A friend is into steam powered stuff. He has two steam shovels, a steam roller, a steam powered concrete mixer, and a steam "donkey" winch.

Cheers,

Gus

[Shadow Catcher]

Slow I have two HO Say locomotive models a small 2 cylinder two truck and a tree truck 90Ton one of the larger Shay's Lima Locomotive Works made. For those of you that have not had the privilege of riding one they are a geared engine with three vertical cylinders driving a shaft powering all wheels and because they were geard low they sound like they are going sixty miles an hour when they were going six http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbsbcZKC ... re=related

[DragonFire]

oh no!!! Trains!!! Where is Lazybones???

I love trains. I caught it from my dad. I've ridden the Skunk train, the narrow gauge in Felton..I know I have been on more, but can't remember more..Love the steam trains. I have N scale model trains from my dad.

Teardrop trip to see steam trains!!

[asianflava]

oh no!!! Trains!!! Where is Lazybones???

He's probably busy getting ready to race his "scooter" across the country.

[grant whipp]

My Desktop:




My On30 scale modules (in progress, but obviously displayable) at the National Train Show in Sacramento, CA, last July

[Dale M.]

I have 53 ton Shay in "G" scale ( Bachman -Spectrum) Does that qualify me into model train builder ?... Also have 4 locos and about 20 pieces of rolling stock in "N" gauge.... Yeah I know... Sort of going from to small to to big....



Also Last time we went to Yosemite & Sugar Pine Railroad, got to ride in the cab with the Engineer and Fireman... Cool (not actually it is hot) experience...

Dale