Steam Trains

[Engineer Guy]

During one of our Trips bopping around Scotland, we left Ft. Williams - the Filming Location[s] for 'Braveheart' - and were zipping up the stunning Coast to Mallaig [see it in the Link below]. I started seeing more and more 'Trainspotting' Geeks setting up Cameras and long Lenses, so I grabbed my Canon AE-1 and figured something interesting was about to happen. Around the bend, in full Steam, came 'The Jacobite'. THEN, I understood what the excitement was all about.

As in this Country, Steam Train haulage made a huge difference in getting Mined Ore or Timber to Market through very difficult Terrain. See the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct below. I saw only the 'Trailer' Film Clip from the first 'Harry Potter' Film featuring this Location, but it sure was exciting to experience the entire Route first hand.

The Jacobite Steam Train - Scotland

Loco & Coach

[DragonFire]

Is that show going to be in Sacto again this year? I know I heard about it...I was busy and missed it, but if I'm not busy (scooter rally or camping) I would like to check it out..

[grant whipp]

I haven't heard anything about the show returning this year, Barbara. Last year's was in conjunction of the NMRA Convention at the hotel next door to the convention hall where the NTS was held. I'm not an NMRA member, but I do know that they rotate their conventions from city-to-city each year. I haven't done much modeling this year, and have been a little out of the loop, but my friends who organized our 57-module On30 display would certainly have let me know if anything like that was in the works for this year. If you get a chance, though, check out the Great Train Expo that comes to Sac. every year at CalExpo (can't remember the dates), and the International Train Show at the fairgrounds in Roseville every November.

CHEERS!

[BrwBier]

In the Milwaukee market the PBS station has a show called TRACKS AHEAD. Great show with trains of all sizes. Model, steam, diesel, garden railroads. Look for it or ask your PBS station to get it.
Brwbier

[doug hodder]

I believe that the Georgetown loop in Colorado up I-70 is running a Shay. I left there 10 years ago, but have ridden it a couple of times. We also used to chase the Challenger from Denver up to Cheyenne during Frontier days. That was a hoot! Another great ride in Co in addition to the Durango-Silverton. is the Cumbres Toltec. It's the highest and longest narrow gauge operating in the US. Well worth the trip if you're a "steam head" Doug

[asianflava]

When we rode the Georgetown loop railway, ash was falling on us the whole time (open cars). That's probably why the engines at Disney were converted to run on bunker oil. I have to charge that camera to get those pictures off of it.

[asianflava]

Finally got the pictures off my camera and uploaded to a host. Here are a couple from Disney

[KCStudly]

Wow, that video that SC linked was really nice production value wise. Great shots and sound!

Round here we have the Essex Steam Train & River Boat

I've also ridden the cog on Mt. Washington in New Hampshire http://www.thecog.com/. We went there and looked at the prices, which were as steep as the track, but when that little locomotive came down the mountain spewing soot and sparks there was absolutely no way I was leaving without going for a ride. Very entertaining.

There's also a train museum near Mt. Washington in North Conway http://www.conwayscenic.com/.

Dad had worked on Southern Pacific as a conductor and always had a thing for steam. Growing up I had a big HO diorama that wrapped around my bed room and up onto the built in bookcases; Dad built it. He had to relay the tracks up thru the mountain tunnels (3 turns around to the top) after buying the big cab forward locomotive (SP 4-8-8-2) because the cab swung out in front on the turns and wouldn't clear the internal supports or tunnel buttresses. I liked to play with the train set, but was too young to get into the building and modeling at the time. I suppose all that stuff is still in the attic at the old family home. One of my favorites was the little DE yard mule that used rubber bands to transfer the action from the longitudinally oriented motor armature to the axle trucks. Had to tinker with that one all the time to keep fresh rubber bands in it. Sorry, I don't remember any more of the details.

[angib]

Pah! Call yourselves steam enthusiasts? Real steam enthusiasts don't muck about with old steam locos, they make themselves new ones. About 20 years ago a group of British steam enthusiasts set about building a new steam loco to one the last designs - the A1 class, of which all were scrapped when steam traction ended. At the end of 2008, they unveiled the finished loco, Tornado, seen here doing 66mpg uphill with its full 250psi available:



And this is what its crew look like afterwards! (Happy bunnies, eh?)



More details at the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. The difference that being a new engine makes is that Tornado was built incorporating every modern safety and signalling requirement so it can operate on normal railway lines without needing any 'special treatment'.

[emiller]

I personally like the Cumbres & Toltec railroad in Chama, New Mexico It used to be part of the Durango Silverton line. The campground that my wife and I stay at is right along the river where the tressel crosses. You can even walk down along the river on the tracks to the train depot. http://www.cumbrestoltec.com/

[ssrjim]

I personally like the Cumbres & Toltec railroad in Chama, New Mexico It used to be part of the Durango Silverton line. The campground that my wife and I stay at is right along the river where the tressel crosses. You can even walk down along the river on the tracks to the train depot. http://www.cumbrestoltec.com/

You have talked me into this train. Now it just a question of when...

[emiller]

We should set up a trip for next year.

[doug hodder]

While on the Cumbres Toltec train ride...I remember that there was a guy that had a log home, not cabin, sitting in a valley and you could see it from up above on the train...just beautiful, had a huge garden. He was out in the river fly fishing in the front yard. I gotta buy some lottery tickets. We camped in Antonito and did the bus back from Chama.

[ssrjim]

We should set up a trip for next year.

Yes.

[ssrjim]

We should set up a trip for next year.

Yes.