Trains

[Neal]

Who's into trains around here? Growing up I did the usual model trains but never really had much interest beyond that. I recently met up with @ARD and @NWIP (and Lisa) to ride our e-bikes on the Hiawatha Trail, a rails to trails bike tour. There are signs along the trail that tell the story of the railway, the various trains, the history of electric trains (5500 HP) in the 1950's! (And just now we're talking Tesla's??). It kind of tickled something I wasn't aware I had which is an interest in trains! During my Passport America Rockies tour/caravan the fall of 2017 I did the Durango train which was neat. I admire trains as I see them while driving, wondering how two engines up front can be synchronized with one at the aft end and not screw things up. I also wonder if there has ever been a private owner of a train and if so how would they share the tracks? Never heard of private train ownership...

Curious who else around here is also interested in trains and their history?

 

[Gronk]

I enjoy watching them once in a while. I happened to be near D'Hannis Texas when the worlds largest operating steam engine was going by. The video doesn't do it justice, the whistle was loud enough to make your whole body shake! It weighs 1,200,000 pounds!! Here is a video of it:

 

[AbdRahim]

I enjoy watching them, and listening to the different interpretations of their horn signals.

 

[BuckyII]

I've always been fascinated with trains...since Junior High School selling newspapers at the Arlington Heights, IL train depot every morning to the commuters headed into Chicago...

While staying at Mountain Valley RV Resort, we rode on an old train...

Heber Valley Railroad – Great Experiences Await

www.hebervalleyrr.org

Couple good books about railroads...

Amazon.com: Last Train to Paradise: Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad that Crossed an Ocean eBook : Standiford, Les: Kindle Store

Last Train to Paradise: Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad that Crossed an Ocean - Kindle edition by Standiford, Les. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading...

www.amazon.com

Nothing Like It In the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869: Ambrose, Stephen E.: 9780743203173: Amazon.com: Books

Nothing Like It In the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869 [Ambrose, Stephen E.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Nothing Like It In the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869

www.amazon.com

Great museum in Northern Illinois (we were staying a few miles away at at terrible KOA and didn't realize the museum was there until we were leaving)...

Home

The Illinois Railway Museum is the largest railway museum in the United States. Located 35 miles northwest of O'Hare Airport, it offers train rides on steam, diesel, and electric trains. Exhibits include historic trains and family-friendly activities.

www.irm.org

 

[KR1973]

My Grandfather worked on steam trains (Norfolk and Western) and my father for a short time worked on diesels (Norfolk Southern). Norfolk and Western would bring out a steam engine once a year for people to ride in the early 80's until a derailment happened in the late 80's. I was lucky enough to get a ride on that train with my grandmother. She jumped at the chance to ride a steam train one more time and took me along. I was about 9 at the time. I've never minded sitting at a crossing while a train goes by my whole life!

 

[Joe Hogan]

One of the real treats traveling in the western states was watching the long trains along the highway. I even enjoy sitting at a RR crossing watching the freight trains go by?

 

[Joe Hogan]

If you are ever in Florida check out the rail museums

OUR RAILCARS

www.goldcoastrailroadmuseum.org

 

["EZ"]

Living 10 minutes from Chattanooga TN we have the opportunity to see and ride on trains. The Chattanooga Choo Choo is world famous. For Valentines day last year I took my wife for an antique train ride that served a prime rib steak dinner while you rode in the dining car. It was pretty awesome. I got bonus points for creativity with that one.

 

[Voyageurs]

We travel by train a lot when we are in Europe. Rarely in North America for obvious reasons. But train travel can be quite pleasant and we much prefer it over air travel. And because train travel usually takes you to the downtown core of the city you are going to there is little need for cabs etc. Super convenient. By the time you factor in the cabs and security delays and procedures of air travel we find it takes us about as long to go from Sevilla to Madrid by train as it does by air. Plus you can get up and walk around, go for supper, bring your own wine, socialize with neighbours, watch the scenery go by at 250 kmh, stretch out etc. Overall great way to travel.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

I enjoy watching them once in a while. I happened to be near D'Hannis Texas when the worlds largest operating steam engine was going by. The video doesn't do it justice, the whistle was loud enough to make your whole body shake! It weighs 1,200,000 pounds!! Here is a video of it:

Awesome video! Love the sound of a steam whistle.

TJ

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

I saw this this morning, Big Boy is going to be starting a tour in August. Full Steam Ahead: World’s Largest Steam Locomotive Returns with 'The Big Boy 2021 Tour'

 

[Orrin]

I too enjoy trains, all kinds. I collect the old 3 rail Lionel trains made just after WWII. They are fascinating.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

We love trains of all sizes, model to full-size. I still have my 1950 American Flyer train set that I received as a Christmas present that year. And, it still works. We have also ridden trains across Spain, the full length of Taiwan and across the US. They are a fun way to travel and give you a chance to see things from a different perspective than doing so on the highways.

TJ

 

[KR1973]

This thread got me motivated. I'm going to the Strasburg Railway in Lancaster PA on October 2-3 to ride behind the N&W J Class 611 steam locomotive. This is the locomotive my grandmother took me to ride in the 80s and its still running there until the 3rd. My wife and daughter are playing along and riding with me on the 2nd. The following morning I'm taking a hosteling tour and a cab tour with the 611. After that I'll take mechanic shop tour. It seemed so simple in the 80s riding a train with my Grandmother when I was 9 but the significance to her was much greater. She was of the generation that watched steam trains run through town most of her life. When trains switched over to diesels it must have been nice to see the new technology but they weren't nostalgic like the steamers. The diesels were quieter, smaller and no huge plums of smoke and steam. There must have been something special about the steamers that made my Grandmother decide that I needed to see one and go on that ride. Now some almost 40 years later I'm going again. I wish she was still around to go with me!

 

[Gronk]

Here's a video of the Bigboy 4014 that I took in D'Hannis, Texas. The video does not do it justice. The whistle was so loud that when it went by me my whole body felt it! DSCF3368.AVI
You can hear a helicopter following it and see the traffic that was following it too.

sorry for the shakey start!

 

[Skipper N Martha Bishop]

The BigBoy will be stopping in Mexia Texas for a 45 minute layover mid August. We are bout 50 minutes from there and my wife and I were raised there. We will more than likely drive over to see it. Skipper

 

[Gronk]

The BigBoy will be stopping in Mexia Texas for a 45 minute layover mid August. We are bout 50 minutes from there and my wife and I were raised there. We will more than likely drive over to see it. Skipper

It will be well worth it! 1.2 MILLION pounds of iron!

 

[bpaikman]

The Cumbres-Toltec… out of Chama, NM or Antonito, CO … we rode it a few years back, and now that we know more, plan to ride again in 2022.
To get the best seats, reserve several months ahead, but we snagged decent seats in the best car at the last minute, in September. GORGEOUS ride. Get valley side seats on every leg if you can, but if you can’t, it’s still great.

 

[Neal]

To get your mind off of current events, check this out:

 

[bpaikman]

WOW! The artistry is incredible! That's inspiring.