|
Post by Bill Holland on Aug 11, 2006 17:39:25 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by GoldenSpike53 on Aug 14, 2006 13:30:44 GMT -5
So, Bill, you left out a lot of details!
Where were these photos taken? What type of locomotive is it?
Dale Dennis
|
|
|
Post by Bill Holland on Aug 15, 2006 16:52:47 GMT -5
Sorry for my late response. This was at Steam Town in Scranton, PA. Bruce Mowbray who hasn't posted in here for awhile works there and he took me on a tour of the back shops. He is a real knowledgeable good guy, and great machinist to boot! The locomotive is a Canadian National S1B 2-8-2 Mikado with enclosed cab. It was quite the expirience. Every time the steam powered air compressor made a stroke, it sent a shiver thru the locomotive since it is bolted to the frame. The fireman made a good point about that, once they are moving, it is hard to hear it, but if you can feel it working, you know its working. Although the cab ride only lasted 30 minutes it was worth the 30$ to me. The locomotive really does rock and roll a lot and going 15 mph you need to develop some legs to stand in the cab like you would on a rocking and rolling boat. Ofcourse the track was lucky to be class 2 at best as well. I love steam town, to walk around the whole yard and stick your head in between the frame members to see how the spring rigging was rigged up, and just get a bazillion idea's in your head on future projects.
|
|
|
Post by Harlock on Aug 22, 2006 3:45:49 GMT -5
$30 is pretty cheap to pay for a cab ride. I've done them in the US and in Wales, England and they get pretty pricey, but oh-so-worth-it. Although the higher priced ones usually involve driving and firing yourself, which is the real thrill on such large engines. I'll post some stuff at some point when I get it all together again.
I'm contemplating doing the Nevada Northern program next year.
--Mike
|
|
|
Post by locodan5416 on Nov 12, 2006 23:58:59 GMT -5
is that the one week learn to run a train thing(in nevada) ?
I know it isn't American, but I read in a Model Engineer or Model Railroader that if you go to Poland, in a week, you'll be running a steam locomotive timetable freight on the mainline.
|
|
|
Post by Bill Holland on Nov 13, 2006 22:14:48 GMT -5
no its a 30 min cab ride in the locomotive at Steam Town in Scranton, PA.
|
|
|
Post by locodan5416 on Nov 14, 2006 12:41:03 GMT -5
sorry, i meant that towards harlock, i forgot to qoute it.
did you do the yard run? i was thinking of going down to an excursion, but i had school conflicts
|
|
|
Post by pockets on Nov 14, 2006 12:46:41 GMT -5
Bill, Thank you. I don't know why it took so long for me to find these pics. They are beautiful and informative.
Thanks, again, Greg B.
|
|
|
Post by Bill Holland on Nov 14, 2006 12:53:13 GMT -5
sorry, i meant that towards harlock, i forgot to qoute it. did you do the yard run? i was thinking of going down to an excursion, but i had school conflicts I would MOST CERTAINLY try to get a cab ride during an excursion when they actually get going at a decen't pace. This was just the yard, believe it cost me 1$ per min, 30 minutes about. It was very nice, I wished it lasted 10 times longer and went faster though. Those locomotives REALLY rock back and fourth, even going slow, ofcourse the track is not in great shape either. What I found most interesting was all the sensory que's you wouldnt know about. Like the air compressor on the side. Every time it makes a stroke, it sends a shock wave thru the entire locomotive frame, a jolt. When your going at speed, you can't hear it but you can feel it. THats how you know if its working right or not. Man oh man, just soooo cool. Glad you like the pictures Pockets, they are High Definition Range images, except for the cab ride pic.
|
|
|
Post by Harlock on Nov 16, 2006 0:34:17 GMT -5
Locodan: Yes in Nevada, way out in the middle of nowhere. (like Cass, but desert instead of forest, heh.) nevadanorthernrailway.net/locorental/the_program.htmIt appears to be the most formal of all the driving programs, with a test, etc. I would like to do it at sometime to get the feel for a very large locomotive. I agree that steaming is best done on the main line, and if you want to actually pull a train (full of your friends if you like), I reccomend doing the main line driving and firing at Ffestiniog in Wales if you want to take a combined UK vacation / train enthusiast trip. You drive at full line speed with a train, the entire route is up-hill on the way so you are working it good. The best part: "Minimum of eight hours working with the locomotive. Minimum of 14 miles driving and 14 miles firing. " The down side: It's very expensive due to the exchange rate, but if you do the shared footplate it isn't so bad. www.ffestiniograilway.co.uk/guestdriving.htmThe locomotives are small, easy to handle and absolutely beautifully appointed. (easy unless you want to drive a Double Fairlie ) They tend to book up quickly though. If you get a discount fare to london and do the shared footplate, it is actually pretty cost effective, staying in B&Bs in Wales is fairly cheap, as it is not a popular tourist destination (it should be, quite beautiful) but most brits go to Cornwall on holiday because of the 'beach' weather there in the summer. I don't blame them. Also, Portmerion is along the route, the village used as the village in "The Prisoner".
|
|
|
Post by Harlock on Nov 16, 2006 0:43:40 GMT -5
P.S. I'm thinking of doing a mainland europe trip next year, anyone have any train destination reccomendations? (tourist railroads, not neccesarily guest driver programs, but that is a possibility) This is actually a really good site for ideas: www.railwaytouring.co.uk/6WorProg.html One day I'd like to go on one of their trips, but they are typically all first class and quite expensive. Many of their tours are actually specially chartered steam that does not normally run on those lines with a regular schedule. I did find out that you can get a reduced rate if you fly yourself out (for people outside the UK, like most of us here.)
|
|