Very nice. I think they used to have one of these (a 3750) at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, which I plan to visit tomorrow. However, I don't see any mention of it on their web site. MH
What's That Second Thing Behind The Steam Engine? I know what the first thing is: THE TENDER......But what is the that second thing??? Surely is isn't one of those DIESEL engines???? HORRORS!!! Maybe the diesel was broke down and they were using the steamer to get it offline to the shop! LOL Too bad that almost every steam trip now has to have one of those diesel engines somewheres in the consist to spoil the train or whatever. Ain't no other experience in the world, as to be track side and have a STEAM ENGINE slam by you at track speed, with the engineer having the throttle all the way out, the cut off up in the corner, smiling and waving at ya. Lets see those diesels top that!!
Ha I say ! They needed that diesel to push that steamer outta it's own way....LMAO !! :tb-biggrin::tb-tongue::tb-tongue::tb-biggrin: .
Unexpected steam visits Quite a few years ago, when I first returned to model railroading, I was living in my first house, and really getting into watching AMTRAK F40PH's and consists almost every day. We lived just a few blocks from the tracks and station so it was on my way home from work and it was quite a treat to just get a little more inspired to work on my layout that night. In about 1981 or 82, I was just getting used to diesel horns and in the early morning light on a Saturday morning, I heard a steam whistle and the sound was progressing on the tracks.......STEAM ENGINE!!!! I got up, quickly threw on a pair of gym shorts and t-shirt got my wallet and fired up the car but by the time I got there, the train had passed. So, I trigger the car south along the tracks on I-95 and caught it at a stop in North Miami. A Pacific on its way to Where?????? It turned out the Gold Coast Train Museum was moving from alongside the Ft Laud Intl Airport to its present location next to MetroZoo in Miami. The picture reminded me of that moment when it throttled up, yes, with a diesel making the trip easier. They moved the steamer with a lot of passenger and freight rolling stock stored at the former location and it was a pretty sight. When I finally got to MetroZoo with my kids right before Andrew hit us, they had only a couple of miles of track, doing a back and forth thing, but riding behind steam is a world of difference....the vibration, noise, smell, and sound.....just way too much for a steamguy to take in. I must have ridden it 5 times with my son...........while my wife and daughter were in the snack bar. Thanks for the picture as it rekindled a very nice memory.........thanks a lot!!!! Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
Is that like one of those Kato pocket sets, where they put the motive powere in a dummy behind the steam engine? Actually that's neat, thanks for posting it
The Clinchfield used to run excursions with a 4-6-0. Behind it were two F-7B's disguised as baggage cars. Worked well, looked pretty good. Unfortunately, those are pretty hard to find any more. Frank
3751 is on her way (there by now) to San Bernardino for their annual railroad days celebration at the Santa Fe depot there. You southern Cal members might want to go pay her a visit. Should be returning "home" tomorrow. Wish I were there. :tb-biggrin:
Mark- Nothing to worry about- Maybe they were just taking the opportunity to move a piece of junk to a local scrap yard. And 3751 happened to be handy to drag the dead diseasel along. Ha ha ha. Boxcab E50
That’s just too funny. You and George have me laughing so hard, I have to wipe the tears out of eyes. laugh:
OHhhhhhhhhh...thats just wrong on so many levels LOL :tb-biggrin: * If Steamers are better then Diesels...how come all the Steamers are in museums and Diesels rule the rails ! Hmmmmmmmmmmm :tb-tongue: .
It's possible that the ONLY purpose for that infernal combustion engined beast behind the tender was to provide Head-End Power for all those trailing cars that had been forced by AMTRAK to replace their efficient steam heated environmental systems with unreliable electrically powered hardware.....:tb-hissyfit:
Alot of discussion about steam excursions this past weekend with friends that have some experience and insight. Insurance costs are killing attempts at excursions. $3 million liability policies are not cheap and what the insurance companies are requiring. The quote I heard was $20k for one day of running. It's hard to make that kind of money up on just one day plus advertising, the use of passenger cars, etc.
The MSI had ATSF 2903. When the museum decided to have all its displays inside (even the U-Boat and the Zephyr), 2903 was too big (heavy) so it was donated to the Illinois Railway Museum and moved to their facility in 1995. ATSF 2903 ATSF 2903 Display Info Andy Tetsu Uma
