Moose Stampede Productions (TM) presents a short film... Westport to Moose Bay by Rail, June 29th 2022. Note: Destination is the port at Moose Bay, at the far northeast end of the Twin Port branch-line. Note: Motive power was provided by the Mount Tahoma & Pacific Railroad's venerable 4-6-0 locomotive, no. 1005. Note: Filmed using a recently acquired SQ13 mini camera. Note: Moose apologizes in advance for the poor video quality, but at least there are no unpleasant sounds, rocking camera movements or unbearably long dark tunnels!
When Moose runs trains, how does moose see track ahead? I don't think moose can stick head and antlers out of the window to see what is there...just asking...
Well, this is weird. Moose dug into the repair box and pulled out this Bachmann 44 Tonner disease'el. She had been out of commission since 2017 or 2018 with erratic running and stalling issues. Put her on the test track, no issues. Put her on the layout, no issues. She subsequently has run all over the layout's mainlines, the main passenger siding and most of the way up to Moose Lodge (station area temporarily blocked). She ran for nearly 30 minutes at various speeds and across powered frogs without issue. This might say something about how much cleaner the track must be now than when this wee disease'el last ran. However, it seems odd, because Moose would have thoroughly cleaned the track where the little blighter was having issues to rule out dirty track as the cause of the isses. Is this a favorable sign that the rather recent No-Ox-Id application over the entire layout helps keep the track super spiffy clean?
Moose run trains... Film at eleven ... ... ... possibly earlier... The MT&P RR historian has uncovered a few photos from around Oban Yard ... Here we have the mighty Mount Tahoma & Pacific Railroad's Olympus class no. 9202...
And a beautiful shot of the North Fork Skokomish Mining Company's Mogul class no. 41 bringing a small load of coal for the yard coal tower with the town of Oban visible between the large warehouse on the left and the Orca Brewery on the right.
And a third photo from the MT&P archives: a visiting Northern Pacific Pacific class no. 2216 cruising down arrival / departure track #1.
What the... it's in Color... J/K of course! The Moose speaks Italian, Capiche, and threaten Moose stampede, so funny! OMG, that was the best! And he has a 2023 pin up Calendar... of trains I'm going with Christmas gift? At least I think it is 2023?
Oh my, yes. The folks in the MT&P art department had the whole video colorized! Yeah, Moose know, Moose know, that can be pricey. But, how often does one see an NP train come rolling through Oban Yard? Not often, so Moose gave the hooves-up to colorize the video... That's actually an NMRA calendar. Hmmm, suppose Moose should put it up? Only a few days before 2023 begins ... OMG! 2023 is nearly upon Moose!
The MT&P RR Historian found an old well-worn photo of the Johnston-Kerr Timber Company's No. 13, a 2-6-6-2 mallet at the Pack Forest logging camp. The photo was in quite a sad state, but is the only proof that the ole' girl ever plied the tracks up in that part of the Olympic Mountains. The historian turned it over to the Art Department to see if it could be restored. Below, moose-friends, is the fruits of their labour... Mind you, according to the JKT Company's head engineer, Angus Phineas Ruiseal Cearrach MacIain, neither No. 13 nor any other mallet ever went near Pack Forest logging camp as the approach track was of light rail and small radius. He says its a lot of hog wash and the photo is a fake... Moose no know who to believe...
Moose Stampede Productions (TM) presents, another film... Moose would like to thank all the little people -- because you're all really quite small -- and the cats ... for making this film possible. Moose remember when Moose was just a wee mooselet, so long ago, aspiring to someday be a great film maker (or pastry chef) ... like ... like ... Alfred Hedgehog, Spike the Bee, Brian De Llama, Steven Sealberg or Orson Whales, so being here today, to present to all you fine folks, this film, this piece of Moose's heart... Alright, alright, here it is...
The MT&P RR Historian found another photo of the Northern Pacific No. 2216, taken just before she pulled the Stampede Express Special out of Oban Station ... ... ... for the last time...
The long long long good bye -- cut short! Here is a short film of the NP Stampede Express Special running along the Salish Sea for the last time...