Alex, I just learned yesterday that the Mt. Emily Lumber Shay No. 1, which "lives" in Prineville, OR, will be running Polar Express trips this weekend. So did the fireman who will be firing her--talk about short notice. I would love to go there, but can't this weekend. Ask me next weekend what I'm going to do. :teeth:
Well I hoped you would wait till next weekend to ask. OK, I'm going to volunteer to work in the concession stand as I do when I can, to support the "North Pole Express" operations in Portland, on Friday and Saturday. The Spokane, Portland and Seattle 700 will be running the trains. I hope it's real cold so the steam will be impressive. All of you members within driving distance of Portland, come on out and support the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation, who are trying to find a new home for Portland's great collection of steamers and diesels currently residing at the Brooklyn roundhouse. Trains leave on the hour from Oaks Park, 40 minute rides. http://www.orhf.org/events/06holiday/index.html
Steam bug just caught me This coming Tuesday in Thailand is His Majesty The King's birthday, I planned to take a steam excursion run by SRT and will catch a train to Baan Paa Chi Jct. for a really big dose of railfanning. I'm looking forward to an exciting day out on the rails.:shade:
Well, I had to work this weekend. But I did manage to find something of interest! I try to keep a camera handy at all times! You just never know what may show up!
That reminds me......I have a pic of a powder blue & silver rebuilt SDP40F I need to upload............shot it on the P&W's line north of Salem, with an SD45 trailing.
Bob, Looking forward to meeting you there this weekend. The 700 is one handsome Northern. Heck, you might want to come back the next weekend and ride behind the 4449. :teeth: This shot taken at Oaks Park last June.
Not a bad idea...........I haven't seen the 4449 since she came thru Tulsa, OK on the American Freedon Train in 1976. Scoring pics of these two steamers would be awesome!
I'm all atwitter for the SDP40F Also the SD45. I never once saw those guys when I lived up there. It was GP39-2s everywhere with the occasional GP40+Slug and such.
My apartment is within shouting distance of the ex-BN line running south out of Salem toward Eugene. Typical power for the road freights I've seen are four GP40s, split up between the orange & black P&W units and onse from the St. Lawrence & Atlantic, another G&W road in Maine. I knew G&W had SD45s, but I never saw one until this last weekend on a northbound P&W train thru Salem. There are still GP39-2s used at both Salem and Wilamina, the latter run via remote control. Haven't seen any slugs so far.............
GP39-2s are by far the largest part of the P&W/W&P roster. The locations I've seen P&W/W&P power are relativly limited. Former Electric lines in and around Beaverton and Hillsboro. Lake Oswego once, BNSF Yard and St. Helens, Albany and once going by the A.C. Gilbert house in Salem. I also remember following the tracks to Corvalis, but I didn't see any trains. I'd only see the GP40+Slug set on a rock/gravel/whatever train that went out towards hillsboro. It had a GP9 on the other end of a 10-15 car train. Otherwise it was GP39-2 in W&P, P&W or Yellow Warbonnet With W&P lettering. http://www.swmcmmj.com/yoho/spgm-1.3.5/gal/Trains/Oregon/BeaverW&P03web.jpg
Ooo, I just thought of something, if you haven't seen it at a train show, there's always a small American Flyer layout in the capital during Christmas. It has various important Salem/Or landmarks on it including the afformentioned Gilbert house. Not surprisingly, Oregon boasts a fairly good S-scale crowd.
