I've been reading the stories from your May travels and just wanted to make a few unrelated remarks -
1) I need to go see that little railroad at French Lick, IN. Without your story I probably would have kept passing it by.
2) LOVED the B&O Railroad Museum. I went to grad school at the University of Maryland and applied for a part-time job at the B&O museum. That didn't come through but I enjoyed working as a bus driver for the university shuttle system just as much......except that I missed out on commuting to work on the train!
3) B&O Museum again.....LOVED the shot of Clinchfield #1. My first mainline steam excursion that I rode in 1974 was pulled by #1 and a pair of F7 booster diesels. She was a real princess in steam. I like that I can go in her cab at the museum.
4) BWI Airport - one of my favorites for interfacing between the airplane and passenger trains......plus the rail station at BWI has this great bridge over the tracks which is an awesome place to watch the ACELA trains whiz through.
5) Finally, Cass. I've been on three separate trips to ride to Whittaker, Bald Knob, and Spruce. During their 'normal' operating season the locomotive is generally on the rear of the train pushing to switchback number 1, pulling to number 2, and then pushing. They like to have the locomotive on the 'downgrade' side as much as possible for cinder issues. Once they've shaken off the winter rust it is amazing how quickly and smoothly they can move through the switchbacks. On my last trip to Cass I swear our train never came to a complete stop before the locomotive which had been pulling us began pushing us further up the mountain.
Thanks for your reports....it's good to see you visiting places in the Eastern Time Zone!
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
Thank you for the nice comments and I did enjoy the east and will be coming back for the NRHS in Chatt and doing train in 4 surrounding states.
Chris
Cool. Would your trip be including either the Great Smoky Mountains Railway or Tweetsie Railroad in Western North Carolina? (I once lived in the shadow of the GSMR but am now nearer Tweetsie....life is good!)
I hit my 100,000 rail mile behind TVRM steam in North Georgia several years ago. They do a nice job with their trips to Summerville, GA.
Also, I believe that as part of the convention they are planning a trip from Etowah, TN maybe all the way to Blue Ridge, GA over the remarkable Hiwassee Loop. What's cool is that you'll be on a train on the side of the mountain in Tennessee looking across the river at a dam which is in North Carolina. It's a great ride. You'll pass through Copperhill, TN. One of my very first jobs out of college was at the high school there in the mid-1980's.
But I digress.
Keep riding and keep posting you reports. Your work is helpful to those of us who don't have as much time to spend with the trains but who want to get the most out of the time we do have.
Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
The first stop will be the Spencer Shops. Next the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad followed by the Southern Appalchia Railway Museum Train. The Big Fork Scenic is next on the list as is the Rat Hole. then its on to Chatt for all convention trips. Friday the Museum in Duluth, Stone Mountain Railroad and the General in Kennesaw.
I will Amtrak to and from via the Southwest Chief, Depot Inn then the Cardinal and Crescent.
home via the Crescent, Capitol Limited and Southwest Chief.
Chris
Posts: 711 | From: Santa Ana | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by chrisg: The first stop will be the Spencer Shops. Next the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad followed by the Southern Appalchia Railway Museum Train. The Big Fork Scenic is next on the list as is the Rat Hole. then its on to Chatt for all convention trips. Friday the Museum in Duluth, Stone Mountain Railroad and the General in Kennesaw.
I will Amtrak to and from via the Southwest Chief, Depot Inn then the Cardinal and Crescent.
home via the Crescent, Capitol Limited and Southwest Chief.
Chris
Sounds like a great trip. If you like model railroads check out the Little Choo Choo Shop across the street from the Spencer Shops. They have great AC on sultry summer southern days. If you're interested in getting to together for a bite to eat in the Asheville area on your way to the GSMR.....you'll be passing with 30 minutes of my house and my school!
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
