Living History -- Steam Train February 2007

Railpictures.net ^ | February 2007 | Dave Schaaf

[CedarDave]

A piece of living history with this special charter freight on the narrow gauge Durango and Silverton on February 11, 2007 (formerly the Denver and Rio Grande Western). The railroad hosts several private trips each year. Winter snow adds to the beauty of the scene. Additional photos at the link above and at Narrow Gauge Discussion Forum -- charter freight pictures.

[CedarDave]

Thanks to Dave Schaaf for permission to post and link these.

[SunkenCiv]

There's a John Fahey tune playing in my head right now, trust me. :')

[Yo-Yo]

Are you sure it isn't Boxcar Willie?

[Tax-chick]

Cool! My parents and some other relatives went on that train a few years ago, in the fall. Mom said it was the highlight of their trip to Colorado.

[SunkenCiv]

Nope, 's Fahey.

Here's a really lousy midi version by some other guy:

http://members.fortunecity.com/ajsmidi/alpcond/alpha_12/midi/lastrain.mid

found a video by still another on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mimmm2bubaQ

Chris Proctor did a great version on "Under the Influence":

http://www.chrisproctor.com/cpproducts.html

Leo Kottke recorded it on "Greenhouse".

[CedarDave]

Here's a picture from a 30+ car triple-headed freight on the east end of the (now truncated) line (Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR). Taken October 2006:

There will be charters in 2007, also:

www.chamasteam.com

[NCC-1701]

My father worked for the Illinois Central RR and started on steam locomotives. Man, he loved them. Fifteen or twenty years ago, there was one that passed through Memphis on some sort of special trip. A special spur track was built across Riverside Drive and hundreds of people came to see it. There was some old RR workers with tape recorders taping the sounds of the engine. That was special. To see a fully funtioning steam locomotive up close. Now I know why my dad loved them so much.

[CedarDave]

Over a dozen steam enginess serviceable out here in NM and CO and more being rebuilt. I've been on a couple of charters the past few years. From 2002 on 10,000+ Cumbres Pass:

[Tax-chick]

Beautiful photos!

[CedarDave]

One more set of photos from this year on the Chama side. BTW, one engine derailed at Osier, Colorado.

[Tax-chick]

Wow! Are you the photographer on all these? I'll bet my husband would order prints if they were available!

[CedarDave]

Not hardly. The photos at the link are from a man named Richard Tower. My favorite is from a 20-year old young man (William Diehl) who now has a railroad job in Arizona. I don't have permission to copy, so I just include a link:

Passing over Lobato Trestle

The next links are the same engines (487 and 488) near the same location 64 and 67 years earlier (1943 and 1940):

D&RGW 487, 06/23/1943, Eastbound, Freight, 21 cars, east of Lobato, 482 pushing

D&RGW 488, 06/16/1940, Westbound, Freight, 70 cars, near Lobato

Living history, indeed!

[CedarDave]

By the way, there will be a DVD commercially available, hopefully next month.

[Tax-chick]

Very interesting, thanks!

[CedarDave]

PING!! You know the drill...

[SoCal Pubbie]

Wanna' buy brand new, not refurbished? They're Chinese made, but a FOB steam engine can be yours:

http://www.multipowerinternational.com/

[CedarDave]

Already have two in the US and maybe more on the way:

Chinese steam locomotives begin testing in Iowa

YouTube-Chinese Steam in Iowa I

(BTW - the whistle sounds like a whistle that might have been made in China - tinny sounding. Compare with Engines 497 and 488 working upgrade and whistling a warning on their approach Lobato Trestle.)

[Nailbiter]

ping

[SunkenCiv]

Question about steam locomotives
blatant shameless vanity | February 10, 2005 | self
Posted on 02/10/2005 7:02:38 PM EST by franksolich
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1340672/posts