As I said, mine didn't come back, but here is one taken by Martin E. Hansen, who organized and ran the entire operation.
Bill, that is a good story.I like what you were telling about feeling the engine as it was giving all it had . LEW
Thanks everyone. My hats' off to Fitz, who must have known you would enjoy hearing about it. I look forward to the day when Fitz can ride up in the cab with me during one of our trips across the beautiful Shasta Valley.
This it great! I never got to live the days of steam. But my first encounter with steam, was a experience never to be forgotten! My first steam encounter was this past July! WOW I know guys, I know! But, it was from the Sand Patch meet from trainboard here... So... Was a very rememberable time.. And being a first steam encounter, and first time trainboard meet gave it that extra specal feeling so.... Bill, that is very well written! God to have felt it in person..... I'm drooling! HA!
John, A Pennsylvanian that has never been to Strasburg or Steamtown? I guess that is like myself, a New Yorker that has never been to the Statue of Liberty! Anyway, you really should get to Strasburg, some really great steam there and nice folk. Here is a pic of their #475: Russ
Yes Russ, I haven't been to steam town or to Strasburg! Thats pretty bad I know! But, my traveling acomadations isn't the greatest! But being a New Yorker and not seeing the statue of Liberty is bad.. However thats like me being a B&O buff, and never got to see Mt. Claire shops in Baltimore! Thats sad.... really sad! One day tho. I will! [ 23. October 2002, 20:59: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
I actually was scheduled to go to the Statue of Liberty 3 times and all three times something happened that they actually closed it. Twice I was on the ferry over when a bomb threat closed it down. I guess that I gave up trying after that!-LOL Happy Railroading! Russ
Man, we have all the steam fans here on this thread. John, this might go on as long as that other one where we traded pictures for a couple of weeks. Don't be timid, guys. Now, having said that, my pictures seem to be lost in the processor's system. They say "tomorrow" they shall return, like McArthur to the Phillipines. So I will post another of Martin Hansen's. [ 23. October 2002, 23:26: Message edited by: fitz ]
Fitz, ole buddy, that thread went on for months! As it seemed! Anyway. The pictures I had posted were from northeat railfan, but a few that I had scaned for me so. I just enjoyed that thread. alot of variety!
Boy, I've got to get back to Strasburg!!! I haven't been there since 1964, when all they had in steam was the CN 0-6-0. Thanks for your trip and photos, Jim. I can't wait for the "sharper images".
Well guys, the nightmare continues. Today I got half of the prints back. I think Kodak has a new scam going on (another story). The ones I really want to see are the first light ones. This one is last of the day, right on the wye with the mountain prominent. Bill, send me your snail address so I can send you the tape.
Jim. Those sure are cute little engines. They remind me of back in the 40's and early 50's in Bellingham where this little puffer did all the switching for the industries and went across the trestle over late whatcome. That was really a sight. Almost makes me homesick.
Jim. Those sure are cute little engines. They remind me of back in the 40's and early 50's in Bellingham where this little puffer did all the switching for the industries and went across the trestle over late whatcome. That was really a sight. Almost makes me homesick.
Hey Telegrapher, do you have any pictures from that era in Whatcom County? We were just discussing that line last night at the Bellingham Society of Model Engineers meeting.
Woo, finally!! Got the others back today. They didn't lose any, thank God. Here are a couple. I'm going to put a bunch on my website later rather than take up all the photo room here on Trainboard. Right at first light. Nice looking engine
Nice photos of "Lefty" Jim For those of you who are not familiar with McRR #18 it is the older sister of YWRR's #19. #18 was built for McRiver RR in 1914 while #19 was built for the Caddo & Choctaw Lumber Co. of Arkansas in 1915. The McRiverRR bought #19 in 1923 from the American Mining & Smelting Co. located in Mexico. When #19 arrived from Mexico she had bullet holes in her boiler lagging and windows and was promptly given the name "Pancho" by her first crew. In 1954, #18 and #19 were purchased by the YWRR. In 1967, #18 blew the end off of a steam cylinder and was set out in storage until she was sold back to the McCloud RR in 2000. Sometime during the time they were both at the YWRR, #18 was nicknamed "Lefty" because they were less than 400 numbers apart on their boiler plates and because of a popular song by Willie Nelson called "Pancho & Lefty". Anyone remember that song?
Bill, you mean this one? Livin on the road my friend, is gonna keep you free and clean Now you wear your skin like iron Your breath as hard as kerosene You weren't your momma's only boy, but her favorite one it seems She began to cry when you said goodbye And sank into your dreams Pancho was a bandit boy, his horse was fast as polished steel He wore his gun outside his pants For all the honest world to feel Pancho met his match you know on the deserts down in Mexico Nobody heard his dyin words, ah but that's the way it goes All the Federales say, they could've had him any day They only let him slip away, out of kindness I suppose Lefty he can't sing the blues all night long like he used to The dust that Pancho bit down south ended up in Lefty's mouth The day they laid poor Pancho low, Lefty split for Ohio Where he got the bread to go, there ain't nobody knows All the Federales say, they could've had him any day They only let him slip away out of kindness I suppose The boys tell how old Pancho fell, and Lefty's livin in cheap hotels The desert's quiet, Cleveland's cold And so the story ends we're told Pancho needs your prayers it's true, but save a few for Lefty too He only did what he had to do, and now he's growing old All the Federales say, they could've had him any day They only let him slip away out of kindness I suppose A few gray Federales say, they could've had him any day They only let him slip away out of kindness I suppose And here is the other half of that famous duo, Bill's Iron steed, No. 19
That's the one Jim .. thanks Well .. we had our last run today without incident. Got back to Yreka just before it started to rain. Glad of that because rain mixed with the oil on the rails from the wheel flange oilers makes it really difficult to get up the 2.5% grade on Butcher Hill. Also, I had a weired experience a few years back while putting #19 back into the engine house during a rain ... as you might recall, it's downhill from the station to the engine house. I got down to the switch in front of the engine house, applied the brakes and just kept on going! I slid almost half way the distance of the length of the engine house before things felt like they were coming under control again (while applying sand in front of the wheels)
Here's a pic of "Pancho & Lefty" in front of the Yreka station: My thanks to the fine people at Northwestrails.com for letting me use some of their fine historic photographs. [ 01. November 2002, 00:07: Message edited by: Ironhorseman ]
