What a day filled with trains. After picking up JohnnyTrains at the train station here in Queens , NY and attending an NMRA show, the two of us headed up to Danbury, Ct to the Danbury RR Museum and meet up with TB member, Peirce. Let me tell you guys and gals what a great man Peirce is. Not only is he very knowledgeable on the subject of railroading but he is a true gentleman who went out of his way to show me and Johnny all the behind the scenes at the museum with several "close-up" views inside equipment that most patrons do not get the opportunity to see. He also took us to parts of the yard that only RR museum employees and volunteers have access to just so we could get some great pics. THANK-YOU Peirce for a truly fun afternoon. I hope to do it again when more time allows. And now, speaking of pictures, here is one of the three of us (from left to right) Peirce, JohnnyTrains and yours truly Rush2ny:
Thanks for the review. It was truly my pleasure to be able to host your visit. I agree, we should do this again. It is a unique characteristic of the Trainboard that we are anxious to be more than just electronic signatures to each other. Here is a composite of my pix from the meet.
Hey! Has that loco you're standing in front of been tagged excessively or did they really paint them like that.
What a day! I love the pictures guys!!!!!!!! Russ and I started out at the show and watched a slide presentation by one of his friends at an NMRA meet in Queens. Quite nice! I picked up a CSX Op Life Saver caboose in HO scale at a table. Nice. Russ, the other one IS white on the other side. Call me crazy.......... We got up to the museum and I thought I was in Strasburg! There was a small sea of trains in this yard! And a really beautiful station to go along with them! The museum is really nice inside and an added treat were the Metro North trains that are stored right alongside the museum! Oh just your average FL9s and Genesis units. You know those Genesis things. The silver ones? Oh.........and the one..........in........ NEW HAVEN COLORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Russ and I enjoyed taking a short ride in an old Reading coach back and forth through the yard. We were pulled by an RS1! I think they should rename the museum, "ALCO LAND"! And what other cool things could we do besides look at a New York Central E8? (Really a UP E8, painted in NYC colors)! Ah.......thought I'd tell ya that Peirce walked us through it. Quite a treat.......indeed. Quite a treat. How about totally freaked out? Or look at all those cool cars such as the old Remington railbus, an RS11 (ever see one before?), an unusual Conrail refrigerated boxcar in white, many other cars, engines, and other cool stuff. Ya know, FL9's and a Mogul...........a Penn Central caboose in Jade Green............nice too. It gets even better! If you can believe it! Whoa. The things I just described ain't even half of it either. How about........a "pedestrian ride" on a 1916 turntable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the way around! LOL! What a way to watch a museum go by! LOL! Totally freaked out!!!!!!!!!!! After doing all of this, Russ and I met one of the nicest guys one could meet. Peirce found us in the gift shop. (LOL). He was so nice and we spent another 1 1/2 hours with him, and as Russ said behind the scenes! We took photos of things we were not able to see without our wonderful host! I know I had a great time and want to return asap! Peirce is such a nice man! I wish you all could meet him! Thank you Peirce and Russ. I had a blast! Even got to toot the RS1's horn. {PLEASE VISIT THE DANBURY RR MUSEUM! YOU WILL LOVE IT!}
Here are a few more pics to put things in perspective as to what a treat it was: First, Johnny on the turntable: Next, The NH Gennie: Finally, Metro-North "safety" sign. I found this the most amusing for some reason......
Just a few notes. The loco we behind us in Russ' first picture is an FL-9, owned by CDOT and operated by Metro North. It was retired a month or two ago after an electrical fire in the HEP unit. The top two pictures in my composite started out as parts of one shot. It was taken in the cab of the E9 (not E8). That loco was never owned by NYC, but its present owner (a Texan who leaves some of his toys at the DRM) is a great NYC fan. Russ' shot of the Gennie was taken close to 5:00 in the evening. The low sun really adds a nice touch. Great picture. Again it was a fun time, all too short. If we can find more time there are some great restaurants in the area. One is a former fire house.
Thanks for the correction about the E9! What a great time I had! A great museum indeed! Love the photos!
Peirce, I look forward to a next time and, since I forgot to say so, I love that collage that you made at the top of the page! Johnny, did your Gennie pics come out good? I have some film left on my roll so I have to find a few more trains to shoot (though that shouldn't be hard! ) Russ
Russ, I'm sending you a cool pic of the NH genesis! Mine is identical to yours (great shot!) but my wide angle lens caught the FL9 in the background! It will be in the mail this afternoon! I think my favorite shot, was the "mask" on the RDC! It's so cool! I'll send that one too!
I hope you can post that RDC shot, and others, here. It sounds verrry interesting. About that Metro North safety sign - it is amusing. It has not changed in months.
Of course Johnny! Peirce, here is another pic of something that I would not have noticed just walking around the yard. It is a pic of a whistle-post, something not really seen much any more. Perhaps you could give us a little better info on it's age. Happy Railroading! Russ
I don't know that anyone knows just how old that "W" is. Judging from its apparent condition, I would guess at least 40 years old. Where did you find this one?
Peirce, that was taken while Johnny and I were on the "railyard local". It was on the end of the yard with the turntable and just a little after where the NH Genny was parked. Russ
