The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation, Friends of the 4449, Pacific Railway Preservation Association, Pacific Northwest Chapter NRHS, Oregon Pacific Railway and other concerned groups will participate in running the 2010 version of the Holiday Express, on weekends of December 3,4,5 and 10, 11, 12. Trains powered by Portland's legendary steam locomotives will depart from Oaks Park for about 45 minute trips to OMSI and return. Tickets are on sale now, and I'll get back with details, prices, etc. Photo from last year when 700 did the honors on the first weekend. This is a great experience for kids of all ages, even mine.
Everything you need to know about tickets, schedules, etc. are on the ORHF website; ORHF Holiday Express http://www.orhf.org/holidayexpress/index.html
I'm bumping this back to the board because the Holiday Express is operating this coming weekend and the following weekend. Dec. 4 is kind of a scheduling bummer, as the annual "Civil War" game between Oregon and Oregon State takes place then. This year's operation is very important financially to the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation, as the long mentioned move from Brooklyn to a new site is now imminent, and the new facility is going to be very expensive. It won't happen if we don't raise the funds. We don't want to see 4449, 700 and 197 back in Oaks Park rusting again, do we? 700 is undergoing maintenance, so 4449 will operate both weekends. Click on the link in the thread above to buy tickets. I will be working the concession tent on Friday, December 10 and Saturday morning the 11th. Come on by, say hello and buy a hat, pin, tee shirt, sweat shirt, jacket, DVD, calendar or whatever treasure you wish to give to a railfan friend for Christmas. Ride the train, the speeders, meet Santa, have fun. :tb-biggrin: She'll be all lit up like a Christmas Tree!!!
Ken, we didn't get snow, but literally buckets of rain. Amazingly, people showed up and most trains were sold out. I have to post a few photos (what, again, of 4449?) yes, she's a beauty. You can see from the shot of 700 above what a challenge it is to get a decent photo there with the power lines and crowds, but I managed to get one from the "other" side out in the swamp. Then Friday night I tried to get some shots of the train with all the Christmas lights on, and my shutter stuck open. I kept this because it's kind of wild looking.
Excellent! One of my clubmates, a guy by the name of Brian, was out there today I believe serving in a volunteer capacity with his wife. I have pointed a lot of people to the Holiday Express and I know a number of them went to ride.
Just that one, Ken. I am still learning how to use this DSLR after four years. Sometimes in low light and on Auto it loses it's mind. I guess I do that too. :tb-biggrin:
It's a Nikon D50, 6 megapixels, and was advertised as an "entry level" DSLR back in 2005. Since then I think Nikon and Canon have come out with about 20 newer models. I saw an ad in today's Oregonian for a Canon with 18 megapixels and a Nikon with 15. I guess if someone wants to make billboard sized prints, that makes sense. I have printed 12" X 18" prints from the D50 and they are brilliantly clear. I never have figured Nikon's numbering system, D40 followed D50 and was 10 megapixels. The latest "entry level" ones are the D3100 and I think D5000. They make megabuck priced ones that are not superior in picture quality but are weatherproof, which mine is not. I love the thing. :tb-biggrin:
According to some I have exchanged thoughts with, (folks in the pro journalism field), 8-10MP is more than good enough for what we do as a hobby. And plenty good to use on the 'Net or submit for current magazine publication. More than that is unnecessary, just like having an Allison V12 on a mo-ped. Boxcab E50
