My two grandsons were not sure about the ride on this. However, I was thrilled. Steam is just in my veins................ Amazing what a little care and maintenance will do for old folks and trains. Carl
Hopefully, they were converted by the end of the run? El Paso. It has been almost 42 years since I last saw FBT.
Here is its sister 483 in need of some care and maintenance. It was retired in 1977 but after 35 years the Friends of the C&T have begun to restore her to operation again.
The Cumbres & Toltec has around 10 steam locomotives in all, about 4 working the rest are out of service. http://www.cumbrestoltec.org/php/assets/fctsrr.php?category=rollingStock&type=Locomotive
Wouldn't it be fantastic to have them all back in service? That would make for an unbelievable steam up.
I plan on catching the Amtrak Exhibit train when it leaves Gettysburg on Sunday. No one there was able to tell me exactly when they were leaving, or what direction. Next stop is in Altoona, PA in two weeks on the 12th. Maybe they head west to Hagerstown, MD to catch the Norfolk Southern lines there, and use the wye in Gettysburg to put the veterans unit in the lead. Would be nice, then I could catch it going thru our own little horseshoe curve at the base of Jacks Mountain
There is a video on Youtube of train coming across Lurgan line outside of Dillsburg, then down the Gettysburg and Northern. Gentleman that filmed it said in description says it may go back to Philly before going to Altoona, so it might go back same way. He was not certain though. I will get video either way though, we don't get Amtrak on these lines, only freight here.
I was able to make it into town this evening after the exhibit train closed up shop. I shot a video as it left the station, and again as it crossed the Biglerville Rd north of Gettysburg. They didn't turn the consist around, so FP40 #406 is leading, with P42 #42 Veterans Unit in trailing position. [video=youtube;QNRz1RjRb-w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNRz1RjRb-w[/video] [video=youtube;5yMPuMNmbic]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yMPuMNmbic[/video]
Really interesting pair of videos. #42 is well done. Kinda interesting in the first video to see how "unsmooth" the track curves are, as well as how close the parking is to the tracks. Also fun to see the low speed rocking in the second, not so much the...less intelligent person...in the red crossover.
