Steam & Excursion > Mystery runby

On my way back from Walmart today, I chanced upon this scene and had get my phone out to capture the spectacle...

You won't believe what is making all this sweet stack talk.....
...sorry about the wind noise.

I realize I am about to be permanently banned from TO's.....................

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Earlk Wrote:
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>
> I realize I am about to be permanently banned from
> TO's.....................

Why?
Thomas is probably one of the biggest factors there is today in attracting kids to trains and model railroading!
I am glad to see any steam!!

 

Will MacKenzie
Dundas, ON

Great catch Earl. Yes, Thomas is the answer in getting kids attention to railroading. The days of the many varied styles of locomotives, steam and diesel, have waned to a mere few. If it wasn't for locos like Thomas and railroad apps for computers and smart phones, the kids would never develop an interest in railroads like we did.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Wow, Thomas sounds surprisingly good!  Never thought I'd say that.  The changing facial expressions are a bit creepy though...

Where was Percy?

typebangin Wrote:
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> Wow, Thomas sounds surprisingly good!  Never
> thought I'd say that.  The changing facial
> expressions are a bit creepy though...
​For those of you who do not know where this is; it is on the Strasburg Railroad In Strasburg, Pennsylvania where they have a real steam locomotive made up to look like Thomas, unlike some of the other museums and tourist railroads that operate a fake Thomas locomotive pulled or pushed by a diesel engine.  As I have stated before; Strasburg is one of the finest short line operations anywhere with several working steam locomotives and an outstanding railroad shop that maintains all their locomotives and historic passenger cars.  If you have never been there it is worth a visit if you are in the area of Lancaster, Pennsylvania or near by.  Thanks for sharing your video, well done.
​John



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/21/16 11:51 by ClubCar.

Erik ---
Thank you VERY much for that incredible video.  No, the wind
did not detract from it at all.  And, oh, that glorious stack talk! 
Man, is Thomas IMPRESSIVE!  That little 0-6-0T can really PULL!! 
SEVEN cars AND a caboose!!  And no loud whistle to drown out his
awesome and glorious stack talk.  And, wow, is he ever SQUARE!!

And I completely agree with Will MacKenzie and Bob Krieger --
The Little Blue Engine is the main way kinds now get introduced to
railroads and railroading and, especially, to steam.  No one should
ever ridicule Thomas or the many people who flock to see and ride
behind him.  If we do not  pass on our love of trains to the younger
generation, railfanning will disappear in a  generation.

Again -- thank you very much for this wonderful video. 
Definitely VOTM!!   (Video Of The Month)

Strasburg RRI gather I took my niece and nephew out there a couple of years ago and I THOUGHT all the kids from the planet were there!
 

typebangin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wow, Thomas sounds surprisingly good!  Never
> thought I'd say that.  The changing facial
> expressions are a bit creepy though...

If you notice, Thomas is looking straight at the camera, smiles, then looks forward.

"hi there....I see you..., now back to work..."

Yes....kinda creepy

Crazy video. Thanks Earl.

I agree that the changing facial expressions are... a bit... disconcerting...

Jason Rose
Spring, TX
Rio Grande Explorations

elueck Wrote:
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> Where was Percy?

Percy was on its own train ahead of Thomas.  Thomas runs every 1/2 hour on the 1/4 and 3/4 hour ( 11:15. 11:45, 12:15, 12:45, etc).  Percy (with assistance from GP9 764) chases Thomas out of town, a couple of minutes later.  Percy's run ends about 1/4 short of where Thomas stops.  Quite often Thomas is rolling out of town on the siding, Percy is on the roll on another track, while #90 is easing into town on the main.  Big time Railroading!

Earlk wrote:
> I realize I am about to be permanently banned from TO's.....................

I was expecting to see a break in run for 844.  

Tominde Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Earlk wrote:
> > I realize I am about to be permanently banned
> from TO's.....................
>
> I was expecting to see a break in run for 844.  

Exactly my thought, too! LOL

But, thanks, didn't realize there was a real Thomas the tank engine. Thought they all fake but kid magnets nonetheless. 

Wow, I never knew Thomas had changing facial expressions.  

JBWX

Earlk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you notice, Thomas is looking straight at the
> camera, smiles, then looks forward.
>
> "hi there....I see you..., now back to work..."
>
> Yes....kinda creepy

I had to watch it a couple of times to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me.  Do the other 'fake' Thomases do the same thing?  I don't think the ex-BEDT Thomas seen here ever leaves Strasburg.  Is that correct?

Yes, there has always been a Thomas that is an
operational steam locomotive.  But that does cause
problems, because all the little kiddies want to TOUCH
Thomas -- and that is dangerous.  MUCH safer to just
make and run ones that are cool when touched.

Now, about all that smoke.  Me thinks the fireman needs a talking to.

JBWX

That's one little devil with a bite as good as her bark.  Thanks Earl.

jbwest Wrote:
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> Now, about all that smoke.  Me thinks the fireman
> needs a talking to.
>
> JBWX

Coal burning engines making wide open starts tend to make smoke until the fire begins to burn hot. 

Now, Wacky Roger's video of 489 going the "Burning of Atlanta" bit IS excessive.  The fireman has a mile or two of moderate work to get his fire in shape.  I bet the pops were lifting by the time they got to the Chama River Bridge.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/16 05:57 by Earlk.

typebangin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Earlk Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If you notice, Thomas is looking straight at
> the
> > camera, smiles, then looks forward.
> >
> > "hi there....I see you..., now back to work..."
> >
> > Yes....kinda creepy
>
> I had to watch it a couple of times to make sure
> my eyes weren't deceiving me.  Do the other
> 'fake' Thomases do the same thing?  I don't think
> the ex-BEDT Thomas seen here ever leaves
> Strasburg.  Is that correct?

The real Thomas does go on the road.  I think it was up in Dearborn at Henry Ford recently.  A bunch of years ago I saw it a IRM in Union, IL.  So, it gets around some.