Nostalgia & History > Steam 15-20 years ago

What do you miss and what's long gone from the operating scene? How about T&P610, big and ultimately obscure or CP 2839? Here crossing the Rockville Bridge with a 1985 NRHS Special is 7002 and 1223.

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Or Chessie Steam Specials like RDG2101 in Philly around 1978.

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Keep the photos coming! Especially the 2101 and 2102. ;>)

crusader5619 Wrote:
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> What do you miss and what's long gone from the
> operating scene?

CP 2839?

That Royal Hudson was sure some locomotive! I recall Bill Purdie saying that he finally had a REAL passenger locomotive that left the railfans behind in its dust! (not smoke).

I have a tape a Southern engineer had made of his run into Birmingham from the north. He said in several places he was running in excess of 84 MPH He said grade crossings come awful fast at those speeds.

I remember when the Royal Hudson (2860?) visited LA back in the late 70's or early 80's. I took movies of it at Mojave, then at the curve north (RR west) of Saugus. Since most of my steam experience at that time was old industrial type steamers, a 4-6-4 whipping along, running like a well-oiled sewing machine, was something I had never seen before. No clanking, no wheezing; this was primo power! It brought in a British Columbia exhibit train, complete with a RCMP Mountie and a bagpiper. In 1991, my wife and I were in North Vancouver, and went to the depot to buy tickets for the next day's trip. Down the road we noticed the engine house, and I remarked that it was the Hudson's home. She said, "Well, let's go take a look!" The shop crew welcomed us, and invited us to look in the cab. My wife commented that it was the cleanest locomotive she had ever seen, and I said, "If Her Majesty the Queen decides to take a train ride in British Columbia, this engine is ready!" Beauty, eh?
Bob Davis

Ah, yes. One that got away. The day after riding the 2860, I went to the station to film the morning departure, armed with video cam, tripod, everything looked perfect. What a show! Just one problem, I didn't hit "record." Probably will never get another chance.

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Evidently can't attach two photos to one message.

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crusader5619 Wrote:
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> What do you miss and what's long gone from the
> operating scene? How about T&P610, big and
> ultimately obscure or CP 2839? Here crossing the
> Rockville Bridge with a 1985 NRHS Special is 7002
> and 1223.


As soon as I saw the pic it took me back to Strasburg PA, visiting there many times when I was younger....just the location this time is different.

For the longest time the 1223 ran on strasburg RR. I have those shots around someplace. It was sometime in the past 5 years that The long term lease with the Strasburg museum ran out. She presently sits quietly inside the museum safe and sound. Last of her type for the Pennsy American 4-4-0 DB16A. Best of all she is stored in full operating condition!! just add water and coal. There are good chances she may see work again on special occasion accross the street on the Strasburg RR.

wWhich is good news compared to other locomotives that have gone cold. like the 614 and some others that need repair, but may never get it because of insurance prices nowadays. Sad really. One of the few parts of history that can be brought back to life for the full Interactive experience and the gready insurance companies are destroying that too.

What ever happened to the Pennsy 1361?

HB90MACH Wrote:
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> What ever happened to the Pennsy 1361?

It is at Steamtown getting restored as time and money allow.

Again!? It had been restored some years ago to operating condition. What happened that it fell out of operating condition that it needs to be restored again?