Western Railroad Discussion > Springtime in Perris

The Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris (CA) has been running the ”Day Out with Thomas” trains over the last two weekends. As in years past, old friend RSD5 and I made a run down to check out the activity Saturday morning. The Thomas train featured seven cars, powered by Santa Fe 108 and the Percy train had a pair of coaches with OERM 1956. I know it’s museum railroading, the shots are limited and poles all over the place, but it’s always fun to grab a few pics in Perris. 

1) The day began at 9AM with the first Thomas train southbound at Ellis Ave. The yellow wildflowers were everywhere, a nice treat thanks to all our winter rains.

2) Same place, just a wider view.

3) Going away with Thomas bringing up the rear.
 

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4) About 15 minutes later, the Percy train is seen north of 11th St near downtown Perris.

5) A roster shot of ALCo RSD-1 1956.

6) A shot of FP45 108 on the 10AM run near 11th St.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/19 10:34 by oyw.

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7) The cab shows just what a perfect restoration job looks like.

8) An earlier roster shot from the 9AM run.

9) Not to be forgotten, little Percy returning south through the flowers.  

Based on the amount of riders and full parking lots, attendance looked to be doing just fine which is great for the museum and the kids. Congratulations to OERM as they continue to set the bar for operating railroad museums. I am pleased to contribute to their cause. 

OYW
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/19 10:39 by oyw.

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Great shots.  As you noted, they did a superlative job on hte restoration of the FP45.  I hope the day generated a lot of revenue to support the museum, and hopefully some new members as well.   Perhaps 20 years from now some of the kids who rode the Thomas train will have been bit by teh bug, and become active members of the museum.
 

Catchy title on the post, you come with that? Looks like a fun time, the FP looks beautiful, excellent job on
both the resto and the paint, and usual fine job on the pictures.

Out

oyw Wrote:
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> I know it’s museum railroading,
> the shots are limited and poles all over the
> place, but it’s always fun to grab a few pics in
> Perris. 

Thank goodness those "limited shots" are pleasing to the eyes! 

That FP45 is one beautiful locomotive!  What a fantastic job they did on that!!   The Alco ain't half bad either.  Great shots!!

Thank you for showing the scenes from Thomas. The income from Thomas is one of the sources of funding which enables our organization to "keep the fleet" running We currently have seven operational locomotives which is extraordinary! All of this with a small cadre of workers! I am excited because we are delving back into our Alco fleet and Military switchers and making them healthier. Soon the SP 1006 will be joining the fleet after some test running and will emerge as a close to original SP SW-1 dating back to 1939!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/19 19:24 by TomPlatten.

On the ATSF 108, someone shoud post photos of the interior -- cab and engine compartment. It looks as nice inside as out. Sure sounds good too.

Watts local

Great captures of the trains and vivid wildflowers we've been enjoying this year.

Rich

This is a very good point! I started going to what was the the OETM in the late 60’s as a kid, joined in the early 80’s and started in operations in 1991 and did so until I left California in 2001. What a fantastic time with so many great people and history. You never know where the next volunteer is going to come from. Ray

hotrail Wrote:
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> Great shots.  As you noted, they did a
> superlative job on hte restoration of the FP45. 
> I hope the day generated a lot of revenue to
> support the museum, and hopefully some new members
> as well.   Perhaps 20 years from now some of the
> kids who rode the Thomas train will have been bit
> by teh bug, and become active members of the
> museum.
>  

Congratulations to all involved with the fantastic restoration of 108.  Very nice.  I hope to see it someday.

Jim Barton

I included a picture of the SF 108's control stand in my post back on 4/10. I will try to take somemore cab shots another time!

Just for kicks, Amtrak should put Thomas on the end of one of their trains just before eneering a busy station.
I can bet that somone will complain...

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

I've always wondered export engines have such weird trucks compared to their domestic counterparts...??  I'm refering to that ALCO unit...

They are made for multi gauge railroading, from narrow to wide. 

coach Wrote:
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> I've always wondered export engines have such
> weird trucks compared to their domestic
> counterparts...??  I'm refering to that ALCO
> unit...

callum_out Wrote:

> Catchy title on the post, you come with that?

Could have gone with "April in Perris" and had a ready-made soundtrack courtesy Count Basie!  "One more time!"

Nice pics!!

Super pics Bob!  Thanks for sharing!

SP4360 Wrote:
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> They are made for multi gauge railroading, from
> narrow to wide. 
>

Not on the RSD-1's, you're thinking of the MRS-1's which were built after Korea. 
RSD-1's were standard gauge only.
The truck under the RSD-1's was Alco's first attempt at a 3 axle truck where all 3 axles are powered.
They learned a few lessons as was shown on the later RSC-2/3 and RSD-4/5.

> coach Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I've always wondered export engines have such
> > weird trucks compared to their domestic
> > counterparts...??  I'm refering to that ALCO
> > unit...