Steam & Excursion > PRR Mainline Steam - June 1985

In June 1985, Strasburg RR ran a mainline excursion Strasburg-Lancaster-Columbia-Harrisburg-Lancaster-Strasburg. I had driven back there to visit my parents and timed it right so I could see this train. The weather that day was typical June Lancaster County, rainy, overcast, and even more overcast (did I mention humid?), so my photos weren't all that good. Plus I had the misfortune of my slide film camera had picked up a hair in the shutter area so every slide had a nasty imprint. Several years ago I digitized all my slides and negatives but I never visited those from this time. (remember when we had multiple bodies for slide and negatives?)

A discussion on another forum tonight prompted me to take a look at those from over 32 years ago. I found I could salvage a couple, so here they are.

1. Irishtown Road
2. Mountville
3. Shocks Mill Bridge

Bill Kepner
Ft Collins, CO



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/17 20:03 by drgw0579.

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4. Rockville
5. Harrisburg
6. Salunga

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7. Pitney Road
8. Arriving Strasburg

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Bill, some INCREDIBLE stuff! Makes me wish I was around for these trips... I was born 6 years later! The shot at Mountville is mind boggling: I worked the secondary a few months ago on the NS H19 and it's amazing how much in that scene has changed in 32 years.

Your last shot... almost looks like the train is heading east at Cherry Hill bound for Paradise in that morning? I can't seem to place it for a westbound shot.

-Mike

Pretty sure the last one is at Esbenshade Road.

You posted some wonderful photos. Really like what you did with #6 at Harrisburg. Looks like it was taken in the early 1900s. Thanks for sharing.

Posted from iPhone

Great show. Thanks for posting. Gerry

Thanks for posting these.
My favorite photo is your last one with the fog or met. It appears timeless.
Bob

Great shots. As to period appropriateness the shots with catenary would have been appropiate for the late 30's as electrification took place in the 30's. However the Rockville bridge shot and the shot on the Strasburg could have been taken in the early 1900's after the engines were built. My favorite is the Rockville bridge shot. It is a classic! I have a shot of the train on the bridge too, but from a different angle. Too bad those engines can't run any more. I believe there are issues with the boilers. But at least they are preserved in pristene condition in the Pa. RR Museum.

Nice photos.

Amazing and sad how a steam trip with no diesels assisting and 1900-1925 open window cars were allowed to be used on a fantrip on Amtrak at that time....
You probably have a better chance at winning a million dollars in the lottery today then to remotely see anything like this ever again on the Corridor !! :-(