A Train Thread
- Thread starter rp2813
- Start date
What do you wish to discuss? Trains in general? Specific trains?
More About My Recent Trip
A train-buff buddy from work advised that over Labor Day Weekend, Amtrak's California Zephyr was going to detour over the old Western Pacific Feather River route and had 2-for-1 discount coupons. So four of us made the round trip from Emeryville to Winnemucca, NV. We had mostly train buffs on the ride up, they had all heard about the detour as well. This had been the first time in nearly 40 years that a regularly scheduled passenger train ran on the WP route, so it was a big deal, and did provide some spectacular views. We also passed by Burning Man in the most desolate of Nevada landscapes. I had ridden this route a couple of times as a kid on the WP/DRGW/Burlington California Zephyr with 5 dome cars for excellent viewing. My dad took home movies of the Feather River route which I still have and want to place on DVD.
The trip back was over Donner Summit, the usual route, and we had lots of delays due to the track work that caused the detour the day before. Still, it was interesting to see the process of repairing and replacing ties, track and ballast. And the scenery over the Sierras is nothing to sneeze at either.
My buddy advises us about private car excursions once in a while that sound interesting also, but I think I want to do an overnighter with the sleeper scene next time.
I've posted a link to the pictures one of the guys in our group took. Some are blurry even in the thumbnails but lots of good shots, and re: the Mineshaft, no, it's not.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sftrajan/sets/72157607083753298/
A train-buff buddy from work advised that over Labor Day Weekend, Amtrak's California Zephyr was going to detour over the old Western Pacific Feather River route and had 2-for-1 discount coupons. So four of us made the round trip from Emeryville to Winnemucca, NV. We had mostly train buffs on the ride up, they had all heard about the detour as well. This had been the first time in nearly 40 years that a regularly scheduled passenger train ran on the WP route, so it was a big deal, and did provide some spectacular views. We also passed by Burning Man in the most desolate of Nevada landscapes. I had ridden this route a couple of times as a kid on the WP/DRGW/Burlington California Zephyr with 5 dome cars for excellent viewing. My dad took home movies of the Feather River route which I still have and want to place on DVD.
The trip back was over Donner Summit, the usual route, and we had lots of delays due to the track work that caused the detour the day before. Still, it was interesting to see the process of repairing and replacing ties, track and ballast. And the scenery over the Sierras is nothing to sneeze at either.
My buddy advises us about private car excursions once in a while that sound interesting also, but I think I want to do an overnighter with the sleeper scene next time.
I've posted a link to the pictures one of the guys in our group took. Some are blurry even in the thumbnails but lots of good shots, and re: the Mineshaft, no, it's not.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sftrajan/sets/72157607083753298/
Kenny, sorry, I wasn't thinking when I started this thread. A discussion had begun on the "summertime picture thread" so I was speaking to some participants there in the initial post here.
Anything you want to discuss about trains, this is the place Kenny.
Ralph
Anything you want to discuss about trains, this is the place Kenny.
Ralph
Get those home movies transferred before it's too late if it's not already. We had ours done about 6 years ago and quite a lot of them were faded or history. Thankfully there was so much that we still have plenty to see on DVD
When I was young, I was in a Drum & Bugle Corps sponsored by the Union Pacific. You had to be a relative of an employee, and since everyone I knew (except for my mom and dad) had worked for the UP, I got in.
Every summer we travelled through the west on vintage UP equipment, and performed in various cities along the line (Cheyenne, Medicine Bow, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Pocatella, etc....)
That equipment was beautiful, and immacuately maintained. It was really quite an experience.
Nowadays, UP has gotten too big for it's britches to have such a family-centric, home-towny sort of activity for employee's kids, but I'm glad I got a chance to be part of it. I only wish I'd taken more pictures.
Every summer we travelled through the west on vintage UP equipment, and performed in various cities along the line (Cheyenne, Medicine Bow, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Pocatella, etc....)
That equipment was beautiful, and immacuately maintained. It was really quite an experience.
Nowadays, UP has gotten too big for it's britches to have such a family-centric, home-towny sort of activity for employee's kids, but I'm glad I got a chance to be part of it. I only wish I'd taken more pictures.
I've been taking trains here in the East......
I've taken Amtrak here in the East when I can. I catch it in Spartanburg, SC and go to Washington, usually on business.
Once I took the family with me, I worked while they saw the Smithsonian for a couple of days, then we all went to NYC and played, It was fantastic.
The only way to go to NYC is by train in my opinion - it takes you right into the heart of town. Sweet. Wish we had Amtrak in TN other than just Memphis.
I've taken Amtrak here in the East when I can. I catch it in Spartanburg, SC and go to Washington, usually on business.
Once I took the family with me, I worked while they saw the Smithsonian for a couple of days, then we all went to NYC and played, It was fantastic.
The only way to go to NYC is by train in my opinion - it takes you right into the heart of town. Sweet. Wish we had Amtrak in TN other than just Memphis.
High Speed
I don't mean to send my own thread off . . . um . . . track, but high speed rail is on the November ballot here in California. I'm all for it as I would use it instead of flying to greater Los Angeles. Unfortunately, in order to get more buy-in to support this, the high speed rail authority is promising tons of stops. This defeats the whole purpose of competing with the airlines. I haven't decided how I'm going to vote but they will have to at least promise some non-stop express trains for me to support it.
Meanwhile, it's too bad Amtrak can't bring back "The Lark," an overnight train that left the Bay Area late and arrived in Los Angeles early the next morning. It might attract more riders than they think if they revived it, as so many of us have been turned off to the flying experience over the last several years.
I don't mean to send my own thread off . . . um . . . track, but high speed rail is on the November ballot here in California. I'm all for it as I would use it instead of flying to greater Los Angeles. Unfortunately, in order to get more buy-in to support this, the high speed rail authority is promising tons of stops. This defeats the whole purpose of competing with the airlines. I haven't decided how I'm going to vote but they will have to at least promise some non-stop express trains for me to support it.
Meanwhile, it's too bad Amtrak can't bring back "The Lark," an overnight train that left the Bay Area late and arrived in Los Angeles early the next morning. It might attract more riders than they think if they revived it, as so many of us have been turned off to the flying experience over the last several years.
Ralph, I agree that it would be great to have the Lark back. I'd just tweak it so that it left Redding (or someplace up there) in the daytime, got to the bay area in the evening, and arrived in LA in the morning. Northern California needs to be brought into the mix 
Unfortunately, part of the problem with a resurrected "Lark" - or any other long-distance western train - is the lack of equipment: The Superliners are about thirty years old, and a good chunk of the fleet has been lost over the years due to wrecks, or lack of money to repair them.
Personally, I would vote yes on the High Speed rail: Getting the trackage rights is the biggest part of the struggle, and (hopefully) once it was up, they could have numerous runs with limited stops - sort of like the "Baby Bullets" Caltrain is running, as well as a non-stop.
California has done such a great job with the Capitol Corridor, Surfliner, and San Joaquins lines. You're a role model for the entire nation. Don't lose that momentum.
Unfortunately, part of the problem with a resurrected "Lark" - or any other long-distance western train - is the lack of equipment: The Superliners are about thirty years old, and a good chunk of the fleet has been lost over the years due to wrecks, or lack of money to repair them.
Personally, I would vote yes on the High Speed rail: Getting the trackage rights is the biggest part of the struggle, and (hopefully) once it was up, they could have numerous runs with limited stops - sort of like the "Baby Bullets" Caltrain is running, as well as a non-stop.
California has done such a great job with the Capitol Corridor, Surfliner, and San Joaquins lines. You're a role model for the entire nation. Don't lose that momentum.
You know what's sad. Here's Bombardier a Canadian company world leader in all this highspeed reail equipment and we don't even have our own high speed trains anywhere in Canada. All that ever happens is talk talk talk for decades now. Every other election it comes up for about a microsecond and gets put to rest again.
My love of trains goes back as far as I can remember, and my parents tell me I was crazy about trains...
I have a lot of thoughts and comments I'd like to add to this thread...but it has been one of those days and I'm ready to hit the sack, must be getting old!
In the meantime I'd like to share a short piece written about American railroads by a man from Slovenia of all places. It is titled "40 Years of Railfanning and Subscription
Reminiscences of an old railfan". I've read it several times and can't help but get misty eyed each time...
Thanks again Ralph for starting this thread!
Yet there isn't a train goes by all day
But I hear its whistle shrieking....
Yet there isn't a train I wouldn't take,
No matter where it's going.
—Edna St. Vincent Millay, "Travel"
http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2647&highlight=misko
I have a lot of thoughts and comments I'd like to add to this thread...but it has been one of those days and I'm ready to hit the sack, must be getting old!
In the meantime I'd like to share a short piece written about American railroads by a man from Slovenia of all places. It is titled "40 Years of Railfanning and Subscription
Reminiscences of an old railfan". I've read it several times and can't help but get misty eyed each time...
Thanks again Ralph for starting this thread!
Yet there isn't a train goes by all day
But I hear its whistle shrieking....
Yet there isn't a train I wouldn't take,
No matter where it's going.
—Edna St. Vincent Millay, "Travel"
http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2647&highlight=misko
I, too, love trains, the old ones, new ones -- all kinds. I'm going on a train foliage tour of Vermont in October with Trains Unlimited Tours. Have any of you used this company?
http://www.trainsunlimitedtours.com/vermont-fall-colors-explorer.html
http://www.trainsunlimitedtours.com/vermont-fall-colors-explorer.html
oldhouseman
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- 838
We used to
have a state wide train system here in Georgia. People could live in small towns and commute to the larger cities for work or shopping. Exxon gave millions of dollars to the state highway department to build bigger roads and eventually the trains were pulled out of service. Since the price of oil is so high now and people are looking for cheaper modes of transportation there is talk about Amtrak expanding services here. I hope that is the case. Commuter rails would certainly help many people here. I would definately park the truck and take the train if I could.
have a state wide train system here in Georgia. People could live in small towns and commute to the larger cities for work or shopping. Exxon gave millions of dollars to the state highway department to build bigger roads and eventually the trains were pulled out of service. Since the price of oil is so high now and people are looking for cheaper modes of transportation there is talk about Amtrak expanding services here. I hope that is the case. Commuter rails would certainly help many people here. I would definately park the truck and take the train if I could.
filter-flo_rob
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TrainBuff here!
I cut and pasted what I wrote yesterday from the summertime picture thread where Ralph first started this thread. Thank you Ralph, for moving this to a separate thread!
But firstly, Dham Ken ... I've been crazy about trains for as long as I can remember, too. I used to bug my parents (and I mean bug!) to take me to the trackside of the line that ran from Boston to Providence ... we used to stay for hours. My dad was interested as well, but mummy ... tolerated.
Now you're talkin'. Total train buff here. When I have the time, I do take the train to conferences, etc. I'd taken Amcrash once to Miami for an American Library Association conference -- 1st class. The service was great. Had taken the train several times to DC, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. On the Chicago runs, I had a roomette ... now their fun and cozy.
I miss smoking on the trains as it was great fun to get naked, smoke cigarettes and enjoy a scotch or three before venturing out for din-din complete with china and cloth napkins.
Anyone with experience knows the perils of having to get to your toilet when the bed if fully extended over the toilet ... that's why there is a solid door and a zipper cloth door
Unfortunately, most of the time it is air transportation, which I might add, I do love to fly as well.
My interest in trains, when not riding them are various aspects of signal control; both autoblock and interlocking, and I can wet myself instantaneously standing in an interlocking station with ca. 30 levers! FASCINATING STUFF.
Wish I had the time to set-up a model. I would be most interested in O-on-2 scale. Of course wouldn't everyone want an outside train similar to amuzement parks -- from 7 1/2 to 12 in. gauge!
Any other train buffs out there?
I also had a grandfather who worked on the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Then for the Upton Grafton Railroad. Although he retired by the time I was born, I heard stories about him when he was a kid having to sleep in a caboose because of a bad storm and having to shovel the tracks for the roundhouse and at switch frogs.
... a different kind of life, from an era gone by.
If you can get your hands on a 1960 atlas of railroads (Rand McNally, I believe) there are tons and tons of lines still listed that have been turned into bike paths, and things of that sort.
R.
I cut and pasted what I wrote yesterday from the summertime picture thread where Ralph first started this thread. Thank you Ralph, for moving this to a separate thread!
But firstly, Dham Ken ... I've been crazy about trains for as long as I can remember, too. I used to bug my parents (and I mean bug!) to take me to the trackside of the line that ran from Boston to Providence ... we used to stay for hours. My dad was interested as well, but mummy ... tolerated.
Now you're talkin'. Total train buff here. When I have the time, I do take the train to conferences, etc. I'd taken Amcrash once to Miami for an American Library Association conference -- 1st class. The service was great. Had taken the train several times to DC, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. On the Chicago runs, I had a roomette ... now their fun and cozy.
I miss smoking on the trains as it was great fun to get naked, smoke cigarettes and enjoy a scotch or three before venturing out for din-din complete with china and cloth napkins.
Anyone with experience knows the perils of having to get to your toilet when the bed if fully extended over the toilet ... that's why there is a solid door and a zipper cloth door
Unfortunately, most of the time it is air transportation, which I might add, I do love to fly as well.
My interest in trains, when not riding them are various aspects of signal control; both autoblock and interlocking, and I can wet myself instantaneously standing in an interlocking station with ca. 30 levers! FASCINATING STUFF.
Wish I had the time to set-up a model. I would be most interested in O-on-2 scale. Of course wouldn't everyone want an outside train similar to amuzement parks -- from 7 1/2 to 12 in. gauge!
Any other train buffs out there?
I also had a grandfather who worked on the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Then for the Upton Grafton Railroad. Although he retired by the time I was born, I heard stories about him when he was a kid having to sleep in a caboose because of a bad storm and having to shovel the tracks for the roundhouse and at switch frogs.
... a different kind of life, from an era gone by.
If you can get your hands on a 1960 atlas of railroads (Rand McNally, I believe) there are tons and tons of lines still listed that have been turned into bike paths, and things of that sort.
R.
Ken, great link and I agree. Like I mentioned in another post, as I rode the rails recently I couldn't help but think about Arlo Guthrie's "City of New Orleans" as we made our way across the landscape. That song really gets to me the way it captures the sad decline of passenger rail travel in the U.S.
And Greg, that story you told about Exxon echoes across the nation as we are all familiar with the way GM, Standard Oil and Firestone conspired to rip up railroads and trolley lines nationwide in order to get people onto buses. Just another reason for the cynicism that is widely felt towards corporate America and its self-serving motives.
And Greg, that story you told about Exxon echoes across the nation as we are all familiar with the way GM, Standard Oil and Firestone conspired to rip up railroads and trolley lines nationwide in order to get people onto buses. Just another reason for the cynicism that is widely felt towards corporate America and its self-serving motives.
filter-flo_rob
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Dagney Taggart anyone????
With all this train talk, I can't help but think of Dagny Taggart!
Rob.
With all this train talk, I can't help but think of Dagny Taggart!
Rob.
Of course, Rob...
Just remember, don't take any trains through the Rocky Mountains, especially if they have to go into a tunnel.
(Nate, who has been to the "Phoenix Durango Railroad" area recently, and also four wheeling near the "Taggart Tunnel")
Just remember, don't take any trains through the Rocky Mountains, especially if they have to go into a tunnel.
(Nate, who has been to the "Phoenix Durango Railroad" area recently, and also four wheeling near the "Taggart Tunnel")
filter-flo_rob
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2008
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HA!
Yeah ... you're not getting me in a tunnel with a coal burner ...
Yeah ... you're not getting me in a tunnel with a coal burner ...
peterh770
Well-known member
During the summers, my parent used to put us 3 kids on the Amtrak in Rome, NY, and we got off at Penn Station (or was it Grand Central?) to meet my grandmother where we would vacation for 2 weeks. Invariably, when we got on the train, we always took seats that faced in the wrong direction, so we would travel to NYC going backwards, and travel back home backwards. I'm sure my parents were just as excited to get rid of us kids as much as we were thrilled to be going!
Sleepers
Any of you guys have stuff to share about sleeper accommodations on Amtrak? Like which type would comfortably (that's probably a stretch--or NOT) handle two big men? Oh, and possibly still have room for a third, should we get lucky?
Any of you guys have stuff to share about sleeper accommodations on Amtrak? Like which type would comfortably (that's probably a stretch--or NOT) handle two big men? Oh, and possibly still have room for a third, should we get lucky?
We did have train service from here into Boston 30+ years ago but discontinued it. Tracks are still there and freight trains use them. They tore down a grand old victorian building which was the train station. Looked like something out of a model train set. Well after all this time they are trying to get service running again. So soon I will be able to ride the rails again as I did as a child with my mother. Great shopping trips to Boston. Wish it was never taken out. I am sure they would get a big commuter group. We have several parking lots now which hold 100's of vehicles, where people leave them for the day and take the bus into Boston. Love model trains also. If you can't ride mind as well play with them.
Jon
Jon
I took a sleeper train from San Luis Obispo, California, to Seattle, Oregon. We had the nicest accommodations available, five years ago. I think it looks like there are more options available now on this line. I'm 6' 6" tall, and I was okay with the size, but if there had been two of me, it would have been too tight. I think there was an upper berth we did not use, so maybe if that third person is small . . . (check out all the options). The bathroom/shower was so small for me that I used the larger shower downstairs. The food was good, and included in the price. The scenery was spectacular, the comfort level high. At the end of the trip I was completely rested, unlike jet or automobile travel. Check out the link for details. The photo is the Coast Starlight in the San Luis Obispo station.
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conte...opy_Page&c=am2Copy&cid=1178294201642&ssid=132
View attachment 9-11-2008-17-29-49--gredmondson.jpg
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conte...opy_Page&c=am2Copy&cid=1178294201642&ssid=132
View attachment 9-11-2008-17-29-49--gredmondson.jpg
Jon, have you heard of "The Downeaster"? It runs several times a day between Boston and Portland. It looks like the closest stop to Nashua is Haverhill.
I took it from Boston to Portland for a friend's wedding a few years back, and was very impressed. Old Metroliner equipment, but nicely rehabbed.
I took it from Boston to Portland for a friend's wedding a few years back, and was very impressed. Old Metroliner equipment, but nicely rehabbed.
I think trains are making a comeback here, but in the U.S. where the surge in ridership is taking place is on shorter hauls. Amtrak California's Capitol Corridor trains I believe exceeded their ridership projections ahead of schedule and more trains are being added between San Jose and Sacramento.
The ACE (Altamont Commuter Express) train between Stockton and San Jose is another success, although that one is a multi-agency operation and not run by Amtrak. They did a really nice job in the paint scheme on the locomotives and with the logo. And it runs through a nice bit of Bay Area back country that's very scenic and offers some great glamour shots for train enthusiasts.
This is where I think U.S. rail travel is headed. Long haul trains became a novel form of travel years ago and can't successfully operate without subidization, so I don't expect much to change with that. But I think we'll see a lot more commuter and short haul trains in the years ahead. Around here there's talk of reviving old rail bridges across the bay. I'm sure we aren't the only area that's looking into using old rights of way for modern day commute relief.
The ACE (Altamont Commuter Express) train between Stockton and San Jose is another success, although that one is a multi-agency operation and not run by Amtrak. They did a really nice job in the paint scheme on the locomotives and with the logo. And it runs through a nice bit of Bay Area back country that's very scenic and offers some great glamour shots for train enthusiasts.
This is where I think U.S. rail travel is headed. Long haul trains became a novel form of travel years ago and can't successfully operate without subidization, so I don't expect much to change with that. But I think we'll see a lot more commuter and short haul trains in the years ahead. Around here there's talk of reviving old rail bridges across the bay. I'm sure we aren't the only area that's looking into using old rights of way for modern day commute relief.
Even in the "glory days" of passenger trains, they were subsidized. The US mail was what kept most of them operating, and when the mail went to airplanes, the railroads lost interest in running the trains.
I still think that the long-distance trains serve a purpose for the folks in the rural areas that don't have air or bus service, as well as providing an alternative for city pairs (chicago-Minneapolis, Denver-SLC, etc) but you are probably right in that the real future lies in trips of four hours or less.
I still think that the long-distance trains serve a purpose for the folks in the rural areas that don't have air or bus service, as well as providing an alternative for city pairs (chicago-Minneapolis, Denver-SLC, etc) but you are probably right in that the real future lies in trips of four hours or less.
Yeah Dan, you have a point. A good example would be our 49th state (I don't dare call it by name out of fear of launching a misguided firestorm from the hair-trigger types) where the train is the only option across large expanses of territory.
I also love trains!
I live about a mile south of one of the last running electric interurbans, the Chicago, South Shore, and South Bend railway, or as we call it, the "south shore". The former NYC/ConRail/ now NS east west line also runs parallel with the South Shore, so I can do a lot of rail spotting! My sisters BF also works at the Robert Young yards in Elkhart, so I get a lot of stories.
http://southshore.railfan.net/
I live about a mile south of one of the last running electric interurbans, the Chicago, South Shore, and South Bend railway, or as we call it, the "south shore". The former NYC/ConRail/ now NS east west line also runs parallel with the South Shore, so I can do a lot of rail spotting! My sisters BF also works at the Robert Young yards in Elkhart, so I get a lot of stories.
http://southshore.railfan.net/
You guys can have your trains...
...as long as I can have my Steam Traction Engines!
Jeff
PS. That's me standing in the wheel...I'm 5'11" and I'm NOT telling my weight!
http://www.oklahomathreshers.org
...as long as I can have my Steam Traction Engines!
Jeff
PS. That's me standing in the wheel...I'm 5'11" and I'm NOT telling my weight!
http://www.oklahomathreshers.org
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