Vintage trains

[Blackthorn]

I love trains, always have, and in the last year I have seen some interesting ones. Some nice, some ugly and deserted, but all could tell an interesting story if they could talk:

Last year in Railtown 1897, Jamestown, CA. This train has been in some Hollywood movies:

and yours truly looking out the window of that train:

a couple of weeks ago I was here:

and even though the place was closed, I got a few pics, some at odd angles thru the fence:

In Paradise, CA, the small train museum there in an old depot:

 

[Blackthorn]

These were in this museum:

 

[Blackthorn]

My wife is claiming to be baggage. NOT true, lol:

Here's a hobo jumping onto a freight car:

 

[Blackthorn]

And last but not least, a engine and a freight car, relics of the past in my small town. They are plug ugly, but I like them because of that. They have "warts and all" history:

 

[1930artdeco]

Blackthorn,

Do they still have the cab forward at the state museum? That was and is my favorite train. It is like a street car on steroids.

Mike

 

[Blackthorn]

Blackthorn,

Do they still have the cab forward at the state museum? That was and is my favorite train. It is like a street car on steroids.

Mike

Mike, I'm not sure what a cab forward is. I'm thinking...I know there were other exhibits that I didn't get to, so my guess is that they do. I live an hour and a half north of this museum, so I don't get down there much, or I'd check it out for you.

 

[GHT]

Blackthorn, my first thoughts were, you must be a train aficionado, I too enjoy that mode of travel, and somehow that evocative smell of oil and water, that is a steam train is just magical. It broke my heart to learn that not one of your beautiful art deco inspired steam engines were preserved in some sort of museum. They were either scrapped, or ended up rusting in the siding of a private buyer, who, with good intention, intended to restore it, but as always the case, there just wasn't enough bucks to complete the dream.

One of my favourite visits to your country, was when we stayed at the old Chatanooga Station, now a hotel. The hotel rooms were sleeper cars, all lined up, as if ready to leave for who knows where. But that was twenty years ago, I do hope that Chatanooga Station survived.

On our side of the pond, we had a big restructure in the early 1960's when 11,000 miles of track and their stations were closed. But many an enthusiast got together and ressurected some of those derilect lines, so that today we have an amazing number of what is refered to as: Heritage lines. You can have a look at how many and where they are: by clicking on this link. but best of all, save your pennies, and come on over to Europe and the UK for a rail buff's vacation. Put it on your bucket list of things to do before you die.

 

[Blackthorn]

Blackthorn, my first thoughts were, you must be a train aficionado, I too enjoy that mode of travel, and somehow that evocative smell of oil and water, that is a steam train is just magical. It broke my heart to learn that not one of your beautiful art deco inspired steam engines were preserved in some sort of museum. They were either scrapped, or ended up rusting in the siding of a private buyer, who, with good intention, intended to restore it, but as always the case, there just wasn't enough bucks to complete the dream.

One of my favourite visits to your country, was when we stayed at the old Chatanooga Station, now a hotel. The hotel rooms were sleeper cars, all lined up, as if ready to leave for who knows where. But that was twenty years ago, I do hope that Chatanooga Station survived.

On our side of the pond, we had a big restructure in the early 1960's when 11,000 miles of track and their stations were closed. But many an enthusiast got together and ressurected some of those derilect lines, so that today we have an amazing number of what is refered to as: Heritage lines. You can have a look at how many and where they are: by clicking on this link. but best of all, save your pennies, and come on over to Europe and the UK for a rail buff's vacation. Put it on your bucket list of things to do before you die.

Very interesting, GHT! Thanks for that link!

A couple of weeks ago as we drove home from the Oregon trip where I got some of the above pics, we saw a village near the road where they bought a number of cabooses and turned them into hotel rooms. That will be our next item on the bucket list locally.

My wife and I were just talking this morning about maybe coming over to Europe and visiting Amsterdam, Berlin, Warsaw and Belgium, via train. It may take us a couple of years to set it up, but we are going to start doing research. What a great adventure that will be!

Over the years I have ridden on trains in China (many times), Spain, Morocco, and Ireland. It was those experiences that made me love them.

Back here in the states, even in the last year I have seen a number of vintage trains that I didn't have time (or the good weather) to photograph. So as experience allows, I'll add to this thread, and I hope many others of you will, also.

 

[GHT]

You are welcome my friend. Did you ever see The Orient Express Thread?

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Mike, I'm not sure what a cab forward is. I'm thinking...I know there were other exhibits that I didn't get to, so my guess is that they do. I live an hour and a half north of this museum, so I don't get down there much, or I'd check it out for you.

SP Cab Forward -- The cab forward design was to keep train crews from being overcome by smoke in long tunnels.

 

[Blackthorn]

You are welcome my friend. Did you ever see The Orient Express Thread?

No, I hadn't seen that, thank you, my friend.

 

[Blackthorn]

SP Cab Forward -- The cab forward design was to keep train crews from being overcome by smoke in long tunnels.

Ah, excellent, thank you V.C. Now I understand, and will look for it the next time I'm in Sacramento.

 

[DesertDan]

Great pics Blackthorn!
I love trains, especially the old Streamliners.
Lord, the things we have lost.

 

[Blackthorn]

So true, Dan. Thanks for the kind words!

 

[Ghostsoldier]

I love trains, too, Blackthorn...the UP "Big Boy" 4000-series 4-8-8-4 being my favorite, all-time steam engine. Here's some pics from a few years ago in Steamtown, Scranton, PA, where No. 4012 is in display...







The best news is this: UP has re-acquired No. 4014 from California, and is in the process of restoring her to operational condition in their Wyoming shops...seeing this thing "live" and in the flesh is high on my bucket list, for sure!

http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2014/05/09/news/19local_05-09-14.txt#.U9MYu1f5lCA

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=479640

Rob

 

[buelligan]

Heres a 30 minute long video of UP Big Boy 4014 coming home. That would have been one heck of an experience.

[video=youtube;fLDbPvXgnwE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLDbPvXgnwE[/video]

 

[Blackthorn]

Great pics, Rob, and Thanks for that video, Beulligan, very cool!

 

[Frk.W]

I'll bite! I like trains and other forms of rail transport, and do railway-related things every now and then. In September I'm going in the annual vintage train journey to the Swedish national railway museum in Gävle, which is always fun, and this year the train will be drawn by the only surviving, still functioning steam F class locomotive in Sweden, the largest nationally produced steam engine, which pulled express trains from 1914-16 to the mid- to late 1930's, when they hade been all but replaced by electrical engines and were sold to Denmark. Sweden was electrified early. This particular locomotive, F1200, also has the dubious honour of being the one involved in the worst train crash in Sweden, in 1918. It was repaired and did a number of years in service after the accident, before being sold and later bought back to Sweden by the museum.





Third class passenger car, 1930's.



1950's second class interior.



From left an O class electrical locomotive, 1940's, freshly renovated and functional, originally from a smaller regional railway company; the orange one is the 1950's express Ra class engine that pulled our train from Stockholm to Gävle and back, and various vintage passenger cars.



Better photo of another Ra class express locomotive. These were built in Sweden from 1955 on and were in use to the 1990's. Ten were built and at least five or six of them are owned, maintained and run by museums and vintage railway organisations today.



Interior of a 1935 dining car, still in use by a vintage railway organisation. We volunteered as serving staff in this one.



One of the local public transport lines in Stockholm do regular outings with their vintage vehicles every now and then. Narrow gauge EMU, 891 mm, 1920's, with wood paneling(!).



We did a gig with the fife and drum corps in a small town that has a vintage tram line. Went along with the tram for a bit, jumped off and played a couple of tunes on the platform, hopped on again and so on. Trams are fun too.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I Love the old steam trains, the sounds and smells can not be matched really by modern diesels or electrics. As another poster has mentioned we do have a fair number of preserved old branch lines run by volunteers where you can still ride on a steam train here in the UK. The older carriages are in many ways far more comfortable than modern rolling stock. there are also some special charter steam trains that run on the main lines and to travel on one of these is a lovely experience if all goes to plan. Seeing the reaction of passengers awaiting regular trains when one of these steam specials rushes through the railway stations is quite interesting too, total surprise and then a smile.

 

[Blackthorn]

I'll bite! I like trains and other forms of rail transport, and do railway-related things every now and then. In September I'm going in the annual vintage train journey to the Swedish national railway museum in Gävle, which is always fun, and this year the train will be drawn by the only surviving, still functioning steam F class locomotive in Sweden, the largest nationally produced steam engine, which pulled express trains from 1914-16 to the mid- to late 1930's, when they hade been all but replaced by electrical engines and were sold to Denmark. Sweden was electrified early. This particular locomotive, F1200, also has the dubious honour of being the one involved in the worst train crash in Sweden, in 1918. It was repaired and did a number of years in service after the accident, before being sold and later bought back to Sweden by the museum.



View attachment 16011

Third class passenger car, 1930's.

View attachment 16013

1950's second class interior.

View attachment 16012

From left an O class electrical locomotive, 1940's, freshly renovated and functional, originally from a smaller regional railway company; the orange one is the 1950's express Ra class engine that pulled our train from Stockholm to Gävle and back, and various vintage passenger cars.

View attachment 16014

Better photo of another Ra class express locomotive. These were built in Sweden from 1955 on and were in use to the 1990's. Ten were built and at least five or six of them are owned, maintained and run by museums and vintage railway organisations today.

View attachment 16015

Interior of a 1935 dining car, still in use by a vintage railway organisation. We volunteered as serving staff in this one.

View attachment 16016

One of the local public transport lines in Stockholm do regular outings with their vintage vehicles every now and then. Narrow gauge EMU, 891 mm, 1920's, with wood paneling(!).

View attachment 16017

We did a gig with the fife and drum corps in a small town that has a vintage tram line. Went along with the tram for a bit, jumped off and played a couple of tunes on the platform, hopped on again and so on. Trams are fun too.

WOW, I love these pictures, Frk. W!!! Excellent!