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Old Timers, Remember These!

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PAUL161

PAUL161

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Memories. When I was a kid, we used to set by the tracks and wait for one of these to pass. Out in the country, you could feel it as it shook the ground from a half mile away. The engineer and fireman always gave a big wave to us and when the whole train passed, the crew in the caboose would wave and holler to us also. It was the highlight of our day! The one in the photo I believe was fueled with fuel oil, most of them though were fueled with coal. I can still smell the soft coal burning. Wish they were still running, but, that's the price of progress. PJ

BO5600.jpg
 
Paul - great picture! When I was a kid back in the early 1950s, my dad took me and my brother down to the great Fort Worth railyards, to see th elast steam locomotive pull in with its last load.

When it stopped, dad asked the guys in the cab if we could come up and take a look. We climbed the iron steps, and actually rode in the locomotive while the train moved another mile or two down the track.

Talk about a massive display of raw power, with valves, steam, brass gauges and handles all around. And not a digital readout in sight.

Rule 14L: dah dah dit dah

Very cool.

Tom
 
When I was a kid back in the olde country, we used to put a coin on the track and retrieve it after the "Puffing Billy" had run over it.

Simpler times...
 
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Paul, growing up in Roanoke, VA, trains were part of the wallpaper. Roanoke was incorporated in the 1870s as the railroads came through. In about 1870, Roanoke became Corporate Headquarters for the Norfolk & Western Railway (now just NS - Norfolk Southern).

N&W's fabrication shops have been located in Roanoke since the late 1800s and they built steam engines and rolling stock right there in the Roanoke shops. Lord knows how many zillions of tons of coal these engines hauled out of the West VA mountains over the years.

Possibly the most famous engine was the storied 911, a beautiful, streamlined machine that could reach speeds of over 115 MPH. This N&W model set the standard for late-production steam engines and was never surpassed technologically. It is a work of art, no less.

In the later 1980's, NS completely restored this engine in the Roanoke shops. In fact, NS CEO John Snow (before he became U.S. Treasury Secretary) got in a bit of "trouble" during the newly restored 911's shakedown run when the media found that he was at the 911's throttle going somewhere north of 100 MPH! Can you imagine what a rush that would be??? :yesnod:

This locomotive represents the pinnacle of steam locomotive technology. I've seen her in action a few times, and she's magnificent, almost like she's alive. She shakes the ground as she passes!

Roanoke also has a wonderful transportation museum with other steam engines. Truly a pice of history, these great machines.
 
I have a fondness for old Railway Engines, in particular the old Great Western Railway, and even more particularly their Catle and King class locos.
This picture shows the King George V at Gloucester, my home town, some years ago. The preservation of this engine owes something to my late cousin, Alan Ryder, who was a director of Bulmer's Cider in Hereford and also a steam train enthusiast.

This engine even has an American connection, and wears a bell as a result. It's well and accurately described in Wikipedia.
 
That is an odd engine.
A 1937 B&O "Duplex" (everybody thinks only the PRR had Duplexes).
It is NOT a 4-8-4, rather a 4-4-4-4.
Rigid frame, front two drivers separated from rear two, driven from opposite ends.
Named the "George Emerson" if I recall.
Look closely at the photo. Engine, tender, hopper, box....and what appears to be an early EMD "F" unit diseasemal.

Being B&O, coal fired steam is a more likely fuel...
 
About 20 mins from my house is where you can see them then go across the street and ride them.
 
When I was a child of five to ten we would visit relatives in Bethpage Long Island near the LIRR about a block away. We would spend all day just roaming the tracks, waiting for the steam locomotives. We always pulled in the air to signal we wanted them to blow their whistle. We left a few pennies on the tracks for keepsakes. Never were able to get a nickle to flatten. I think the wheels just spit them out and we never found them again. It was fun to climb on the open box cars on the siding. Now a days we would be arrested as potential terrorist.
 
Great pictures, I grew up next to a rail yard. In the summer months, with my windows open, Iwould go to sleep at night listening to the trains banging around. To this day if I'm first in line at a rail crossing when a train is going by I nod off...is that not a good thing?
 
Last one thru our area was when we were about two or three. Granddad took us down thru the woods (mebbe 100 yards) to watch it go by. Fire breathing dragons occupied my dreams for years after. :jester:

Actually, I loved it!
 
My Paternal Grandfather was a steam locomotive engineer for the L&N. Never got to ride with him, but maternal Grandfather was a conductor ( from the age of 17 to 70) on the Great Southern and got to ride with him some in the age of steam and diesel electric. He would let me hang out the door windows between cars and I still remember picking cinders out of my eyes.

Then there was the time he let me ride in the engine (diesel). We were running about 75 mph across middle of AL between B'ham and Meridian, MS, approaching the small town of Cuba, AL, and I'm having a ball blowing the horn and ringing the bell, when a loaded pulp wood truck tried to beat us to the crossing. He almost made it...but missed it by that much. There were three guys, one truck, and pine logs in the air all at one time, plus the crossing signal going down. A sight that, though it happened 59 years ago, is as clear in my mind as the day it happened.

No one was badly injured, other than the old truck. Pa and I talked about that event and other stories from the RR every time we were together for the rest of his life. He really had some stories to tell. He died at the age of 97.

My maternal Great Grandfather was also an engineer in the 1880's and died after a wreck when his engine turned over and he was scalded to death by the steam, early 1890's. I still have the news paper article.

A time in America to be celebrated and remembered.
 
bgbassplyr said:
My maternal Great Grandfather was also an engineer in the 1880's and died after a wreck when his engine turned over and he was scalded to death by the steam, early 1890's. I still have the news paper article.

A time in America to be celebrated and remembered.
Click to expand...

Was he "the brave engineer that runned ol' 97"?
 
No, but the result was the same. I believe he was killed in AL. Can't locate the clipping right now.
 
I've always liked this song....

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Gliderman8 said:
About 20 mins from my house is where you can see them then go across the street and ride them.
Click to expand...

Elliot, The wife and I rode the Stroudsburg train when our boys were 9&10 years old. The kids loved it. That's been many years ago. Been a long time since I've been in Pennsylvania. Quite a beautiful state! PJ
 
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