Waaay off topic. For Maven...

[XBT]

and all others who like the old engines. This is a reproduction of the Jupiter, which took part in the May 10, 1869 ceremony that joined the transcontinental railroad at Promonory Summit.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/retiredBT/RRJupitercomp.jpg

The original Jupter is shown at left in the famous picture below.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/retiredBT/goldenspike.jpg

More information at: www.cprr.org

[Maven]

XBT, Thanks for posting the photo of "Jupiter." Were you, by any chance the photographer or present at the event?

[Gunload Master]

That is a really neat Engine.

[XBT]

Maven, I’m ashamed to report that I’ve never attended the re-enactment. I don’t live all that far away, but I never seem to get around to going.

Someday….

Jim

[shooter575]

That is a nice 4-4-0 called a "American" type. The General of C/W fame is on display near Alanta Ga. Henry Ford museum in Dearborn Mi has the 999 that set a speed record of 100 miles a hour in 1899 I think.Has a wide firebox and real tall drivers. 80" comes to mind. They also have a 440 that runs in the village. Yup Steam is cool

[Buckshot]

..................Regardless of a persons interests in life, if they stood by the right of way while a steam locomotive hammered past and they didn't feel awe and a tightening in the chest, they're effectively walking around dead.

..............Buckshot

[MARCORVET]

Now, now! Most people have no idea what you mean when you say it's a 4-4-0, or a 4-8-4, or even a 2-4-4-2 articulated! Someone should enlighten them. We used to have a steamer run through here every few months when I was a kid. Haven't seen one moving in years. I sure do miss them though.

[XBT]

Posted by Buckshot ..................Regardless of a persons interests in life, if they stood by the right of way while a steam locomotive hammered past and they didn't feel awe and a tightening in the chest, they're effectively walking around dead.

..............Buckshot

Well said, Buckshot.

I still remember the first diesel locomotive I saw. I was standing by the tracks when it went by and wondered how it could possibly pull all those cars with so little noise and commotion. I remember being somewhat disappointed and thinking it was a poor substitute for a REAL engine.
Jim

[C1PNR]

I'll never forget a couple of train trips from Oklahoma to Idaho, back in the "olden" days (when my hair was all black and I couldn't even raise a beard). They always hooked on a "Steamer" on the East side of the Rockies coming West, and again on the West side when heading back to Oklahoma. Needed the help to get over them Mountains!

There's some talk in town now about moving "Big Mike" (I'll have to check out it's exact running gear nomenclature) from Julia Davis Park to the old Depot. I'll have to donate something to that process.

[Buckshot]

............Due to industrialization in Los Angeles and the smaller cities clumped around it, the Southern Pacific used to have to run it's cab forward articulateds down tracks in the city streets on occasion! Wouldn't THAT have been a sight? I'd seen photo's of a couple examples and they sure fill up the street [smilie=l:

I've got a book by Lucius Beebe that has a couple shots of a double headed passanger train climbing Cajon Pass out of the San Bernardino valley, with a banker on the back end. These were the steel pullman cars. All 3 of'em were blasting exhaust must have been 40' in the air.

A few years ago when my daughter was in college in Columbia, CA we'd gone over to Sonora, all up in the gold country. The railroad there is used for a lot of steam locomotive movie stuff. Petticoat Junction was shot there, Back to the Future III, etc. The day we were there they had their Shay out pulling the 2 excursion coaches. Not a very large locomotive and it sounds like it's going about a hundred when it's doing maybe 15 mph.

When they pulled into the station they had a whole crew out oiling it. They have the roundhouse and shops there. Most of the people working in the shop are volunteers. They have some large heavy equipment in there!

...........Buckshot