Steam Glory2 (Simply incredible!)

[Trainmaster.Curt]

I purchased my first "new" Kalmbach magazine yesterday from the local Shoppers Drug Mart. Steam Glory2, and it is awesome, especially cause i never grew up in the steam era. The only other mags i had were old Trains magazines from the 50's along with a "Railroad" magazine. But this mag is awesome, so many photos so many stories, and i'm happy about the (Crown Steam 1954 article) which shows Canadian Steam at work. I am very unfamiliar with U.S railroads, except for BNSF and Soo Line, which run through Manitoba. Kudos to the creators of this mag, i give for this one. Also i think if you make a Steam Glory3, it should be completely about current Steam Excursion railways in North America, me being fortunate to live in the Keystone Province where we have the Prairie Dog Central, and the Old No.3 engine which is being fully overhauled, and should be ready this year for her 125th birthday. It is one of the Oldest, if not the oldest continuous running Vintage Railway in North America. The engine was made by Dubs and Co of Glasgow Scotland in 1882, and sent over as new power for the CPR, it then went to the Winnipeg Light and Power co, which later became Winnipeg Hydro. If you want to see video on it's restoration and a cool set of videos, just click on the link below.

http://pdcrailway.com/video_clips.htm

[egmurphy]

I second your comments on how good the issue was.  I just finished reading mine a couple of days ago.  I don't recall anything in it that wasn't interesting (at least to me).  Didn't even have to skip around, I read it from cover to cover.

Regards

Ed

[Trainmaster.Curt]

I also liked the Pennsy K4 Pacifics, the headlight reminds me of images of high-headlighted CPR Consols that appear in Greg McDonnell's book Signatures In Steel. At least this summer i should be going to Stettler Alberta where my girlfriend comes from to see the APR and the 6060.

http://www.6060.org/

[daveklepper]

Does an issue of Classic Trains devoted COMPLETELY to restored steam make sense?   Is this what CLASSIC Trains is supposed to be about?   Classic isn't "restored" or "today".   It is the kind of thing you read in the issue.   There is lots of ground still to be explored.   How about comparing the motive power steam-age decisions of the PRR and the NYC?   (The C&O-copy J-3's 2-10-4's were the only "super power" the PRR had unless you count the Duplexes, of which only the T-1 was produced in quantity.)  Have the green and gold Pacifics of the Southern been discussed enough?   Why did the Souther NEVER own any locomotive with a four-wheel trailing truck?   Lorree and the elephant-eared D&H power.   Henry Ford and steam locomotives!   (Detroit Toledo and Ironton).   Steam on the Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Chicago elevated railways!  (Including, believe it or not, LIRR steam on the Brooklyn 5th Avenue elevated from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street after the elevated itself was electrified!)

 

 

Restored and operating steam is generally well-covered in TRAINS, including the Chinese 2-10-2's just imported.

[selector]

I loved the issue, and regret not having the first...although I'm sure I could get one from Kalmbach.

I think they are doing a fine job, and I hope like heck a whole bunch of others continue to support this series.  I don't much care what is in them as long as it is varied, has lots of photos will pertinent information, and has lots of first-hand anecdotes/stories.  This last is really important for historical purposes.

All that said, I would be pleased to see a piece on either the CN or CPR, particularly the CPR helper districts where the 2-10-4 Selkirks were in service.

[daveklepper]

I agree a CPR/CN issue would make a lot of sense, and answer the question:

Why did Canadian steam, both railroads, linger longer than USA's (except for the N&W)?

Note also that the February issue of TRAINS has wonderful coverage of the Chinese 2-10-2's and should delight everyone wanting to see steam action today.

[Redwards]

I really enjoyed Steam Glory 2.  I would be very interested in picking up a copy of Steam Glory 1 but it doesn't appear to be available as a back issue.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.  I'm particularly interested in reading "Supernovas of Steam" by J. Parker Lamb.  Does anyone know if this article was an excerpt from his book "Perfecting the American Steam Locomotive"?

Current steam operations seem to be covered fairly thoroughly elsewhere although I would be intrested in reading about the history of excursion steam.  e.g. Reading's Iron Horse Rambles, the history of NS's steam program, the employee led restoration of UP 3985...etc.

--Reed  

[daveklepper]

Along with the history of steam restorations, possibly a history of railfanning and railfan trips might be interesting.   I think the first bona fide railfan trip was one on the Hoosack Tunnel and Wilmington, a short line connecting with the B&M and using 19-th Centry equipmentg, sometime in the 1930's.  Steam. of course.

[egmurphy]

I would be very interested in picking up a copy of Steam Glory 1 but it doesn't appear to be available as a back issue.

I realize that it doesn't show up on their website, but have you thought about calling Kalmbach Customer Service Department and asking? 

 

I'm particularly interested in reading "Supernovas of Steam" by J. Parker Lamb.  Does anyone know if this article was an excerpt from his book "Perfecting the American Steam Locomotive"?

At the bottom of the first page of that article it says: "This article is adapted from the author's book Perfecting the American Steam Locomotive."  The article it self is only 5 pages long.

By the way, they appear to be advertising a new special issue, In Search of Steam.  "The editors of Classic Trains are proud to present In Search of Steam, the all new, special collector's issue that celebrates the final years of steam railroading in the United States and Canada. You'll go back to the mid-1950's, when steam was about to give way to diesels forever."

See: http://www.trains.com/ctr/default.aspx?c=prods&id=1

Regards

Ed

[selector]

Thanks, Ed! 

-Crandell

[Redwards]

Thanks for the information Ed.  I will try calling tomorrow on the off chance they still have a copy or two.

--Reed

[Trainmaster.Curt]

You can't forget David P Morgan and Philip R Hastings "In search of steam" and "Smoke over the prairies"  If you like steam, i reccommend checking out http://www.railinnovations.com  I purchased their DVD "Prairie Contrasts" and it is awesome, it's actually two seperate VHS titles in one, digitally enhanced. "Manitoba Steam in the 50's" is a real treat, as i never grew up in the steam era, though i saw the Old No.3 steam it up in Transcona and at St.James a few times. The second video shows after 1990 footage of main line freights and VIA Trains, and also branch line Wayfreights and grain peddlers, which i so fondly remember growing up, and some branches and shortlines still in 2007 serve elevators like the SMNR.

[feltonhill]

Supernovas of Steam was excerpted from Perfecting the American Steam Locomotive, but there are enough differences between SNofS and the chapter containing that subject in PASL to make reading both worthwhile if you can get a copy.  SNoS is probably the best if you only want one of the two sources.  J Parker Lamb has written some very reasonable observations about these controversial PRR locomotives.

[Redwards]

Thanks Feltonhill - I'm (slowly) making my way through the list of books/articles on the PRR duplexes that you and others had recommended.

--Reed

[underworld]

Sounds like a great issue! I'll have to go pick one up.

underworld