As a kid, I had an O-scale toy train layout. I don't remember the brand. But I do remember the locomotive: Pennsylvania RR F-unit. Thing is, I knew the "A" unit was a locomotive, because it has a cab. But there was this other thing, I dunno, it looked like a boxcar to a kid. Sort-of shaped like a boxcar. But it had round porthole windows, a fuel tank, and fans & exhaust stacks on the roof. What did I know, I thought it was a weird boxcar. Then I went to Boston with Dad, and he showed me the North Station train platform. In comes a train, led by a bulldog-nosed locomotive. Cool! I was 6 feet away, heard the rumble, felt the heat, smelled the fumes. AND THEN...right behind it, was that weird boxcar I had at home, only full size. Again I heard the rumble, felt the heat, smelled the fumes. It was something I didn't know existed. It was a cabless "B" unit! Revelation for a kid.
Great story! How 'bout this:
I was lucky to see K4 1361 run in York in '88. I had made a special trip from Los Angeles just to see this engine in steam. Upon arriving in York on Saturday morning, we headed downtown to where the train was parked between runs. A good sized crowd surrounded the locomotive. I worked my way up to get a picture, and a thought flashed into my mind:
" it looks just like the model".....
Paul
F Units in Boston, and (old) North Station... two things that I never got to see! I think they demolished the Boston Garden building when I was around 3 or 4 years old. I never really 'got' what a B-Unit was until I got older... I remember as I kid I used to think they were like tenders, but for diesel locomotives!I'm trying to think if I have any good stories in this vein, but nothing's coming to me yet. I'll keep thinking!-Ellie
"Unless bought from a known and trusted dealer who can vouch otherwise, assume every train for sale requires servicing before use"
My "If I knew then..." story?
In 1975 I was on a bus heading north on a highway overpass that overlooked the yard at Washington Union Station. I got a good look at the staged locomotives, in this case Penn Central GG1's, and said to myself "Wow! Look at those old Art Deco diesels! I didn't think there were any around like that anymore!"
I wasn't a railfan or toy train hobbyist at the time, so what did I know?
I did think they were pretty cool-looking though! How can you not like a locomotive that looks like it was popped out of a Jell-O mold?
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month