Bruce,
Yes, a very worthy cause -- and I can't help thinking you'd have a hard time enjoying yourself more by doing anything else with those funds.
BPoiBTW, have you heard anything about the Blackstone ProTraxx turnouts, i.e., will they ever happen or is it vaporware?
They'll be here eventually. I believe I recall a comment someone made after the National Narrow Gauge Convention to the effect of it being "soon." Blackstone has the K-28 and K-36 projects on the table right now and I suspect those have more than their share of company resources devoted to them. Since there's not yet been a final call for reservations, I suspect they will likely slip further, but at least one will be here in 2016.
Blackstone usually has another smaller project or two every year, with the short reefers being the 2015 edition. Major announcements like that are usually done at the NNGC. In addition to confirming when the next loco will be here, I'd expect the trunouts to be likely candidates to accompany that.
So nothing definitive, but as a longtime Blackstone watcher, I've got a hunch that's how it will go down.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Mike,
Thanks for the links--I would've replied sooner but those sent me down the Youtube rathole.
I'll have to think long and hard about doing it this summer, or maybe putting it off until next year. It IS pricey, but a) it's a once in a lifetime experience, and b) it's something I usually donate money to every year anyway. This would just be a different way of doing it.
Thanks,
Bruce
BTW, have you heard anything about the Blackstone ProTraxx turnouts, i.e., will they ever happen or is it vaporware?
Mark,
Here's the link the relevant webpage:
http://cumbrestoltec.com/engineer-fireman-school/
Cost for the 4 day course ranges from $2250 to $5000. You must take the lower-level courses to qualify for the more advanced ones. It's pricey, but where else can you buy a ticket for an experience like that (as well as underwrite a great cause, keeping steam narrowgauge railroading alive)?
Any idea on cost? Looks like it would be very interesting!
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
Never had the pleasure, but Roger Hogan has some videos of past engineer/fireman schools up. This link takes you to a cab ride in 463 from the last one in 2014, the advanced class in September.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp2MHZIzGr4&feature=youtu.be
This one is the first of 3 doing yard work with the class on 463.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96VwOqyl22k&feature=youtu.be
If you do a search at the Narrow Gauge Discussion Forum using the term "fireman school" and select "All Dates" for the time frame you'll come up with lots more and lots of discussion about past schools.
http://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/list.php?1
I'm wondering if anyone here has done the fireman's school at the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and what you thought the positives and negatives were.