Chasing The Pere Marquette 1225: My First BIG Steam Experience!

[dinwitty]

for the smoke they prolly turn on the firebox steam, and shut them off.

The Lima Berks are efficient steamers. Little smoke.
Hot fire. Complete burn.

[Anonymous]

Sure would be cool if it did Craig. I'm unsure about 1225's future now though. Tisby is up for bids next year. Hope 1225 will still be able to run.

[eng22]

Jonathon,

Howell is half way between Ann Arbor and Durand on the line. I sure would like to see it come down this way some day.

[cmgn8905]

The only railroad that goes through my town of Vassar is The Huron and Eastern. Occasionally we will get a Central Michigan locomotive.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by eng22

Jonathon,

The TSBY line is about 150 yards from my house in Howell, I have a clear view of them and see the trains daily. GREAT shots of the 1225, someday I must see it in person.

Cool! Is Howell on the line between Owosso and Cadillac, or is it north of Cadillac? If it's south of it you may have seen the 1225, as the run it up to Cadillac once or twice a year. They never run it north of Caddy, though, because of weight restrictions on a bridge. That will change next year, however, when SRI finishes restoring the 2-8-0 they aquirred and then they'll have a locomotive to run everywhere.

[eng22]

Jonathon,

The TSBY line is about 150 yards from my house in Howell, I have a clear view of them and see the trains daily. GREAT shots of the 1225, someday I must see it in person.

[Anonymous]

Wow! Nice shots Craig! Do you live near the TSBY?

[eng22]

Love the TISBY

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fmilhaupt

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy
Another funny thing, Proto 2000 Heritage makes their HO Berkshires in Pere Marquette, but they haven't done one numbered for 1225 or 1223, the other surviving PM berk.

This is because, unfortunately, the way they designed their tooling, none of the combinations work out to make an accurate PM N-1 Berkshire like 1223 or 1225. The way they did it, they can make an accurate N class and N2 class Berkshire.

By the way, the sample PM Berkshire they showed in ads this Fall and the Walthers catalog is supposed to use their N2 body, not the N body they used. Luckily, when it was pointed out to them, they still had time to rearrange things so that the correct number will go on the right body (the N class body and the N2 bodies are different enough that you can tell from eight feet away). The PM Berkshires in the upcoming run, #1235, 1236 and 1239, are all N2s.

Now, if they'd only make replacement driver sets available for those of us who bought their first-run PM Berkshires and ended up with those shiny drivers that seem to run on the driver centers. I'd been planning on buying six, but luckily I only bought two of 'em before I found out about that gaffe. I'd gladly spend some extra money to make them look right (though for the price I paid for them, I really shouldn't have to), if they'd just offer the opportunity. At least they corrected the driver tooling on subsequent runs.

Ah, that explains a lot. Thanks!

[fmilhaupt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by modlerbob

Seein that Berk makes me want to get out my Riv. PM Berk and take it to the club and run a while. Alco AAR trucks on GP35's aren't uncommon. Most of the SOU railway's GP35's were that way because of Alco 1st generation trade ins for the 35's.

Bob DeWoody

Similarly, the Soo Line and GM&O had GP30s which rode on Alco trucks from trade-in FAs.

[Anonymous]

Seein that Berk makes me want to get out my Riv. PM Berk and take it to the club and run a while. Alco AAR trucks on GP35's aren't uncommon. Most of the SOU railway's GP35's were that way because of Alco 1st generation trade ins for the 35's.

Bob DeWoody

[Anonymous]

Awesome pics!

[fmilhaupt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy
Another funny thing, Proto 2000 Heritage makes their HO Berkshires in Pere Marquette, but they haven't done one numbered for 1225 or 1223, the other surviving PM berk.

This is because, unfortunately, the way they designed their tooling, none of the combinations work out to make an accurate PM N-1 Berkshire like 1223 or 1225. The way they did it, they can make an accurate N class and N2 class Berkshire.

By the way, the sample PM Berkshire they showed in ads this Fall and the Walthers catalog is supposed to use their N2 body, not the N body they used. Luckily, when it was pointed out to them, they still had time to rearrange things so that the correct number will go on the right body (the N class body and the N2 bodies are different enough that you can tell from eight feet away). The PM Berkshires in the upcoming run, #1235, 1236 and 1239, are all N2s.

Now, if they'd only make replacement driver sets available for those of us who bought their first-run PM Berkshires and ended up with those shiny drivers that seem to run on the driver centers. I'd been planning on buying six, but luckily I only bought two of 'em before I found out about that gaffe. I'd gladly spend some extra money to make them look right (though for the price I paid for them, I really shouldn't have to), if they'd just offer the opportunity. At least they corrected the driver tooling on subsequent runs.

[Anonymous]

Good shots. Making the oncoming thunder shot my desktop background for a few days.

=)

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the invite William! Yeah, I would think Athearn could make one in TSBY colors since they're doing one in Ann Arbor and they have one with Alco trucks.

Another funny thing, Proto 2000 Heritage makes their HO Berkshires in Pere Marquette, but they haven't done one numbered for 1225 or 1223, the other surviving PM berk.

[Anonymous]

[/b]Jon:[/b]

QUOTE: I agree 100%. The Tisby would be a very cool RR to model. You'd have to modify a bunch of GP35s with Alco trucks, although Athearn just released a new run of RTR GP35s in Ann Arbor and in another road that has Alco trucks.

I wonder, if we leaned on Athearn, if they would produce a GP35 in TSBY colors, and with ALCO Trucks. It's not that big of a stretch since they're doing Ann Arbor RR already. If you find that they do SOUND OFF cuz I wouldn't mind adding a short line to my plans.

As a point of information, I'm now half the state away due East of Traverse City. About 18 miles East of Grayling. If you're ever in the area, let me know in the CS, and stop in. Duke has, and we even fed him lunch.

Bill North

[Anonymous]

Bill,

Very cool! The 385 was the first TSBY engine I saw. Actually, I live in Grand Rapids and railfan CSX, but I railfan TSBY a lot when I go up to Traverse City for a week every summer. Very cool railroad, really friendly crews, too!

I agree 100%. The Tisby would be a very cool RR to model. You'd have to modify a bunch of GP35s with Alco trucks, although Athearn just released a new run of RTR GP35s in Ann Arbor and in another road that has Alco trucks.

[Anonymous]

Jonathon,

The TSBY #385 picture that you published, is one that I was on, and took pictures of. The only problem is, I can't find my library of RR photos since I moved. They still may be at the storage unit. I may also be able to post it, in it's original colors. I used to live in Howell MI, and the TSBYs track ran right through town. I don't know if they did it with all of the Loco's, but where they could, they kept the same ID Numbers after the repaint.

You seem to know a lot about the TSBY. Where do you live??? I could see the trains go by, down at the end of my street. (In Howell) Some times there would be as high as six Loco's on one train hauling covered hoppers. They move a lot of hoppers. They're also a great bunch of guys as well.

QUOTE: As for the GP35 with Alco trucks, every TSBY (Tuscola & Saginaw Bay RR) GP35 has them. Infact, except for an NW2, every locomotive TSBY has is a GP35! 7 are ex Ann Arbor low nose units that have Alco trucks and traction motors from the FAs that were used as trade-in credit at EMD.

I concur 100%.

The TSBY would be an excellent choice for a bedroom layout. It's a well run short line.

Later,
Bill North [^]

[Anonymous]

Again guys, many thanks. The 1225 doesn't run that much. Maybe 3 times a year and then the roughly 8 Polar Express runs in January. Glad I could catch her. She was supposed to come to Grand Rapids (my town) last year for the movie premier of the Polar Express, but CSX said no!

[selector]

Very nice touch with those photos. And the engine seems to be a perennial favourite with the steam crowd...nice lines. Your best shot, in my opinion, is the one entering the crossing. I hope you are good and proud of that one! [tup][tup]

[PennsyHoosier]

WOW! WOW! WOW!

Great pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[howmus]

Beautiful, simply beautiful!

[tmcc man]

That is weird how the engines all have ALCo trucks, and traction motors as well.

[TrainFreak409]

Great pictures! My favorite photo is the shot with the "Awesome" caption. Good work keeping up with the Polar Express!

[Anonymous]

Thought you guys might like to see one of the ex Ann Arbor GP35s. Caught these two sitting in Traverse City, MI with a Lake Central Railtours train.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the kind words everyone! It was the best weekend of railfanning I ever did and it was my first time seeing a steamer bigger than a 4-4-0 in action.

As for the GP35 with Alco trucks, every TSBY (Tuscola & Saginaw Bay RR) GP35 has them. Infact, except for an NW2, every locomotive TSBY has is a GP35! 7 are ex Ann Arbor low nose units that have Alco trucks and traction motors from the FAs that were used as trade-in credit at EMD. The two remaining high nose 35s (they originally had 4) are ex Southern and I'm unsure as to how they got their Alco trucks.

[tmcc man]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainboyH16-44

Nice pics, Jon! I didn't know you caught a GP35! With ALCo trucks, nonetheless! Good job!

I did not notice that at first, but I did a double take on it and I was suprised. Great photos though.

[ericboone]

If you ever get a chance to catch the 1225 on a trip through Mt Pleasant, there is a great shot from an overpass about a mile south of the depot.

[Anonymous]

[bow] ** FANTASTIC! ** [bow]

Great shots Jonathon, thanx for sharing them, I need to show this to my Michigan friends.