Big Steam is back road trip 2016

 We didn’t suffer through a ferocious winter in Wisconsin this year. That usually builds up a pent up demand to escape to someplace warm. Nevertheless, I am ready for a spring road trip in search of steam (thank you Mike Eagleson of Railroad Magazine for that delightful phrase!), and this year, thanks to many factors, it’s a road trip in search of Big Steam. Best of all, thanks to the magic of modern technology and live streaming gear, we get to take you along with us as we enjoy the sights and sounds of steam in action and in the shop and in preparation.

 We’ll start our road trip April 5 in New Haven, Ky., in the midst of bourbon country. There we’ll talk with Chris Campbell and other folks who are organizing to restore Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 No. 2716. Be sure to watch our livestreaming program at www.TrainsMag.com/BigSteam from 9 to 10 a.m. eastern time. Learn about the project, get the latest updates, and dive deeper into this 1943 Alco that is about to get a new life.

 Then, we’re off to my home state of North Carolina for Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611’s first runs of the season out of Spencer, N.C. We’ll be following the J on April 9 to Lynchburg, Va., and to Asheville, N.C., on April 10 via the famous loops near Old Fort. (Chasing? Check out my chase guide with map at http://cs.trains.com/trn/b/staff/archive/2016/01/19/trains-chase-guide-norfolk-amp-western-no-611-spencer-asheville-n-c-april-10-2016.aspx

We’ll live stream both excursions as well as the April 11 photo day with No. 611 and Lehigh Valley Coal 0-6-0 No. 126 at the N.C. Transportation Museum.

 We’ll finish off the road trip with another live streaming event at 3 p.m. April 13 Eastern time in Cleveland, Ohio, and the site of Reading Co. No. 2100, that big 4-8-4 that is set for restoration. We’ll chat with Steve Harvey of the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association and others involved in the project.

 Naturally, we’re excited about all of this big steam either back in operation or coming back. We’re so enthused that we’ll be producing a special magazine, Big Steam is Back, for release in early 2017 along with a companion DVD. You’ll learn about these three locomotives and many more favorites, including Southern Pacific 4449, Southern Railway 4501, Nickel Plate Road 765, Union Pacific 844, the restoration of Big Boy No. 4014, and many more locomotives.

 Yes, it’s time for a road trip, in search of Big Steam!