Where's Jim? The Connect the Dots road trip nears the end

Let’s play connect the dots:  Where has Jim been?

I write these words to you from beautiful Princeton, W.Va., on the way to Cleveland for a live streaming event Wednesday at 3 p.m. We’ll be doing an interview and locomotive preview of Reading Co. 4-8-4 No. 2100. Look for it at www.TrainsMag.com/BigSteam.

I’ve been away from the keyboard for the last week on the road in search of big steam, short lines, and 611. This is the first night I’ve gotten back to the room before 10 p.m. and haven’t been out by 7 the next morning. It’s been tiring, but we’ve covered a lot of ground on what I’m now calling the Great Connect the Dots trip of 2016.

Along the way, I’ve seen two steam locomotives that are bound for renewal, the afore mentioned 2100 and Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 No. 2716 in New Haven, Ky. I’ve visited two short lines, both familiar to me as they are both in my home state of North Carolina, one famous for steep grades, and the other well suited for our pages as a short line of the future. Look for feature stories about each in coming issues. Note to animal lovers: You will want to hug the pages of our magazine when I tell you about the mascot one N.C.  short line has adopted.

I also joined the masses of people out enjoying Norfolk & Western No. 611’s initial excursions for the 2016 season. I chased both trips, but, of course, the Asheville run on April 10 – No. 611’s first trip across the famous Loops at Old Fort in 22 years – was the highlight. I also helped organize a photo charter at N.C. Transportation Museum, featuring No. 611. Correspondent Chase Gunnoe put on a great night photo session with 611 and N&W GP9 No. 620.

I will write more about the trip in coming days. Suffice it to say, I am exhausted, elated, and excited about everything I saw and did on this trip, and I cannot wait to share it with you here and in the pages of Trains.