Retreats where you can learn to drive a train?

[Anonymous]

Hey there,
I am a newbie on these boards, but I am looking for a special gift for my girlfriend's father. He is a big fan of trains, and we thought it would be wonderful if he could go to a camp or retreat of some sort, where over a weekend or a week he could learn the ins and outs of being an engineer, and hopefully get to actually drive a train himself. There are camps like this for sports fans and many other interests, so surely there's one for train enthusiasts? Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Chris McCormick

[Anonymous]

Hey there,
I am a newbie on these boards, but I am looking for a special gift for my girlfriend's father. He is a big fan of trains, and we thought it would be wonderful if he could go to a camp or retreat of some sort, where over a weekend or a week he could learn the ins and outs of being an engineer, and hopefully get to actually drive a train himself. There are camps like this for sports fans and many other interests, so surely there's one for train enthusiasts? Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Chris McCormick

[kschmidt]

Greetings,

I know of at least one. Portola Railroad Museum. They offer locomotive rentals ranging from about $95 up to $200 per hour, depending on the locomotive you choose. There is another thread on this list called "u drive loco" that kind of asked the same question.

The Portola Museum has a webpage but unfortunately I don't have the link, but it can probably be found quite easily with something like Google.

Keith Schmidt
www.geocities.com/kaschmidt626/index.html

[kschmidt]

Greetings,

I know of at least one. Portola Railroad Museum. They offer locomotive rentals ranging from about $95 up to $200 per hour, depending on the locomotive you choose. There is another thread on this list called "u drive loco" that kind of asked the same question.

The Portola Museum has a webpage but unfortunately I don't have the link, but it can probably be found quite easily with something like Google.

Keith Schmidt
www.geocities.com/kaschmidt626/index.html

[Train Guy 3]

As a joke.................. Microsoft Train Simulator?

[Train Guy 3]

As a joke.................. Microsoft Train Simulator?

[Anonymous]

A trip to museum would probably be a good idea, as suggested above. But since you can't really afford spending $200 every day, Microsoft Train Simulator would be a great substitute. [:D]

[Anonymous]

A trip to museum would probably be a good idea, as suggested above. But since you can't really afford spending $200 every day, Microsoft Train Simulator would be a great substitute. [:D]

[Anonymous]

Trainz from Auran would also be a good alternative. You can also buy a raildriver unit for either to make the driving more realistic.

[Anonymous]

Trainz from Auran would also be a good alternative. You can also buy a raildriver unit for either to make the driving more realistic.

[bfsfabs]

Chris,

Don't overlook the Nevada Northern in Ely Nevada. My son and I spent a real neat afternoon there running thier #40 steamer. Cost a ton, but a heck of a deal ! They have a web site, I just don't remember it exactly right now.

Go smoke it up !

Lowell Ryder

[bfsfabs]

Chris,

Don't overlook the Nevada Northern in Ely Nevada. My son and I spent a real neat afternoon there running thier #40 steamer. Cost a ton, but a heck of a deal ! They have a web site, I just don't remember it exactly right now.

Go smoke it up !

Lowell Ryder

[Mookie]

Give him a day on the forum. The price is right, the information is invaluable and it is better than the comedy on TV.

Mookie

[Mookie]

Give him a day on the forum. The price is right, the information is invaluable and it is better than the comedy on TV.

Mookie

[wabash1]

I think i am going to save up my money so i can learn to drive a train. I have never driven a train before. maybe they can teach me.

[wabash1]

I think i am going to save up my money so i can learn to drive a train. I have never driven a train before. maybe they can teach me.

[Anonymous]

I know a few places where they pay you to run the train. They'll even pay for all your training...

LC

[Anonymous]

I know a few places where they pay you to run the train. They'll even pay for all your training...

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

I know a few places where they pay you to run the train. They'll even pay for all your training...

LC

L C Hi No abuse here but I see you haven't changed "your" photo yet. Oh never mind wrong thread. lol

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

I know a few places where they pay you to run the train. They'll even pay for all your training...

LC

L C Hi No abuse here but I see you haven't changed "your" photo yet. Oh never mind wrong thread. lol

[nkp779]

You could join a tourist Railroad such as the TLE&W Railway www.tlew.org and we work you up through the ranks to learn how to be a brakeman, conductor, enginer& so forth. Their maybe others that do the same as the need for volenters to help run them. you can get a good experince and maybe go no to be a class1 railroad employee as we have had a few from our org.

[nkp779]

You could join a tourist Railroad such as the TLE&W Railway www.tlew.org and we work you up through the ranks to learn how to be a brakeman, conductor, enginer& so forth. Their maybe others that do the same as the need for volenters to help run them. you can get a good experince and maybe go no to be a class1 railroad employee as we have had a few from our org.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

I know a few places where they pay you to run the train. They'll even pay for all your training...

LC

L C Hi No abuse here but I see you haven't changed "your" photo yet. Oh never mind wrong thread. lol

Actually, I have changed the photo and had to change it back due to requests from the Staff. Oh, well...

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

I know a few places where they pay you to run the train. They'll even pay for all your training...

LC

L C Hi No abuse here but I see you haven't changed "your" photo yet. Oh never mind wrong thread. lol

Actually, I have changed the photo and had to change it back due to requests from the Staff. Oh, well...

LC

[wabash1]

I know how to run a train Thats what i get paid to do. But these guys are talking about driving one. and that is what i like to do is learn to drive one.

[wabash1]

I know how to run a train Thats what i get paid to do. But these guys are talking about driving one. and that is what i like to do is learn to drive one.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

I know a few places where they pay you to run the train. They'll even pay for all your training...

LC

L C Hi No abuse here but I see you haven't changed "your" photo yet. Oh never mind wrong thread. lol

Actually, I have changed the photo and had to change it back due to requests from the Staff. Oh, well...

LC

L C Yes I know. The Berg stole your pic. [}:)]

Those from the "other" thread know all about it.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

I know a few places where they pay you to run the train. They'll even pay for all your training...

LC

L C Hi No abuse here but I see you haven't changed "your" photo yet. Oh never mind wrong thread. lol

Actually, I have changed the photo and had to change it back due to requests from the Staff. Oh, well...

LC

L C Yes I know. The Berg stole your pic. [}:)]

Those from the "other" thread know all about it.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

I know a few places where they pay you to run the train. They'll even pay for all your training...

LC

All kidding aside, there are a number of places you can learn to be an "Engineer for a day". Included are the Portola RR Museum in CA, the Valley RR in CT, the New England RR Museum in CT, the Pacific Locomotive Society in San Francisco, and several others. Check the listings at www.railroaddata.com under the "Engineer Experience" link. Good luck.

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

I know a few places where they pay you to run the train. They'll even pay for all your training...

LC

All kidding aside, there are a number of places you can learn to be an "Engineer for a day". Included are the Portola RR Museum in CA, the Valley RR in CT, the New England RR Museum in CT, the Pacific Locomotive Society in San Francisco, and several others. Check the listings at www.railroaddata.com under the "Engineer Experience" link. Good luck.

LC