Jock Ellis Cumming, GA US of A Georgia Association of Railroad Passengers
QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe I thought the article on the SD-50 was awesome. Gabe
QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH "Bless 'em all, bless 'em all, the long and the short and the tall" While I am primarily a diesel enthusiast, I find just about anything in railroading to be fascinating, be it diesel, straight electric, steam or anything else. I find the Green Goat or UP 3985 to be just as interesting as the SD40/slug set pushing the cut over Clearing's hump. As Ed states, it's all good. Paul
23 17 46 11
QUOTE: Am I a bad rail fan because I don't like small steam?
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics
Originally posted by gabe [ Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply gabe Member sinceMarch 2004 From: Indianapolis, Indiana 2,434 posts Posted by gabe on Friday, April 22, 2005 8:47 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by techguy57 Gabe, My answer is heck no! I like steam, but I'm not gaga over it and really I often would prefer to see a diesel loco any old day. Not to say I don't appreciate the steamers but having never seen one running for anything more than an excursion they don't hold my interest as well. I'm sure some of the steam fan purists might fall over in disbelief but I like the refined look to the raw power, and I don't feel that way often about steamers. Like you, this month's edition didn't necessarily disappoint me, but when I saw small steam was the feature I wasn't as excited as normal. In fact I flipped through looking for the articles on diesels first then went back and read the features. What can I say, steam is not my thing. Give me an F7 or and AC4400 and I'd be pleased as punch. Save this one for a rainy day indeed. Glad to know that some of you feel this way too. Mike I thought the article on the SD-50 was awesome. Gabe Reply dharmon Member sinceAugust 2003 From: Bottom Left Corner, USA 3,420 posts Posted by dharmon on Thursday, April 21, 2005 11:49 PM LOL......That's why I like the Green Goats.....they're constantly recharging..... mbkcs -- this is what we're here for... gabe -- sorry about hi-jacking your thread......don't sell yourself short...you're a tremendous slouch... Reply ajmiller Member sinceOctober 2003 From: State College PA 344 posts Posted by ajmiller on Thursday, April 21, 2005 11:45 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon QUOTE: Originally posted by ajmiller QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon QUOTE: Originally posted by mbkcs Remember the older units are called "Classic." and generally preceded with an "Ex-" But that's only if they're sold or sent to the dead line. Otherwise they are made into helpers or are seldom used. Some units can be rejuvenated by reconstruction and thus are once again more desirable for use in every day service. Units that are sold are usually bought by less affluent roads that spend most of their cash propping up old and decaying infrastructure and are desperate for any power they can get their hands on. So during the rebuild, they are brought up to da***wo specs complete with silicon inverters? Meanwhile the railroads get new higher priced units with newer features ... Well, the big railroads have deep pockets and can afford to buy silicon inverters for their older units and can pay for many newer and faster units with fancy bells and whistles. The smaller roads have to content themselves with merely fresh coat of paint on their old units every now and then. But sometimes, if they're clever, they can shmooze with the big railroads and get some of their castoffs at a good price. The real problem for the smaller lines though, aside from not having the newest or fastest units, is that a lot of their units just can't or won't go everyday. That and trying to keep their infrastructure up can lead to a lot of stress and unhappiness. Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 21, 2005 11:39 PM thanks ajmiller. I appreciate the info. I like to learn new things and I have alot to learn. thanks dharmon, lol I am. I need to do that, too. laugh that is! Reply Edit dharmon Member sinceAugust 2003 From: Bottom Left Corner, USA 3,420 posts Posted by dharmon on Thursday, April 21, 2005 11:30 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by ajmiller QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon QUOTE: Originally posted by mbkcs Remember the older units are called "Classic." and generally preceded with an "Ex-" But that's only if they're sold or sent to the dead line. Otherwise they are made into helpers or are seldom used. Some units can be rejuvenated by reconstruction and thus are once again more desirable for use in every day service. Units that are sold are usually bought by less affluent roads that spend most of their cash propping up old and decaying infrastructure and are desperate for any power they can get their hands on. So during the rebuild, they are brought up to da***wo specs complete with silicon inverters? Meanwhile the railroads get new higher priced units with newer features ... Reply ajmiller Member sinceOctober 2003 From: State College PA 344 posts Posted by ajmiller on Thursday, April 21, 2005 11:15 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon QUOTE: Originally posted by mbkcs Remember the older units are called "Classic." and generally preceded with an "Ex-" But that's only if they're sold or sent to the dead line. Otherwise they are made into helpers or are seldom used. Some units can be rejuvenated by reconstruction and thus are once again more desirable for use in every day service. Units that are sold are usually bought by less affluent roads that spend most of their cash propping up old and decaying infrastructure and are desperate for any power they can get their hands on. Reply dharmon Member sinceAugust 2003 From: Bottom Left Corner, USA 3,420 posts Posted by dharmon on Thursday, April 21, 2005 10:59 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by mbkcs Remember the older units are called "Classic." and generally preceded with an "Ex-" Reply jeaton Member sinceSeptember 2002 From: Rockton, IL 4,821 posts Posted by jeaton on Thursday, April 21, 2005 10:48 PM Although I am old enough to have been around during the last decade of steam, I was consigned to a life in a remote rural community in Northern Wisconsin and really missed the last days of big steam. I was sold on the article's point that small steam is financially practical and does provide a sample of this type of power. But... having seen UP 3985 and MILW 261 up close, starting out and running at track speed... Think about liking a Mazda Miata after youv'e had the Mazarotti. Jay Jay "We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 21, 2005 10:04 PM "I like my locomotives like I prefer my women, small" Uh, let me finish stuffing this half gallon of ice cream in my mouth... "You might say that several are lease returns....." Remember the older units are called "Classic." Reply Edit techguy57 Member sinceAugust 2003 From: NW Chicago 591 posts Posted by techguy57 on Thursday, April 21, 2005 8:00 PM Gabe, My answer is heck no! I like steam, but I'm not gaga over it and really I often would prefer to see a diesel loco any old day. Not to say I don't appreciate the steamers but having never seen one running for anything more than an excursion they don't hold my interest as well. I'm sure some of the steam fan purists might fall over in disbelief but I like the refined look to the raw power, and I don't feel that way often about steamers. Like you, this month's edition didn't necessarily disappoint me, but when I saw small steam was the feature I wasn't as excited as normal. In fact I flipped through looking for the articles on diesels first then went back and read the features. What can I say, steam is not my thing. Give me an F7 or and AC4400 and I'd be pleased as punch. Save this one for a rainy day indeed. Glad to know that some of you feel this way too. Mike techguy "Beware the lollipop of mediocrity. Lick it once and you suck forever." - Anonymous Reply espeefoamer Member sinceNovember 2003 From: West Coast 4,122 posts Posted by espeefoamer on Thursday, April 21, 2005 4:45 PM I never saw big steam until the 4449 was rebuilt to pull the Freedom Train.Until I saw this engine I didn't care for steam,as I had only seen it at amusement parks,and tourist lines.The first time I saw the 4449, south of Dunsmuir,I became a steam fan.I have seen,and ridden behind,several large steamers since then. I also think shays are cool.I have seen several in operation. [:p][:D][8D][:p][:D][8D][:p][:D][8D][:p][:D][8D][:p][:D][8D][:p][:D][8D][:p][:D][8D][:p][:D][8D][:p][:D][8D][:p][:D][8D] Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool. Reply vsmith Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Smoggy L.A. 10,743 posts Posted by vsmith on Thursday, April 21, 2005 3:57 PM gabe, It takes all kinds...not liking small steam doesnt make you wierd or guilty of anything. I wouldnt hold it against you but I have to admit I'm just the complete opposite of you. I get more excited by tiny old time Porters than I do by big ol' steam engines (but I do still like them a bunch!) and I have to admit I'm far more excited by the site of a Brooksville Critter than by any Dash-whatever that looks like ever other Dash - whatever out there hauling bland-tastic container cars. PS If you've never seen a sidewinder (Shay) before, you really should try to, they are neat! Have fun with your trains Reply gabe Member sinceMarch 2004 From: Indianapolis, Indiana 2,434 posts Posted by gabe on Thursday, April 21, 2005 3:22 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by Paul Milenkovic I didn't read that issue of Trains yet, but traditionally Trains covers the whole gamut from "small steam" up through the "Iron Highway" intermodal train proposal. I think that's its strength, that it doesn't play one note on the piano, and in so doing, sometimes the music isn't exactly to one's taste. I started out as a young person only interested in Diesels, and if there could be widespread use of turbines, that would even be better. I guess in my old age I have turned nostalgic, although my variety of nostalgia is for the big piston propliners. A couple years back seeing the Save-a-Connie (SAC) Lockheed Constellation and being part of group of people crowding the fence there in Oshkosh as they cranked those big 18-cylinder radial engines, flight line crew standing by with fire extinguishers as gouts of smoke and then flames came out the exhaust stacks, chug-chug-vroom, oh boy! You know, put that issue of Trains under your bed, you know you're are not interested, but some evening you fill find yourself lying there, trying to get to sleep, reach out for that old Trains magazine, read the articles, and you may find them a lot of fun. You might have a point about putting the magazine under the bed and saving it for a rainy day. I bought Classic Trains anniversary magazine before going on vacation in Peurta Vallereta about two months ago. There was an article about Shays in it. I hadn't really found Shays that interesting before, but after having read the rest of the magazine--and not wanting to get up from my view of the Pacific or my Corona, I decided to read the article. I kind of would like to see a working Shay now. Gabe Reply dldance Member sinceAugust 2003 From: Near Promentory UT 1,590 posts Posted by dldance on Thursday, April 21, 2005 3:14 PM no - bad railfans are the ones that Ed has arrested. dd Reply Randy Stahl Member sinceJune 2004 From: roundhouse 2,747 posts Posted by Randy Stahl on Thursday, April 21, 2005 3:11 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon You might say that several are lease returns..... after all , no railroad is perfect ! Reply tree68 Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Northern New York 25,011 posts Posted by tree68 on Thursday, April 21, 2005 3:11 PM You're not a bad railfan - everyone has their likes and dislikes. But watching the valve gear on a little 0-6-0 is just as fascinating as on a big Northern, and you might get to watch it more (a lot more on a Shay!). The big guys get all the press, but as the article pointed out in a roundabout way, the little guys are doing most of the work - just as they did when steam was king. If you like steam, be willing to be fascinated by steam in all sizes. Gives you a lot more opportunities to be entertained. Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it... Reply Paul Milenkovic Member sinceJuly 2004 2,741 posts Posted by Paul Milenkovic on Thursday, April 21, 2005 3:06 PM I didn't read that issue of Trains yet, but traditionally Trains covers the whole gamut from "small steam" up through the "Iron Highway" intermodal train proposal. I think that's its strength, that it doesn't play one note on the piano, and in so doing, sometimes the music isn't exactly to one's taste. I started out as a young person only interested in Diesels, and if there could be widespread use of turbines, that would even be better. I guess in my old age I have turned nostalgic, although my variety of nostalgia is for the big piston propliners. A couple years back seeing the Save-a-Connie (SAC) Lockheed Constellation and being part of group of people crowding the fence there in Oshkosh as they cranked those big 18-cylinder radial engines, flight line crew standing by with fire extinguishers as gouts of smoke and then flames came out the exhaust stacks, chug-chug-vroom, oh boy! You know, put that issue of Trains under your bed, you know you're are not interested, but some evening you fill find yourself lying there, trying to get to sleep, reach out for that old Trains magazine, read the articles, and you may find them a lot of fun. If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks? Reply dharmon Member sinceAugust 2003 From: Bottom Left Corner, USA 3,420 posts Posted by dharmon on Thursday, April 21, 2005 3:02 PM You might say that several are lease returns..... Reply gabe Member sinceMarch 2004 From: Indianapolis, Indiana 2,434 posts Posted by gabe on Thursday, April 21, 2005 2:51 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl I like my locomotives like I prefer my women, small. So you moved to Maine to work on big, dirty second-hand locomotives that smoke.......how's the dating going??[;)] My wife has seriously cut into my dating but ..It appears that most of the women around here fit your description of the locomotives. so I guess I'll get over it. Are most of them on their third of fourth railroad too? Reply Randy Stahl Member sinceJune 2004 From: roundhouse 2,747 posts Posted by Randy Stahl on Thursday, April 21, 2005 2:48 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl I like my locomotives like I prefer my women, small. So you moved to Maine to work on big, dirty second-hand locomotives that smoke.......how's the dating going??[;)] My wife has seriously cut into my dating but ..It appears that most of the women around here fit your description of the locomotives. so I guess I'll get over it. Reply 12 Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community Newsletter Sign-Up By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub
QUOTE: Originally posted by techguy57 Gabe, My answer is heck no! I like steam, but I'm not gaga over it and really I often would prefer to see a diesel loco any old day. Not to say I don't appreciate the steamers but having never seen one running for anything more than an excursion they don't hold my interest as well. I'm sure some of the steam fan purists might fall over in disbelief but I like the refined look to the raw power, and I don't feel that way often about steamers. Like you, this month's edition didn't necessarily disappoint me, but when I saw small steam was the feature I wasn't as excited as normal. In fact I flipped through looking for the articles on diesels first then went back and read the features. What can I say, steam is not my thing. Give me an F7 or and AC4400 and I'd be pleased as punch. Save this one for a rainy day indeed. Glad to know that some of you feel this way too. Mike
QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon QUOTE: Originally posted by ajmiller QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon QUOTE: Originally posted by mbkcs Remember the older units are called "Classic." and generally preceded with an "Ex-" But that's only if they're sold or sent to the dead line. Otherwise they are made into helpers or are seldom used. Some units can be rejuvenated by reconstruction and thus are once again more desirable for use in every day service. Units that are sold are usually bought by less affluent roads that spend most of their cash propping up old and decaying infrastructure and are desperate for any power they can get their hands on. So during the rebuild, they are brought up to da***wo specs complete with silicon inverters? Meanwhile the railroads get new higher priced units with newer features ...
QUOTE: Originally posted by ajmiller QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon QUOTE: Originally posted by mbkcs Remember the older units are called "Classic." and generally preceded with an "Ex-" But that's only if they're sold or sent to the dead line. Otherwise they are made into helpers or are seldom used. Some units can be rejuvenated by reconstruction and thus are once again more desirable for use in every day service. Units that are sold are usually bought by less affluent roads that spend most of their cash propping up old and decaying infrastructure and are desperate for any power they can get their hands on.
QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon QUOTE: Originally posted by mbkcs Remember the older units are called "Classic." and generally preceded with an "Ex-"
QUOTE: Originally posted by mbkcs Remember the older units are called "Classic."
Have fun with your trains
QUOTE: Originally posted by Paul Milenkovic I didn't read that issue of Trains yet, but traditionally Trains covers the whole gamut from "small steam" up through the "Iron Highway" intermodal train proposal. I think that's its strength, that it doesn't play one note on the piano, and in so doing, sometimes the music isn't exactly to one's taste. I started out as a young person only interested in Diesels, and if there could be widespread use of turbines, that would even be better. I guess in my old age I have turned nostalgic, although my variety of nostalgia is for the big piston propliners. A couple years back seeing the Save-a-Connie (SAC) Lockheed Constellation and being part of group of people crowding the fence there in Oshkosh as they cranked those big 18-cylinder radial engines, flight line crew standing by with fire extinguishers as gouts of smoke and then flames came out the exhaust stacks, chug-chug-vroom, oh boy! You know, put that issue of Trains under your bed, you know you're are not interested, but some evening you fill find yourself lying there, trying to get to sleep, reach out for that old Trains magazine, read the articles, and you may find them a lot of fun.
QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon You might say that several are lease returns.....
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl I like my locomotives like I prefer my women, small. So you moved to Maine to work on big, dirty second-hand locomotives that smoke.......how's the dating going??[;)] My wife has seriously cut into my dating but ..It appears that most of the women around here fit your description of the locomotives. so I guess I'll get over it.
QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl I like my locomotives like I prefer my women, small. So you moved to Maine to work on big, dirty second-hand locomotives that smoke.......how's the dating going??[;)]
QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl I like my locomotives like I prefer my women, small.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.