What was your favorite trains moment?

[tree68]

Two come to mind, amongst many others:

Circa 1974: Standing on the platform of the Rantoul IL station, looking north at an oncoming headlight that is taking forever to arrive. Reason: Two geeps hauling the equivalent of two full unit trains worth of hoppers back south. I'm sure they were in run 8, but they weren't making much time.

Several years ago, camping (with permission) on the Firemen's Field in Hancock, NY (well away from the tracks): A westbound stack crawls through town at about 5:30 AM, over the truss bridge spanning the Delaware River. The squealing flanges are always a treat, as are the 4 grade crossings they must blow for. A treat, that is, for a railfan. For a camper who'd had a few two many the night before (not yours truly...), however, it was more like the train was coming straight through his tent, which is exactly how he described it, to everyone's great amusement. Especially mine.

[tree68]

Two come to mind, amongst many others:

Circa 1974: Standing on the platform of the Rantoul IL station, looking north at an oncoming headlight that is taking forever to arrive. Reason: Two geeps hauling the equivalent of two full unit trains worth of hoppers back south. I'm sure they were in run 8, but they weren't making much time.

Several years ago, camping (with permission) on the Firemen's Field in Hancock, NY (well away from the tracks): A westbound stack crawls through town at about 5:30 AM, over the truss bridge spanning the Delaware River. The squealing flanges are always a treat, as are the 4 grade crossings they must blow for. A treat, that is, for a railfan. For a camper who'd had a few two many the night before (not yours truly...), however, it was more like the train was coming straight through his tent, which is exactly how he described it, to everyone's great amusement. Especially mine.

[cpbloom]

Getting to ride as "conductor" in a GP15-1 as they switched cars at Conrail's Island Avenue yard in Pittsburgh.

[cpbloom]

Getting to ride as "conductor" in a GP15-1 as they switched cars at Conrail's Island Avenue yard in Pittsburgh.

[Anonymous]

Riding the Empire Builder in late Summer, 1956, from the Twin Cities to Seattle and back. I'll never forget looking at the scenery from the full-length dome car. This is the kind of railroadimng that Amtrak wants to do when it grows up!

[Anonymous]

Riding the Empire Builder in late Summer, 1956, from the Twin Cities to Seattle and back. I'll never forget looking at the scenery from the full-length dome car. This is the kind of railroadimng that Amtrak wants to do when it grows up!

[RAILFANUSA]

Not long before the UP took over the SP----I had the great pleasure of watching the crew of an SP SW1500 do a "FLYING SWITCH" move at OZOL yard in Martinez, Ca.----Awesome!!!

[RAILFANUSA]

Not long before the UP took over the SP----I had the great pleasure of watching the crew of an SP SW1500 do a "FLYING SWITCH" move at OZOL yard in Martinez, Ca.----Awesome!!!

[Anonymous]

Making my first run alone as a conductor/brakeman this past summer. The sense of freedom that I was able to feel.

[Anonymous]

Making my first run alone as a conductor/brakeman this past summer. The sense of freedom that I was able to feel.

[Anonymous]

Being new to the site, I know the topic date is a little old, but I could not pass it up. I do not have a favorite train moment, but train moments.
-The first one I had was about six years ago. My dad and I were checking out the NS railyards in Decatur. We were fairly close to the tracks. A man in a truck approached us and told us to be careful. He started to pull away and then stopped. He told us that we could meet him over at the Garfield Underpass. We got in the car and raced to the spot, and as we were arriving an old NS SD-18(I think) came rolling down the tracks. The man we had talked to was on the front of the engine waiting for us. He told us to get on. We did and found out that we were about to exchange cars with the IC (now CN). The engineers let me operate the engine and blow the horn. It was the best experience i ever had. We were probably on the engine for a couple of hours. They gave me a bunch of info(train number and list of cars we were carrying). It was one of the coolest things I have ever got to do. I think my dad and I thanked them about a thousand times.
-Another moment(s) was last summer. My dad and I embarked on a trip up to see my Grandparents in Central Iowa(we also knew about the steam engine coming to town). We got their the day before and probably took in about 30 trains in a 6 hour period. The next day we drove down to the high bridge west of Boone, and saw the Challenger (3985) cross the bridge. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. The steam engine stopped in Boone for the rest of the day. The next day we got up early, and watched it depart from Boone. We followed it all the way to Clinton via Highway 30(God Bless It). That was another thing that I will never forget. So many more but will save for later!

[Anonymous]

Being new to the site, I know the topic date is a little old, but I could not pass it up. I do not have a favorite train moment, but train moments.
-The first one I had was about six years ago. My dad and I were checking out the NS railyards in Decatur. We were fairly close to the tracks. A man in a truck approached us and told us to be careful. He started to pull away and then stopped. He told us that we could meet him over at the Garfield Underpass. We got in the car and raced to the spot, and as we were arriving an old NS SD-18(I think) came rolling down the tracks. The man we had talked to was on the front of the engine waiting for us. He told us to get on. We did and found out that we were about to exchange cars with the IC (now CN). The engineers let me operate the engine and blow the horn. It was the best experience i ever had. We were probably on the engine for a couple of hours. They gave me a bunch of info(train number and list of cars we were carrying). It was one of the coolest things I have ever got to do. I think my dad and I thanked them about a thousand times.
-Another moment(s) was last summer. My dad and I embarked on a trip up to see my Grandparents in Central Iowa(we also knew about the steam engine coming to town). We got their the day before and probably took in about 30 trains in a 6 hour period. The next day we drove down to the high bridge west of Boone, and saw the Challenger (3985) cross the bridge. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. The steam engine stopped in Boone for the rest of the day. The next day we got up early, and watched it depart from Boone. We followed it all the way to Clinton via Highway 30(God Bless It). That was another thing that I will never forget. So many more but will save for later!

[Anonymous]

My favorite train moments were the times my Dad took us kids to the IC station in Rockford Il during the 1950's. It was usually on Sunday mornings around 10 am. We'd pull past the station and into our regular parking spot north of the tracks, the perfect location to view the morning's action. The westbound Iowan passenger was first. Early versions were powered by Pacifics, with an E-6 taking over in later years. Equipment was always olive green heavy weights. We enjoyed watching the steam engine take on water from the pentstock just west of the depot. Iowan power also did some switching, dropping off an express car on the siding behind our parked auto. After the Iowan departed, the eastbound Rath meat train out of Waterloo IA passed through. It was usually powered by Mountains and later by black Geep 7's. Finally, the high point of the morning arrived, the the eastbound Land 'O Corn. While advertised as a streamliner, I always saw through the orange and brown paint to the rebuilt heavy weight passenger cars. Luckily my Dad took pictures of this 1950's action at Rockfords' IC station. These pictures now appear in my book, Two Track Main, which is dedicated to him. Lyle H. Baie passed away in early August at age 89.

John W. Baie, author, xlibris.com/TwoTrackMain.html

[Anonymous]

My favorite train moments were the times my Dad took us kids to the IC station in Rockford Il during the 1950's. It was usually on Sunday mornings around 10 am. We'd pull past the station and into our regular parking spot north of the tracks, the perfect location to view the morning's action. The westbound Iowan passenger was first. Early versions were powered by Pacifics, with an E-6 taking over in later years. Equipment was always olive green heavy weights. We enjoyed watching the steam engine take on water from the pentstock just west of the depot. Iowan power also did some switching, dropping off an express car on the siding behind our parked auto. After the Iowan departed, the eastbound Rath meat train out of Waterloo IA passed through. It was usually powered by Mountains and later by black Geep 7's. Finally, the high point of the morning arrived, the the eastbound Land 'O Corn. While advertised as a streamliner, I always saw through the orange and brown paint to the rebuilt heavy weight passenger cars. Luckily my Dad took pictures of this 1950's action at Rockfords' IC station. These pictures now appear in my book, Two Track Main, which is dedicated to him. Lyle H. Baie passed away in early August at age 89.

John W. Baie, author, xlibris.com/TwoTrackMain.html

[Trainnut484]

Relating to another thread, a favorite moment is sitting at trackside and watching a train with nothing but fallen flag power AND cars[:D][:D].

[Trainnut484]

Relating to another thread, a favorite moment is sitting at trackside and watching a train with nothing but fallen flag power AND cars[:D][:D].

[Anonymous]

my favorite trains moment was when i and mom were riding grayhound northbound. too tallahassee fl. when i looked too my left we were neck and neck with a fast FEC northbound. cruising at about 65 or 70 MPH. it just passed that bus like we were not even moving. it was a very hot intermodal.. it looked great you should have seen those GP40's. just cruising bouncing not hard but smoothly you could hear those engines screaming by and those trailers were just rolling along just for the fun of it... best freight train cruising i've ever seen[8D]

[Anonymous]

my favorite trains moment was when i and mom were riding grayhound northbound. too tallahassee fl. when i looked too my left we were neck and neck with a fast FEC northbound. cruising at about 65 or 70 MPH. it just passed that bus like we were not even moving. it was a very hot intermodal.. it looked great you should have seen those GP40's. just cruising bouncing not hard but smoothly you could hear those engines screaming by and those trailers were just rolling along just for the fun of it... best freight train cruising i've ever seen[8D]

[Trainnut484]

WOW [:0][:0][:0], now over 600 viewers[:D]! With the recent heatwave here in the midwest, a favorite moment is inside with AC....peferably in a locomotive with camera in hand[:D][^]

Take care[:)]

[Trainnut484]

WOW [:0][:0][:0], now over 600 viewers[:D]! With the recent heatwave here in the midwest, a favorite moment is inside with AC....peferably in a locomotive with camera in hand[:D][^]

Take care[:)]

[Anonymous]

While I was working on the rehab of the BM&LP in Northern AZ, we were in the temp siding at MP 51 waiting for the graveyard coal train to pass and clear to go back out. We had been "Cribbing" the track and needed ballast fro the days work. The Ballast train had run all the way to the coal silos at MP79 to clear for the train. In the process the lead ballast train loco (5301 an MK rebult with a GM 567 thumper) had to loop and the loco was on the wrong end of the train. To switch it out it had to run back to midway (Mp 42) to run around the train. To eliminate an extra move, the dispatcher had the ballast train tie onto the back of the coal train to midway. As a westbound now, the ruling grade (1.5%) to midway starts at MP54 and tops at MP42. We had a 15mph speed restriction at Mp54 due to the previous days work. No run at the hill this time boys, just a hard pull with 85 100 ton loaded coal cars in tow. As they started up the hill in a cloud of sand and dust, the hogger of the four E60C electrics called the operator on the 5301 to "latch er' out ot were gonna have to double the hill". It took 3 tries to get the old girl to load to run 8, but she finally loaded and held. As she came by us, the noise and the grin on the engineers face told us they would make it. They did with 7 mph to spare. Imanut

[Anonymous]

While I was working on the rehab of the BM&LP in Northern AZ, we were in the temp siding at MP 51 waiting for the graveyard coal train to pass and clear to go back out. We had been "Cribbing" the track and needed ballast fro the days work. The Ballast train had run all the way to the coal silos at MP79 to clear for the train. In the process the lead ballast train loco (5301 an MK rebult with a GM 567 thumper) had to loop and the loco was on the wrong end of the train. To switch it out it had to run back to midway (Mp 42) to run around the train. To eliminate an extra move, the dispatcher had the ballast train tie onto the back of the coal train to midway. As a westbound now, the ruling grade (1.5%) to midway starts at MP54 and tops at MP42. We had a 15mph speed restriction at Mp54 due to the previous days work. No run at the hill this time boys, just a hard pull with 85 100 ton loaded coal cars in tow. As they started up the hill in a cloud of sand and dust, the hogger of the four E60C electrics called the operator on the 5301 to "latch er' out ot were gonna have to double the hill". It took 3 tries to get the old girl to load to run 8, but she finally loaded and held. As she came by us, the noise and the grin on the engineers face told us they would make it. They did with 7 mph to spare. Imanut

[moelarrycurly4]

When visiting California in 1976 we drove up to the Tehachapi Loop just to look. And along came a Santa FE up the line and ran over its self. I was in 2nd grade at the time and boy was it neat. (we got slides too)

[moelarrycurly4]

When visiting California in 1976 we drove up to the Tehachapi Loop just to look. And along came a Santa FE up the line and ran over its self. I was in 2nd grade at the time and boy was it neat. (we got slides too)

[UpNorthBob]

For me, two come to mind.
First was a visit to my best friends house in Mishawaka, IN, after he had moved from my hometown in Michigan. One day his Mother took us along to a grocery store/fruit market on US-33 in Osceola, IN, right near the west end of Robert R. Young Yard. As we were there, I noticed an eastbound train slowly come to a stop on the main. Several minutes later, I heard a horn off to the east - a wierd, high-pitched, type of diesel horn. In short order a passenger train came screaming by heading west. The ground shook! I had never experienced a train going that fast. I can't remember what time of day it was, so I don't know if it was the Century or not..

The other favorite was on a train watching trip with my two boys in the early 1990's. We were sitting in our van late on a hot summer night along the CSX near Alto, MI. The single track line was fairly busy, but the best part was that we were in just the right spot to hear the train horns echoing through the still night air. The only thing I can imagine more beautiful is if it was a steam whistle. We have been there several times, but the atmospheric conditions were never the same.

[UpNorthBob]

For me, two come to mind.
First was a visit to my best friends house in Mishawaka, IN, after he had moved from my hometown in Michigan. One day his Mother took us along to a grocery store/fruit market on US-33 in Osceola, IN, right near the west end of Robert R. Young Yard. As we were there, I noticed an eastbound train slowly come to a stop on the main. Several minutes later, I heard a horn off to the east - a wierd, high-pitched, type of diesel horn. In short order a passenger train came screaming by heading west. The ground shook! I had never experienced a train going that fast. I can't remember what time of day it was, so I don't know if it was the Century or not..

The other favorite was on a train watching trip with my two boys in the early 1990's. We were sitting in our van late on a hot summer night along the CSX near Alto, MI. The single track line was fairly busy, but the best part was that we were in just the right spot to hear the train horns echoing through the still night air. The only thing I can imagine more beautiful is if it was a steam whistle. We have been there several times, but the atmospheric conditions were never the same.

[Anonymous]

When I was a kid. It was stepping on to the station platform, dressed in my Sunday best, with my Mom and Dad, brothers and sister watching that big steamer coming in pulling the train that was going to take us on vacation.
My least favorite was watching the steamer pulling the train that was going to take us home.
Still, they were both exciting to a young boy.
Pop

[Anonymous]

When I was a kid. It was stepping on to the station platform, dressed in my Sunday best, with my Mom and Dad, brothers and sister watching that big steamer coming in pulling the train that was going to take us on vacation.
My least favorite was watching the steamer pulling the train that was going to take us home.
Still, they were both exciting to a young boy.
Pop

[kschmidt]

Greetings,

One of my favorites was one of my first train chasing adventures. Got up at 4am to drive to Chicago from Milwaukee to chase #611. from Chicago to Fort Wayne, IN and back in 1995. Seeing that beautiful Class J pulling that train was awesome. #611 had a whistle that was just sweet music. It was a long day. I think we got back to Milwaukee after midnight, but it was worth it.

Another pair of favorites come from the same trip. I was able to see UP #844 travel through the Royal Gorge in 1997. We chased #844 from Denver to Dotsero. The train and the scenery were unbelieveable.

Later on the same trip we were in the Powder River Coal area. We found a small hill where we could a see a nice S-curve. I setup my video camera and started taping and for over 45 minutes I never shut it off because there was always a train in view. Again the scenery was great and so was the action.

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