The Long Island Railroad commuter train into NYC
The NYC Subways
A train I don't remember a little ways north of NYC to go camping
Trains between Boston and NYC, before AmTrak and now, but NOT the Acela.
Boston MBTA subways, trolleys and commuter rail.
Lots of trains in Europe in my early 20s on a Eurailpass, including the Orient Express.
Florence to Venice and back a few years ago.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Rode a few, the most memorable: Key System trains with my late grandmother between Oakland & Berkeley in the late 50s. A 1960 Cub Scout field trip to Sutters Fort on the S.P. from Richmond to Sacramento (Sacramento Daylight or The Cascade?). Some trips over the past decade or so upon Amtrak's Capitol Corriidor to the Sacramento Railroad Museum with the grandkids.
My old Key System token holds a lot of good memories.
Thanks & regards, Peter
Not counting fan trips - I'm a member of "The Friends of 261" so I've been on quite a few excursions behind that old Milwaukee Road engine:
Pre-Amtrak:
Milwaukee Road commuter train Minneapolis to St.Paul MN
Great Northern "Badger", Minneapolis to Superior WI.
On Amtrak:
About 20 years ago my wife and I took the Empire Builder from St.Paul to Chicago and then another train...can't think which, but I think it was on former NYC trackage...to Grand Rapids MI. A couple days later we reversed the trip coming home. Best part of the return trip was a guy got drunk and obnoxious going across Wisconsin, and when we crossed over the Mississippi, the conductor kicked him off the train at Winona MN - and had him arrested. The guy yelled "what about my luggage?" and the conductor yelled back "don't worry, it'll be waiting for you at St.Paul!" (about 100 miles away).
A couple of years ago I got to run a C&NW SW-600 on the Wisconsin Great Northern. My 'coach' was Lynton Brooks, pictured on page 40 of the May 2021 Trains.
In no particular order.
The Strasburg Rail Road, at least 60 or 70 times, maybe more, including being there to see N&W J 611 run. First time as a child, not long after they opened, most recently this past December. It is less than an hour from my house.
B&O RDC excursions on the Baltimore & Annapolis RR in 1964/65
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, both the fall excursion on the old B&O Mainline, and the normal run to Frostburg.
B&O Railroad museum train ride thru the area where the B&O main shops once stood.
Liberty Limited dinner train, long gone now, near us in southern PA.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
The Edaville Railroad two foot gauge.
Essex steam train and river cruise in Connecticut.
Baltimore Trolley Museum, multiple times.
National Capital Trolley Museum
DC Metro
Sheldon
Amtrak
Stations: Altoona, Tyrone, Pittsburgh, WAS, NYP, BOS, Philadelphia, Alexandria, Charleston, Savannah
Scenic:
Commuter:
International:
I haven't ridden any trans, but I have ridden a few trains.
From memory:
- Amtrak San Francisco Zephyr (Osceola IA to Sacramento 1975)
- Amtrak San Francisco Zephyr (Sacramento to Denver 1976)
- Amtrak California Zephyr (Chicago to Osceola IA and back 1983)
- Amtrak California Zephyr (Chicago to Sacramento and back 1990)
- Nickle Plate steam excursion (Bloomington IN to tulip trestle and back 1992)
- Amtrak Lake Shore Limited (Syracuse NY to Chicago and back 1996)
- Amtrak (Syracuse to Washington DC via NY City 2000)
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I got a cab ride in an old Alco/MLW C425 one day... That was cool! Got a coulpe of neat pics, and a few very nice details from the friendly crew on both the line and the unit involved.
Otherwise, simply local excursion/passanger trains. Once steam, a handful of times diesel. The steam trip was eventful, as the local FD was asked to refill the water, and, on accident, used the foam side by misteake...
Steam Foam 1 by Richard W, on Flickr" alt="Bubble filled steamer" />
I just so happened to be standing next too one of the organizers, and he was less than impressed....
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
I have been on the empire builder twice and on the SP&S no.700 I have also gotten the opourtunity to drive a fireless steam locomotive owned by my great grandfather.
I am wondering what trains you have been on