My Pictures and Thoughts about Train Festival 2009

[kschmidt]

 Greetings,

I had the chance to be a part of Train Festival 2009 in Owosso, Michigan. It was quite the event. Eight operating steam locomotives in one location. The three big steamers were the hometown favorite Pere Marquette #1225, Nickel Plate #765 which was recently rebuilt and getting to stretch its legs for the first time. And the long distance visitor the Southern Pacific #4449. Plus also visiting were the Little River #110 4-6-2, Little River #1 0-4-0T tank engine, Flagg Coal #75 0-4-0T, Viscoe #6 0-4-0T and the Leviathan #63 4-4-0 American. All of these steamers were under steam at various times throughout the event.

Myself and a friend left Milwaukee at 6am Thursday July 23 2009 on the Lake Express High Speed carferry to Muskegon. We had the pleasure of sharing the cruise with Jim Wrinn and Rob McGonigal from Trains magazine and Classic Trains magazine. The Lake Express moves across the lake at about 35mph, not sure what the would be in knots, but your moving. Weather was OK until about mid lake when it got real foggy. Then it cleared up in Muskegon.

Thursday we chased the inbound trip of the SP #4449 which was pulling the daily excursion. This trip was added due to the response to the #4449 Friday trip which sold out very quickly.

Friday we chased the northbound trip of the #4449. The excursions were about 50+miles one way from Owosso to Alma. In Alma the locomotive was turned on the wye. The line from Owosso to Alma is pretty straight and not real good for lighting, the train was always going in the wrong direction for good lighting. Friday afternoon we headed back to Owosso and did something a bit different. I got into a helicopter for the first time and we flew over the Train Festival. This was a small helicopter with NO DOORS. Pretty much like the helicopters seen on the MASH TV show. The pilot told me if I fell out I got my money back. We also wanted to catch the Little River #110 4-6-2 working the "hourly" train. We were able to get some shots of the smallest standard gauge steam Pacific pulling the excursion. It did have some help from a GLC diesel.

Saturday July 25 2009 was a busy day. We spent most of the morning on the grounds checking out the other steam visitors. Plus a 15"gauge railroad had been setup for people to ride behind. There was a beautiful live steam NW #611 on display, plus Milw #261 was there in 15"gauge. Also there was a large vendor tent with displays and a tent with model railroads and a huge LEGO train layout. About noon we headed out to catch the return trip of the NKP #765. The #765 had to fill in for #1225 which had suffered some flue damage over night. Hopefully the damage isn't to serious. Then Saturday night was the night photo session. Unfortunately SP #4449 suffered a slight derailment proceeding to the turntable for the shoot. It split a switch and the lead axle of the lead truck went on the ground. It took about 3 hours to rerail and it was fine.

Sunday was the final day and we chased the northbound and southbound trips of the NKP #765.

Overall Train Festival 2009 was a big success. I heard the crowds were over the estimates. To have 8 operating steam locomotives together in one place was a great accomplishment. Hopefully the damage to #1225 can be repaired since the event was to raise money to help with the cost of the 15 yr rebuild for the #1225. The only complaint might be about parking. The directions for parking weren't the greatest, but it was easily overcome. All in all GREAT JOB !! and thanks to all involved. Looking forward to 2014, some minds are already working on that one.

Check out many more shots from Train Festival 2009 on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2233803...7621764190453/

Sunrise on Lake Michigan from Lake Express

SP #4449 and train southbound on Thursday July 23 

NW #611 was there, in a slightly different scale 

Flagg Coal #75 does the "Run a Steam Loco" duties during the weekend 

Leviathan looks great having just been completed, it was gleaming 

Shot from a helicopter, by ME, first time ever in one.  The grounds of Train Festival 2009

Little River #110 pulling the hourly train, with some help from a diesel on the other end.

NKP #765 pulling southbound on Saturday, filling in for the injured #1225  

Night Photo Session Saturday 7 steamer around the turntable pit.

NKP #765 on the turntable 

Owosso, we have a problem. #4449 slightly derailed Saturday which explains its absence from the Night Photo Session. 

To see more shots from Owosso and Train Festival 2009 check out my Flickr Page 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22338037@N04/sets/72157621764190453/

Keith Schmidt 

[tree68]

Keith - Good stuff!  I was also there and thoroughly enjoyed the entire event.  I didn't ride - I do that all the time on the Adirondack.  I preferred to watch the action from the ground. 

One minor correction - the scale live steamers are 1.5":1' (1/8 scale).  There are apparently a couple of gauges, but it's around 7.5".  They're still amazing.  

[Awesome!]

Thanks for sharing!

[carknocker1]

Great photos , I was there and truely enjoyed the event , I wish now after seeing your photos that I had done the night photos may be next time .

[kschmidt]

 Thanks for the correction on the gauge.  I think our Zoo has 15" gauge steamers that must have been stuck in my head.  Yes they are amazing especially pulling several car loads of people around, powerful little critters. 

Keith 

[richg1998]

 Here are links to some videos. Don't forget You Tube when someone post photos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOoV4fp6uGU

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Owosso+Train+Fest+2009&search_type=&aq=f

Rich

[bubbajustin]

What cause 4449 to derail?

[kschmidt]

 I think they just split a switch.  Probably a bit more weight than the track is used to.  The switch was spiked and ready for operation the next morning. 

Keith

[tree68]

richg1998

Here are links to some videos. Don't forget You Tube when someone post photos.

It's fun to look at the videos and see if you can find yourself in someone else's stuff.  I have once already...

[rrnut282]

Nobody said anything about the rain on Saturday.  It sure made the tents fill up quickly.

The cool part was seeing the vapor on the sides of the boilers as the rain was turned to steam.

[kschmidt]

 I was on the grounds Saturday for the couple of "showers" or downpours whichever you prefer.  The tents filled up quickly, but the people in line for cab tours of #4449 and #1225 never got out of line.  I ended up at the Milw #261 area of the tent both times.  I helped move the headlight assembly and display table undercover so it would get ruined.  I noticed alot of bags of wood shavings around to help soak up water in front of tables. 

Keith 

[tree68]

kschmidt

 I was on the grounds Saturday for the couple of "showers" or downpours whichever you prefer.

Downpour would be appropriate.  They found all the leaks in the tents, too....

All things considered, the drainage wasn't too bad, and they did bring in some pumps to take care of a couple of the lakes that formed.

I think it rained both Saturday and Sunday mornings, early, before things got started.  Didn't help the mud situation any.

I suspect that if and when they do it again, that'll be one of their considerations...

[kschmidt]

 I have uploaded a couple of videos shot during Train Festival 2009.  The first is of Nickel Plate #765 showing off its two different steam whistles.  I didn't know #765 had two different whistles until then.  Below is a link to the video on You Tube. 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INSC4EFRolE

 The second is a bit longer and has several run-bys of the SP #4449 on both Thursday and Friday's trips.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h69vSbB8-IM

 Keith Schmidt 

[chad thomas]

 Great job Kieth !!!! thanks for shareing