What was your favorite trains moment?

[Anonymous]

My favorite trains moment happened the summer between fourth and fifth grade, 1997 - I was watching a Wisconsin Central geep switch the drop off cars at the lumber yard in town, and the engineer saw me and we chatted it up a bit... I think I dropped the phrase "GP38-2" and he must have figured I was a budding railfan, and invited me into the cab. He showed me around, and even took me out onto the main track for a hundred feet or so, the back into the spur again. Being so young, it pretty much made my day, and week, and month, Lol.

Looking back on it - was it necessarily safe? No. (Stranger, danger...) Was the engineer seriously violating the rules? Indeed. Knowing what I know now, it may not have been the best idea but... I wouldn't change it for the world :-)

[Anonymous]

mine would have to be the time I got to operate the Whitcomb 65 tonner at the St. Louis Museum of Transport, I'm only 15 and that happened when I was 10 so its still a big deal!

[Anonymous]

mine would have to be the time I got to operate the Whitcomb 65 tonner at the St. Louis Museum of Transport, I'm only 15 and that happened when I was 10 so its still a big deal!

[Anonymous]

Chasing a BNSF train all the way from Bakersfield to Mohave in California through the Tehachapi mountains and seeing that engineer's face when he pulled into Mohave. It was priceless.

[Anonymous]

Chasing a BNSF train all the way from Bakersfield to Mohave in California through the Tehachapi mountains and seeing that engineer's face when he pulled into Mohave. It was priceless.

[Mickhall]

Though my favourite train moment these days is anytime the light is just right, my camera's set up, and a freight train comes barreling into sight I'd have to say my all-time favourite moment came in September of 1978 when I was in Jasper, Alberta on a Sunday, my day off. I had been in town all week playing in a rock'n'roll band at a local hotel frequented by tourists and local railroaders alike and had met a few of the guys. I was wandering around the railyard and station area when I heard a voice call out. This guy, John, motioned me towards the cab of the unit he was in and asked me if I was doing anything special today. I said, "No, just watching trains." He said, "Wanna come along for a ride?" Well I certainly couldn't turn down this opportunity so I climbed aboard for a very memorable head-end trip through the glorious Rockies to Blue River, BC and back. We saw moose and deer along the way and I got to spend a few hours sleeping in the crew quarters in Blue River before my buddy got an empty coal drag to haul back to Jasper. It was definitely a trip I'll never forget.

[Mickhall]

Though my favourite train moment these days is anytime the light is just right, my camera's set up, and a freight train comes barreling into sight I'd have to say my all-time favourite moment came in September of 1978 when I was in Jasper, Alberta on a Sunday, my day off. I had been in town all week playing in a rock'n'roll band at a local hotel frequented by tourists and local railroaders alike and had met a few of the guys. I was wandering around the railyard and station area when I heard a voice call out. This guy, John, motioned me towards the cab of the unit he was in and asked me if I was doing anything special today. I said, "No, just watching trains." He said, "Wanna come along for a ride?" Well I certainly couldn't turn down this opportunity so I climbed aboard for a very memorable head-end trip through the glorious Rockies to Blue River, BC and back. We saw moose and deer along the way and I got to spend a few hours sleeping in the crew quarters in Blue River before my buddy got an empty coal drag to haul back to Jasper. It was definitely a trip I'll never forget.

[SALfan]

Many years ago, watching a big steam loco (the C&O 2716, I believe) gallop over the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, FL. An abandoned highway next to the RR bridge provided the perfect vantage point.

[SALfan]

Many years ago, watching a big steam loco (the C&O 2716, I believe) gallop over the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, FL. An abandoned highway next to the RR bridge provided the perfect vantage point.

[oltmannd]

In no particular order:
-NKP 759 fan trip blasts thru Tobbyhanna PA at dusk in 1972(?) with me at trackside.
-Eating steak dinner in Amtrak grill car along Conn shore.
-Camping in tent at MP241 near Horseshoe curve in 1976 (also counts for craziest....)
-Riding rear vestibule of Clocker going 95 thru North Philly in mid 80s
-Cab ride in steam locomotive at Steamtown (VT) as a kid in the mid 60s
-Metroclub trip from Philly to NY on July 20, 1969 (also bat day at Yankee Stadium and the day they landed on the moon - memorable day all around for a 13 year old)
-Cross country trip on Empire Builder/Broadway Ltd in April 1973.
-Riding in roomette on Lake Shore Ltd climbing West Albany hill and slowly accelerating to 100 mph behind a pair of F40s

[oltmannd]

In no particular order:
-NKP 759 fan trip blasts thru Tobbyhanna PA at dusk in 1972(?) with me at trackside.
-Eating steak dinner in Amtrak grill car along Conn shore.
-Camping in tent at MP241 near Horseshoe curve in 1976 (also counts for craziest....)
-Riding rear vestibule of Clocker going 95 thru North Philly in mid 80s
-Cab ride in steam locomotive at Steamtown (VT) as a kid in the mid 60s
-Metroclub trip from Philly to NY on July 20, 1969 (also bat day at Yankee Stadium and the day they landed on the moon - memorable day all around for a 13 year old)
-Cross country trip on Empire Builder/Broadway Ltd in April 1973.
-Riding in roomette on Lake Shore Ltd climbing West Albany hill and slowly accelerating to 100 mph behind a pair of F40s

[Anonymous]

It's not my favorite but its ok.

It was 3:35 pm, and the day was kind of miserible. We go to a Restrunt by the railroad tracks to get some late lunch. It was a disiponting day because We couldn't get the boxcar I was hoping to get a the hobby shop. After we were done eating I herd this rumbel at first I payed no mind to it but it got louder. I ran out of the restrunt like a bat out of hell. Half of the people thought I was crazy or something. Then two BNSF C44-8W's came thundering down the rails. It was a heavy "potash" or grain train with about 107 cars. That moment made the day a whole lot better.

[:)]

[Anonymous]

It's not my favorite but its ok.

It was 3:35 pm, and the day was kind of miserible. We go to a Restrunt by the railroad tracks to get some late lunch. It was a disiponting day because We couldn't get the boxcar I was hoping to get a the hobby shop. After we were done eating I herd this rumbel at first I payed no mind to it but it got louder. I ran out of the restrunt like a bat out of hell. Half of the people thought I was crazy or something. Then two BNSF C44-8W's came thundering down the rails. It was a heavy "potash" or grain train with about 107 cars. That moment made the day a whole lot better.

[:)]

[milwsoocnw]

Pretty much any moment involving a train will do but....Earlier in the summer a friend of mine and I were sitting by the diamond in Rochelle, IL, when down the UP line came a consist with 3 locos up front, followed by the 3 UP E units, 2 A's and the B. It was my first time in Rochelle!! We got some good photos, but the only trouble is, we were too busy looking through a camera to really get to appreciate the E units. Pretty awesome!!!!

[milwsoocnw]

Pretty much any moment involving a train will do but....Earlier in the summer a friend of mine and I were sitting by the diamond in Rochelle, IL, when down the UP line came a consist with 3 locos up front, followed by the 3 UP E units, 2 A's and the B. It was my first time in Rochelle!! We got some good photos, but the only trouble is, we were too busy looking through a camera to really get to appreciate the E units. Pretty awesome!!!!

[Anonymous]

Watching the deer by the tracks as the California Zephyr stopped at a siding for another Zephyr near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Luckily, I was able to grab my video camera in time. See the video at my homepage:
http://homepage.mac.com/donclark
Click on deer by the tracks..
I have seen an alligator on the Sunset Limited, a bear on the Empire Builder, several eagles on the Southwest Chief, but, alas, my camera was not ready. But I got the deer on video....

[Anonymous]

Watching the deer by the tracks as the California Zephyr stopped at a siding for another Zephyr near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Luckily, I was able to grab my video camera in time. See the video at my homepage:
http://homepage.mac.com/donclark
Click on deer by the tracks..
I have seen an alligator on the Sunset Limited, a bear on the Empire Builder, several eagles on the Southwest Chief, but, alas, my camera was not ready. But I got the deer on video....

[Anonymous]

Back in 1992 I made my summer pilgramage to Chama NM. That day the C&TS had a twenty car east bound and they triple headed it with the 463, 497 and the 488. The whiseling, thundering roar and general specticle on the way to the top of Cumbres pass made chills run up my spine

[Anonymous]

Back in 1992 I made my summer pilgramage to Chama NM. That day the C&TS had a twenty car east bound and they triple headed it with the 463, 497 and the 488. The whiseling, thundering roar and general specticle on the way to the top of Cumbres pass made chills run up my spine

[Anonymous]

About 7 years ago at Alliance Ohio there were three trains passing through the interlocking at the same time. One on its way to Cleveland from Pittsburgh, one on its way to Pittsburgh from Cleveland (and that train had IC power), and the third coming off the Fort Wayne line and heading down the branch to Mingo Junction.

[Anonymous]

About 7 years ago at Alliance Ohio there were three trains passing through the interlocking at the same time. One on its way to Cleveland from Pittsburgh, one on its way to Pittsburgh from Cleveland (and that train had IC power), and the third coming off the Fort Wayne line and heading down the branch to Mingo Junction.

[edblysard]

Early morning, just at dawn, stuck in a sideing, motor shut off.
Myself, the helper and our engineer out on the front porch, drinking the last of the coffee.
Sunrise just starting to happen, all the night birds, the nighthawks and whiperwills giving it up for the night, all the day birds just waking up.
A soft ground fog covers everything.
Out of the fog, a doe walks up the right side of the train, stopped at the bottom of the front steps, so close my engineer could have patted her on the head.
She had to know we were up there, but never even glanced at us.
Just sniffed a few times, then carefully walked across the tracks, only feet away from the locomotive, down the bank, and just as she reached the edge of the brush, she turned around, and looked at us over her shoulder, then just stepped into the fog and was gone.
Never knew anything could move so quitely, or so gracefully.

Other that the faces of my wife and daughters, it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

Stay Frosty,
Ed

[edblysard]

Early morning, just at dawn, stuck in a sideing, motor shut off.
Myself, the helper and our engineer out on the front porch, drinking the last of the coffee.
Sunrise just starting to happen, all the night birds, the nighthawks and whiperwills giving it up for the night, all the day birds just waking up.
A soft ground fog covers everything.
Out of the fog, a doe walks up the right side of the train, stopped at the bottom of the front steps, so close my engineer could have patted her on the head.
She had to know we were up there, but never even glanced at us.
Just sniffed a few times, then carefully walked across the tracks, only feet away from the locomotive, down the bank, and just as she reached the edge of the brush, she turned around, and looked at us over her shoulder, then just stepped into the fog and was gone.
Never knew anything could move so quitely, or so gracefully.

Other that the faces of my wife and daughters, it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Trainnut484]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Wdlgln005

Best picture in Trains

Some winter, a CN switcher derailed and slid into a guy's driveway and stopped. Looked like the engineer had intended to park it that way. Trains provided the caption "CN delivers".

If Andy or somebody at MR is watching this post, I'd like to know what issue?

That's one helluva way to deliver a pizza LMAO [:p][:o)][8D][:D]

[Trainnut484]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Wdlgln005

Best picture in Trains

Some winter, a CN switcher derailed and slid into a guy's driveway and stopped. Looked like the engineer had intended to park it that way. Trains provided the caption "CN delivers".

If Andy or somebody at MR is watching this post, I'd like to know what issue?

That's one helluva way to deliver a pizza LMAO [:p][:o)][8D][:D]

[Wdlgln005]

Best picture in Trains

Some winter, a CN switcher derailed and slid into a guy's driveway and stopped. Looked like the engineer had intended to park it that way. Trains provided the caption "CN delivers".

If Andy or somebody at MR is watching this post, I'd like to know what issue?

[Wdlgln005]

Best picture in Trains

Some winter, a CN switcher derailed and slid into a guy's driveway and stopped. Looked like the engineer had intended to park it that way. Trains provided the caption "CN delivers".

If Andy or somebody at MR is watching this post, I'd like to know what issue?

[Trainnut484]

QUOTE: Originally posted by enr2099

QUOTE: Originally posted by Trainnut484

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman


AND you mr. Trainnut484.. the santa fe is NOT DEAD!!! NOOOO!!

The old Santa Fe lives on in spirit. True indeed, no more new power painted in the mighty warbonnet, but the spirit rolls on [8D][^]

Of course it does...it's the "SF" in BNSF.

I know its the Brand New Santa Fe, but I prefer the old Santa Fe.[^][^]

[Trainnut484]

QUOTE: Originally posted by enr2099

QUOTE: Originally posted by Trainnut484

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman


AND you mr. Trainnut484.. the santa fe is NOT DEAD!!! NOOOO!!

The old Santa Fe lives on in spirit. True indeed, no more new power painted in the mighty warbonnet, but the spirit rolls on [8D][^]

Of course it does...it's the "SF" in BNSF.

I know its the Brand New Santa Fe, but I prefer the old Santa Fe.[^][^]

[enr2099]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Trainnut484

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman


AND you mr. Trainnut484.. the santa fe is NOT DEAD!!! NOOOO!!

The old Santa Fe lives on in spirit. True indeed, no more new power painted in the mighty warbonnet, but the spirit rolls on [8D][^]

Of course it does...it's the "SF" in BNSF.