Okay, well, here is a 4-8-4, 4-6-6-4, SD40-2, SD40-2 fest - the best I can do for now...
zugmann I'll hold out for SD40-2 fest.
I'll hold out for SD40-2 fest.
Good idea, or how about an all ALCo diesel fest. With all that exhaust it may resemble a steam fest.
Kinda of interesting concept as well.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
How about the C&O 490?
Pre-rebuild...one Fast Flying Virginian!
Hey firelock, how about the c&o 490?
Now if they could only find another Class J, or even a steamlined Class K out in the weeds somewhere to make kgbw49's Photo Four come to life...
It's the young guys like us who are gonna keep the dream alive, Joseph!
Just don't forget the bigger the dream, the bigger the challenges. Be prepared to take them head on and don't give up!
Ahem on that fire lock!!!. I first rode behind the 2102, April 1971. That day left a life long impression on me, that made turned me into a rail fan. So just perhaps we can have a return of the reading rambles. Or a steam days at steam town. Never say never.
Dream big!!!
The late, lamented Jim Boyd always knew a Big Boy would return one day. Why?
Well, ol' Jim said it best: "Like Mount Everest, because it's there!"
And Joseph, you're 23? That's good, you've got another 50 to maybe 75 years ahead of you to keep the dream alive.
Amen.
Some people always see the glass half full. But in reality desire plus money plus vision always trumps negatively. Who ever in their right mind ever envision the return of a big boy. Over more than 55 years of people saying it would never happen for all kinds of perfectly acceptable reason, money,vision and desire trumped negativity and the 4014 went home. No one one here can predict the future. So we all can keep our dreams and hopes alive.
JOSEPH the steam buff NS is steam friendly. and could help accomadate getting locomotives there.
NS is steam friendly. and could help accomadate getting locomotives there.
That's debatable. 21st Century Steam Program is officially over, and with it Southern 630 and 4501 excursions through NS. Now all they have is 611 (Which they required to have a new lead truck, by the way) and 765 (With a 35 year long good track record).
Espeacially considering the stock market, the PTC deadline, and the CP soap opera (CP has since dropped their efforts to merge with NS), I wouldn't be suprised if this decade is the last for non-railroad owned steam excursions on Class 1 tracks. Not to say excusions won't happen, but they'll be run on shortlines, similar to R&N #425.
Joseph, now your cooking. Just imagine, the possibility of the 2100 and the 2102 doing a doubleheader. Oh my god. It be the 1950's and 1960's all over again.
I love all of these idea's. steamtown would be a awesome idea. plus it could greatly benifet from such a event. even the illionis railroad museum would be cool. now even tough i may be 23 i too have long awaited 2102 return. if this event could happen it would be amazeing. it would be such a rare and once in our life time event. like the streamliners event. the only reason i suggested NC. was because it would jump several herdals. NS is steam friendly. and could help accomadate getting locomotives there. i also thought that there might be refueling facility,s. but there are other options in mind if this could happen. now of course other steam could be invited. i was just thinking of how many 4-8-4 Northerns that are running and are going to be returning in the next five years. if think about it. there will be 12+. now how cool is that? we havent had that many running since 1980-1999 right? my math might be off.... lol
Union Pacific's bridge in Elgin Illinois over the Fox River may not be strong enought for a 4-8-4 the reason why last time 844 was in Chicago and why she did not run to Union Illinois.
Dreams can come true, was well worth the wait.
Makes two of us, I waited 20 years for Mighty 611 to be awakened from her slumber out there in Roanoke!
Hey Connor, doesn't have to be this year. Heck I waited over 20 years for the return of the 2102 ( fingers crossed ). Steam town would a great destination for any steamer.
ROBERT WILLISON They ran the 765 out if their last summer, hoping for a repeat.
They ran the 765 out if their last summer, hoping for a repeat.
Let's get the 765 through her 1472 day inspection first. FWRHS expects her to be done by June, but in this industry an unforeseen issue to delay the locomotive should almost be expected.
ROBERT WILLISON Perhaps a steam meet at Steamtown. A Round table, a steam friendly rail parnter located near many mid west and eastern steamers. Plenty of room for running.
Perhaps a steam meet at Steamtown. A Round table, a steam friendly rail parnter located near many mid west and eastern steamers. Plenty of room for running.
AND a location very close to major population centers, New York, Northern New Jersey, and Philadelphia which should make for a great visitor turnout.
Heck, if UP is on board IRM would be a better place than anywhere else, once they have their 130' turntable installed and roundhouse built. They could house just about anything there as long as the curves leading up to it aren't too tight.
Of course, that'll be years from now, and the odds of such an occurance are low. But hey, worth dreaming about, don't ya think?
And while we're busy foaming, why stop with 4-8-4's? Lets invite everything under the sun. Put in a 270 degree (3/4 of a circle) roundhouse around that turntable. That should hold everything.
Okay back to reality:
Remember, we are all just a bunch of rail-enthusiasts with (as far as I know) no signifigant influence . The odds of one of us influencing the people that need convincing are nil. And don't forget the expenses to transport all these steamers to the meeting place. (Think tens of millions in insurance alone.)
With the RR's becoming more and more restricting on steam I think this decade will be the last for big steam excursions as we know them.
It's fun to dream, but don't forget reality.
About 25 years ago now there was a gathering of Frisco 1522, Cotton Belt 819, Up 844 and N&W 1218 at St. Louis. I am thinking it was associated with the National Railway Historical Society Convention.
Now is not the time, but maybe someday something in St. Louis or Cincinnati or someplace like that where there are some well maintained secondary mainlines for excursion runs we might see a gathering.
How would this be for a line up - just 4-8-4s since that is the thread title:
Reading 2100
Sante Fe 2926
Milwaukee Road 261
Norfolk & Western 611
Union Pacific 844
And what the heck, let"s throw in the 'Double Northern" while we are at it - Union Pacific 4014
Yes, and NS has other things to worry about right now, to put it mildly.
The streamliners event was doable for all the same reasons deisels replaced steam. They didn't require the logistics steam would have. They all fit on the turntable. And not all of the streamilners were even operable.
People didn't expect them all to operate, and you couldn't tell they were "dead" from photos besides. The same can't be said for steam.
...and not to mention NS was supportive of it...
A gathering of East Coast steam might be doable, but as had been said the logistics would be tough.
Still, they managed it with the diesel streamliners,
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