Not too much of a stretch, it is on E-L trackage, and the 759 is kind of a "kissin' cousin" to the Erie Berks. Nice shot at any rate.
Okay, I know this is a stretch, but here is a Berkshire (NKP 759) on the (Erie-) Lackawanna coming out of Nay Aug Tunnel near Scranton, PA...too good a photo to pass up...
Tough lookin' engines, don't you think? All business! A pity none were saved.
Here is a crystal clear shot of CNJ 4-6-4T 230...
CNJ 4-6-4T 228...
CNJ 4-6-4T 226 on what looks to be a work train - evidence of robust pulling power...
CNJ 4-6-4T 226 in pristine condition ready to pull out on the advertised...
CNJ 4-6-4T 227 coupled to what looks to be commuter cars...
CNJ 4-6-4T 228 waiting for the high ball...
CNJ 4-6-4T 225 working from the business end...looks just right for Steamtown...
CNJ 2?? 4-6-4T from the front end again for comparison...looks just right for Steamtown...
CNJ 4-6-4T 229 also in pristine condition and ready for its next assignment...
Finally, not 4-6-4Ts, but CNJ 2-8-2 Mikados with what has to be the most massive tender ever applied to a Mikado...
CNJ 2-8-2 Mikado 875 on the turntable with an enormous tender that has to be the longest if not the largest ever put on the drawbar of a Mikado...
CNJ 2-8-2 Mikado 903 - Big-barreled, brawny bruiser of a 2-8-2...
For comparison purposes, Boston & Albany 4-6-6T under way...
There you go. And those CNJ 4-6-4T's were powerful enough to pull up to 12 coaches. Hard to believe but it's true.
Good for an easy five mile or so out-and-back and as you say economical to operate it'd be a good choice for a train full of people who want a short ride for a taste of steam as opposed to an all-day trip.
So this...
Could do an interpretation of this...
Sounds reasonable to me! It would be economical to operate, running it in reverse would be historically accurate, and given the fact that the biggest market in North America is a short distance to the east, it would seem to have a marketing advantage as a Central Railroad of New Jersey unit. Plus, how is that for a field trip for the schools in New York-New Jersey "Hey, students, we are going to take a ride just like the ride to work that your grandparents (great-grandparents?) did every day to bring home the bacon."
Oh yeah, they could have had it torn down and inspected at the time, but with a full stable of papered locomotives it just wasn't worth Steamtown's trouble.
After a total resoration now it'd have all the papers it would need. Restoring it as a CNJ locomotive would be playing a little fast and loose with it's history I know, (in case anyone asks) but so what?
Firelock, that was the very first locomotive that Steamtown operated. They had to stop operating it because the paperwork for it was destroyed in a roundhouse fire where the locomotive was stored in Canada. That would be a cool locomotive to see operate, especially if it were restored as a CNJ locomotive.
Thanks for all those Erie shots kgb! Nothin' weary about that Erie!
And thanks for sneaking in a shot of that Jersey Central "Hudson." Steamtown's got a Canadian 4-6-4 tanker that's almost a dead-ringer for the CNJ one that's pictured, in fact I believe the Canadian 4-6-4 is what gave the CNJ the idea of getting some of their own. I wish Steamtown would restore that 4-6-4T and slap some CNJ markings on it to go with the CNJ rolling stock they've got.
To me, rel;ics from the past that are still really useful today and earning their keep at what they were first desigined to do are worthyof real admiration. People commute regularly on San Francisco's F line, with its regular sue of Peter Witts and PCCs. Now Garrad Avenue, Route 15, in Philadelphia is doing the same. Outstanding is the Manx Electric Railway, a sseacoast itnerurban with find scenery and regular service between Douiglas, Laxey, and Ramsey, using its original crica 1892 equipment, kept in excellent working order. There is aoso a steam train from Doiuglas to Cambleton, with tank engines and slam-door comaprtment coaches. And Douglas has a seacoast horsecar line that connects with the interurban. But we all know how lucky British railfans are with nearly every weekend one or more mainline steam excursions, but that is not really working transportation, or is it? Blackpool has modernized its classic seacoast tram line, but runs a regular heritage service with its own stops on the same tracks during the summer tourist season, and regular riders have choice on their commutes.
We have an imported Turkish 2-8-0 on display painted to duuplicate very similar locomotives that operated under the British Mandate and after, and there is talk about restoring it to oepration, but not near enough money has yet been raised. None of the standard gauge "Palestinian" locomotives were saved, only one narrow gauge in the musuem in Haifa..
[quote user="daveklepper"]
[quote user="ROBERT WILLISON"]
We do a poor job of preserving any kind of industrial equipment. How many steam shovels or cranes survive today? We did a bit better with steam locos as to the number of preserved first generation diesels. Not many Baldwin sharks around, PA's all but gone. Early trollies didn't fare well, PCC cars oddly survive and still operates. Only a tiny tiny faction of steam ships passengers or freighters still exist. I suppose business consideration Trump's the desire or need for preservation. Either way it's sad.
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Firelock76 ROBERT WILLISON We do a poor job of preserving any kind of industrial equipment. How many steam shovels or cranes survive today? We did a bit better with steam locos as to the number of preserved first generation diesels. Not many Baldwin sharks around, PA's all but gone. Early trollies didn't fare well, PCC cars oddly survive and still operates. Only a tiny tiny faction of steam ships passengers or freighters still exist. I suppose business consideration Trump's the desire or need for preservation. Either way it's sad. The preservation of the things you mentioned certainly could have been better, but you have to remember the problem with BIG antiques is one way or another they still have to earn their keep, and if they can't, oblivion. Very true but I I think the Brits do a bit better than we have. As a culture with a history much older than our own, may be a greater appreciation of history to the degree they are building new steamers based on the oldie Goldie's. We have a throwaway culture, out with the old in with the new. Unfortunately their were no new steamers to replace the last generation. With diesels, early units became trade in foder, making it more attractive to buy a replacement. Same thing is happening with the second generation diesels. You have to credit general electric which has found a way to preserve its histortu by donating several units to the museum in Northeast PA.
ROBERT WILLISON We do a poor job of preserving any kind of industrial equipment. How many steam shovels or cranes survive today? We did a bit better with steam locos as to the number of preserved first generation diesels. Not many Baldwin sharks around, PA's all but gone. Early trollies didn't fare well, PCC cars oddly survive and still operates. Only a tiny tiny faction of steam ships passengers or freighters still exist. I suppose business consideration Trump's the desire or need for preservation. Either way it's sad.
The preservation of the things you mentioned certainly could have been better, but you have to remember the problem with BIG antiques is one way or another they still have to earn their keep, and if they can't, oblivion.
pajrr I rode all of the 614 trips. I worked as a volunteer trainman on 4 of them. We had O Winston Link on the last trip. He rode the crew car the whole trip and we put an N&W hooter whistle on the locomotive
I rode all of the 614 trips. I worked as a volunteer trainman on 4 of them. We had O Winston Link on the last trip. He rode the crew car the whole trip and we put an N&W hooter whistle on the locomotive
You know pajrr, we MAY have run into each other without realizing it. When I rode two 614 excursions in succeeding years I wore a N&W 611 sweatshirt, full color and titled "The Thoroughbred." I was in mourning for 611 as this wasn't too long after the NS steam program had been cancelled. I can't tell you how many railfans on the 614 trips asked me if I'd ridden behind 611 and when they got an affimative answer they asked "What happened?"
"I don't know," I said. "There's so many rumors flying around Virginia about it it's a case of pick the story you like and stick with it, no-one can say you're wrong."
kgbw49- Nice journey into yesteryear..gets me relaxed just studying those pics. In virtually every picture the track is immaculate...well groomed, no junk anywhere, no garbage...even in the urban areas.
I remember those days very well and I have to say that I am so grateful that I can still recall the feeling, the senses, the purpose of it all.
Those workers may not have had a college degree but their jobs required high skills and intelligence.
Of course we have progressed and left those times behind. We now have 20 Trillion in debt, speakers shouted down and roughed up on campus, smugness and elitism looking down on working folks, country folks, folks in the interior...you know those that retain a bit of skill and ingenuity and can take out a transmission. Miners that can drill, blast and muck out a round. Roundhouse workers who kept the steamers functional.
Of course the overcrowded airports and their wonderful odours, the friendliness of tight seating, not to mention the thrilling pat down's and intrusions. Much better than the Erie Limited.
The Erie was a heck of great railroad, important...all but forgotten nowadays, a historical footnote, a few of us getting long in the tooth who remember first hand all of it, wherever we were. Keeping a torch lit.
...But! We have progressed beyond those images, right?
Erie Berkshire hoofin' it through Delong IN...
Erie Mikado in Rochester IN...
Erie's fast freighter before the 3300s...
Erie Berkshire successor at Marion OH in 1955...
Erie Mikado in what looks to be either New York or New Jersey...
Erie Mikado caboose hop...
Erie big-barreled Berkshire making time at an undetermined location...
Erie Berkshire ducking under a flyover...
Erie Mikado on a local freight at an undetermined location...
Erie Limited...
Erie Limited on the flatlands...
Erie commuter competitor...
Erie Berkshire "Four of a Kind" 3333 in Chicago IL...
Erie Limited with honorary steam locomotives...
Erie Limited in Ohio...
Got to love Starrucca Viaduct, like a little bit of Ancient Rome in the heart of Pennsylvania.
And great shot of "World Famous" Moodna Viaduct! I was on one of those C&O 614 excursions, what a gas!
Starrucca Viaduct from various perspectives...
Oops, wrong viaduct (Moodna), but a fun photo of C&O 614 nonetheless...
I'd also expect the permitting did not take as long either.
Hey, it only took 18 months to build the Empire State Building.
Those guys back then knew how to work!
No disrepect intended to anyone in the contruction trades nowadays, but I have to wonder sometimes.
jumperIs the first picture the Starucca Viaduct?
No. Starrucca.
... of course, Wikipedia couldn't get it right in the caption to the Cropsey painting, either.
Hard to believe it only took 'em a year to build.
Yes, Starucca. It still sees a handful of freight trains each week.
Wow, gorgeous displays! My compliments, and thanks for the link! I lucked into two Erie lanterns myself over the years, both steam era, but that's as far as my Erie "collection" goes.
And tell 'em to leave that Radburn station men's room alone! If you're a history buff of railroads and plumbing it's not to be missed! They'll probably destroy the "ambiance" of the place anyway.
Firelock, the station is being renovated-----new roof, redoing the waiting room and ticket office, etc. The building will be locked up for several months during the springtime. The brains at NJT wanted to have the station closed NOW, during winter. So much fuss was raised that they shifted the work schedule. Who in their right minds would close a station in the middle of winter? But then again, we are talking government agency, not normal people. If you want to see my exhibit that I had go here: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/206550-erie-railroad-exhibit
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