Best Railroad Museum In U.S? - Trains Magazine

gbrewer

Challenger,

I think of railroads such as the three I named as, to use the British terminology, "preserved railways" as contrasted to museums. Whatever you call them, I certainly agree that the NN is at the top of the list.

I would love to do that engineer for a day opportunity. Tell us about your experience. 

Glen

  Hi Glen,

As I am sure You can imagine it was an experience, not soon to be forgotten. From Portland, OR where I live, to Ely, NV is a 1600 mile round trip, so to get the most Bang for the Fuel buck, I did the two-pack Steam + Diseasel. (July, 2007) I had originally Hoped to run the 2-8-0 #93 and one of the Alco RS's. But as Luck would have it, The 4-6-0 #40 (No Dissapointment there, She is a Beautiful Locomotive) and the SD-9 #204 were what was serviceable on my scheduled day.

  While in High School I had met an engineer, and got a little throttle time on a GP-38-2, but the SD-9 was even Better, there is no need denying I enjoyed the SD-9 A LOT, the trip was worthwhile at that point.

  But the second half of the day when I climbed into the cab of #40, it felt like one of those Dream Vacations from the old TV show "Fantasy Island" (how many of you even remember THAT show?)  I was Grinning EAR TO EAR the top of my head about fell off.  The #40 was my first throttle time on a Road Steam Locomotive, the month before I went to Ely, I got the oportunity to run a little H.K. Porter 0-4-0T. The little Porter belonged to the Father of a Close friend of my Mother, Unfortunately, the occasion was the Final Steam Up, in Clyde's Honor, as He had passed on, so that was a Once in a Lifetime chance to run the Porter.

  While running the #40, there was another Truck Driver ( I am a Truck Driver ) who would stop his rig, get out and Video tape the 40 going by, then get back in his truck run ahead and video some more. He did that many times, so when he would be filming, I would blow a Grade Crossing signal on the Steam Whistle each time I saw him, Hey ANY excuse to blow that whistle was a GOOD excuse in my book. Greg the Fireman, threatened to start charging me by the whistle toot. I quickly informed him that I would get my $5.00 worth, by holding down on that whistle and see if He could shovel fast enough to keep the pressure up. In a truck, yopu CAN run yourself out of air with the horn, Greg didn't know if the whistle could drop the boiler pressure that much or not, but he DIDN'T want to find out, but everyone was still smiling, myself especially.

  In July of 2008, I did an EFD, with the Sumpter Valley, on their 2-8-2  #19, I had wanted to run their Heisler but being a woodburner, it was too late into the fire season for that. I had planned on going back to the SVRY this May to run the Heisler, but with the economy the way it is, hours are WAY down at work, it might not happen this year, but I do hope in the not to distant future to be scheduling an EFD each year.

  As much as I Enjoyed the Nevada Northern, of the two, I would reccomend the Sumpter Valley. The SVRY has the EFD do more, and you actually take out a complete, even if short train, where on the NNRY, it is just a light engine move, both were GREAT, but it was like Top Sirloin Dinner, or Steak & Lobster?

  Another Nice thing about pulling a complete train, was the day that I was able to get my EFD, happened to be my Nephews 4th Birthday. My Parents, my Sister, B-I-L and my 2 Nephews all got to ride in the Caboose, so the whole Family got to enjoy the day. They just about had to pry open my Nephews fingers to get Him out of the cupola in the caboose.

I would Recommend either to anyone interested in an EFD program,

Doug