Soo Line Steam Locomotive 2719 Excursion 10/6/07

Another amazing three-day weekend!

Friday, October 5, 2007

Chuck and I left our home near Milwaukee about ten minutes before 4:00 AM on Friday, October 5, 2007 and drove to Duluth Minnesota. Our goal was to be at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in time to see the #2719 4-6-2 steam train leave at 10:30 AM for the Friday Two Harbors excursion to take photos and video. I am happy to report we made it on time, arriving at just about 10:15 AM as the last passengers were boarding.

#2719 about to leave on Friday, 10/5/07.

#2719 backs out of the depot siding to switch to the mainline on 10/5/07.

After we checked into our room at the Holiday Inn we went out to tour Duluth via their excellent Skywalk System.

On the way to the Depot from the Holiday Inn Center to visit the Lake Superior Railroad Museum through the Skywalk System.

On Friday evening we dined in the Radisson Hotel Harborview revolving 'Top of the Harbor' restaurant. The food was outstanding and a talented three piece band went from table to table to play everyone's favorite tunes. The view at night in the wind and rain was just great and we were able to get there without stepping outside at all. We highly recommend this restaurant any time you are in Duluth!

Saturday, October 6, 2007

On Saturday we rode the Lake Superior Railroad Museum round-trip excursion on the North Shore Scenic Railroad behind the Pacific 4-6-2 #2179 from Duluth to Two Harbors, followed by their elegant dinner train.

We rode in the Budd car with no empty seats on the train on 10/6/07!

Chuck is seen in the baggage car while still at the depot. It was chilly and very wet all weekend; too cold to stay in the open car for long.

Looking out the window at Lake Superior as we leave Duluth on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

Weather is not an issue for Chuck who is happy as long as he's on a train!

A big thrill for us was having Patrick Dorin as our car host. Here he is signing his book we purchased in the Lake Superior Railroad Museum
gift shop after our excursion to Two Harbors had detrained in Duluth.

North Shore Scenic Railroad Elegant Dinner Train

Chuck with our table companion Jamie Longe from Kenora, ON, Canada.

Jamie's bride of one month, Sarah sitting next to me in the dining car.

Our dinner was from the New Scenic Cafe located at 5461 North Shore Drive, Duluth, MN 55804. The menu was as follows:

The first course was a corn tamale with a beautiful
presentation and spicy chocolate mole sauce.

The second course was a delicious salad.

The entrée was seared elk over wild rice. Yum!

Dessert was a homemade berry pie with a crust to die for.

Ken Buehler, the Executive Director of the North Shore
Scenic Railroad is a very witty and entertaining host.

Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad
Sunday, October 7, 2007

On Sunday we rode the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad during their last scheduled day of the season to view "Duluth's most scenic excursion" along the St. Louis River. Later we shopped at the Superior Antique & Art Depot in Superior, WI until they closed after 5 PM, then we headed home arriving near 1:00 AM on Monday.

One of two coach cars on the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad.

The observation area of one of the coach cars has many very
comfortable arm chairs and a door leading to the open car.

It was warmer on Sunday 10/7/07 so we spent a lot of the trip
along the St. Louis River outside in the open air car on the LS&MRR.

It's a lot of fun to travel on three-day weekends when the destination is within 6-8 hours from home. Take a look at what's in your area and get out there and enjoy some trains!

We Found the Roundhouse in Bellevue Ohio

There are a lot of really cool things on the Internet these days and one of them is the ability to see satellite images of places you know or places you want to visit. Chuck is just about the last person you would expect to get into this sort of technology but he enjoys following the railroad tracks to see what's out there, and he found the roundhouse in Bellevue Ohio this way.

Go to http://local.live.com/ then click on the Maps tab under the search box. Type Bellevue Ohio into the search box and you'll see Bellevue come up as if you were looking down on it, and a little push pin will be near the center of town. If you look northeast of center at between 1 and 2 o'clock, you will see a little half moon structure that is at the western end of a rail yard. That's the roundhouse!

Here is a cropped version of MSN's map tool for Bellevue Ohio.

We detoured off the Ohio Turnpike to drive down to Bellevue and find the roundhouse Chuck had seen using MSN's map tool and took a few pictures to share.

First we found our way to the backside of the roundhouse.

Then we found the road leading to the front side of the roundhouse.

Always the courteous railfan, Chuck films without trespassing.

We saw two Norfolk Southern trains go through the area and one robotic local, so it was a cool little stop on our trip.

Our Visit to the Canton Classic Car Musum

With about a 2 hour layover in Canton, OH during the first ever Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Total Track Tour on Saturday, September 29, 2007, Chuck and I decided to check out the Canton Classic Car Museum. We both like classic cars and other transportation history, but this place was so much more than that.

The general manager was a very enthusiastic spokesperson for the museum and spent the entire time of our visit going from one exhibit to another to speak about various cars and other items within the collection. She was very knowledgeable, friendly and very happy to have over 100 guests come in at one time.

Char, the museum manager, stands on one of the oldest cars to address
our tour group. It's a 1901 Oldsmobile curved dash in running condition!

After a brief orientation from Char, Chuck and I made our way slowly through the museum. The background of the museum is that the owner of the cars had a wife who wasn't as interested in cars and felt there should be more for people to look at than old cars. She collected all the other great stuff found in the museum.

Some of the wife's eclectic collection has to do with automobiles such as gas station memorabilia, old advertising signs, fantastic hood ornaments, and toys. There are also old bicycles in pristine condition, antique rugs that cover a lot of the floor area, and many interesting artifacts of all kinds throughout the entire museum including tools, electrical items, and vintage clothing. Many McKinley collectibles and commemoratives are found in several display cases too.

Old advertising tin signs are everywhere inside the museum.

Some of the cars, antique rugs, and shelves full of collectibles are seen above.

More classic cars with period dressed mannequins line the path.

This car was built for a wealthy woman who grew up in an Amish
family and she wanted the passenger area to resemble a buggy.

One of my favorite lamps of all time is seen above.

Chuck stopped long enough between rooms for a picture.

This museum is SO much more than classic one-of-a-kind cars! If you ever get the chance to go to Canton Ohio, make a point of stopping in the Classic Car Museum. If you like cool old stuff, you will LOVE this place!

Cuyahoga Scenic Valley Railroad and Saint Lucie Sound

When we arrived at Rockside Station, the main passenger boarding point for the Cuyahoga Scenic Valley Railroad, there were only a few people. The fog was still heavy in the valley beyond.


Our departure time was scheduled for 9:00 AM but we arrived about 8:20 AM. Over time the crowd grew in anticipation of the train ride to come.

Boarding was to begin 1/2 hour before departure but the train arrived just before 9:00 AM. Everyone boarded and we were on our way shortly.

The Saint Lucie Sound car was very nice. There is seating for 18 people in the observation area, three private rooms with toilets and sinks, a bar area and lounge. 10 of the 18 people on this trip were there because one of them had won 10 tickets in a charity auction. They were all locals so this trip was a real lark for them. I don't think they were really railfans, but they seemed to have a lot of fun amongst themselves.


The engine was pulling the train south and was hooked directly onto the Saint Lucie Sound car all the way to Canton. We were sitting in a little area at the back of the car with seating for 8 on four roomy love-seats. Our traveling companions back there were railfans from IL and OH. Well, more precisely, the men were railfans and their wives were there to share the ride. They were a lot of fun though, and we talked about a lot of things that had little to do with trains.

A three hour layover in Canton was planned with a choice of tours available. Chuck and I went to the Canton Classic Car Museum and our immediate seating companions all went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We had visited the Football Hall of Fame a few years ago. The 10 in the forward section beyond the etched glass partitions all went to a bar for the entire time.

Incredible Weekend Vacation in Cuyahoga Valley

It's amazing how much fun and activity can be packed into a three day vacation! And equally amazing is the beauty and attractions found in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

We left home before 4:00 AM on Friday, September 28th and drove to Cleveland, Ohio where we spent several hours in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At $20 per person for adults, I didn't think it would be worth it but I conceded later that I believe we got fair value for the money. Chuck really enjoyed it a great deal and that was worth $40 to me regardless.

Cameras are not allowed inside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame so we left ours in the car. A few images can be seen at Wikipedia. The building is a unique mostly glass structure in a pyramid shape. Once inside there are cars hanging from the ceiling beams and a cacophony of noise as decades of music intertwine from hundreds of speakers throughout the building.

We checked into the Holiday Inn in Independence, Ohio just about a mile and a half from Rockside Station. The link shows what our room was like. The mattress was very thick and comfortable.

More about our weekend adventure will be posted tomorrow with images. It will be at least another week before I have time to edit and upload videos to YouTube.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Total Track Tour

Chuck and I are leaving in the wee hours tomorrow morning and heading for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in Ohio. We're booked on board the St. Lucie Sound in executive class for the Total Track Tour. We have never been to this excursion railroad before so we're looking forward to a new experience and seeing the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley just as fall colors are starting.

The St. Lucie Sound Car on the CVSC

This is the first time the CVSR is doing the Total Track Tour and it includes a 3.5 hour layover in Canton, OH where we are planning on visiting the Classic Car Museum. Chuck wanted to go back to the Football Hall of Fame but we were there before and we both love classic cars, so I actually won the debate on this one. A rare feat indeed!

We're driving this trip even though Amtrak goes to Cleveland. It would cost us over $400 each way for a bedroom and we would have to leave Cleveland at 2:30 AM or 3:45 AM on Sunday to return. As much as we hate driving through Chicago's interstate system we are choosing to drive for this trip. We would have to rent a car in Cleveland anyway or take a taxi to Independence, so it would be very expensive to go via Amtrak this time.

The price of Executive Class for the Total Track Tour is low compared to the 2816/261 steam double header we just completed two weeks ago at only $130 per person. Our executive seating on the Minneapolis to LaCrosse round trip was $299 each, but well worth it.

Expect a report and images to follow. I'm still working on the videos for YouTube from the 2816/261 excursion but we're heading for Duluth on October 5th for another rail excursion to Two Harbors and back on a steam train, so the videos will start coming out after that.

2816/261 Steam Double Header September 15, 2007

Chuck and I took the Amtrak Empire Builder to St. Paul, MN on Friday, 9/14/07 from Milwaukee and arrived by cab in downtown Minneapolis at the Marquette Hotel at approximately 11:20 PM. We were up at 6:00 AM and secured a taxi to the 261 barn across the river in St. Paul to take a few early morning images prior to the departure of our excursion on the CPR 2816 and the Milwaukee Road 261 along with the consist of 11 passenger cars and 2 crew cars.

After spending a restful night at the Marquette Hotel on Saturday night, we hailed a cab to take us back to the Amtrak station in St. Paul, MN for our return trip. It was a wonderful weekend!

CPR 2816 at sunrise in the 261 yard at Minneapolis Junction, 401 Harrison St. N.E. in St. Paul, MN. The 2816 is an oil fired steam engine. Photos by Pauline Trabert

Milwaukee Road 261 was behind the 2816 tender in the consist for the double header. Seen here at sunrise on September 15, 2007 just before we boarded for the nearly 12 hour excursion to LaCrosse, WI and back. The 261 is a coal fired steam engine.

The Skytop Lounge car, the Cedar Rapids, is the last car in the consist.

Chuck and I rode in the classic Super Dome car as part of the Premium class tickets. The galley is located on the lower level along with a restroom at each end.

The two steam engines required three stops to fill up with water from fire hydrants arranged with the cities of Red Wing, MN and LaCrosse, WI. The above image shows the CPR water line attached to the 261 as it is filled with water at Minneapolis Junction prior to departure.

While in LaCrosse, WI the Canadian Pacific Empress was gleaming in the bright sunlight.

A good sized crowd gathered around the steam double header consist as the two engines were replenished with water. Most of the crowd was on the train with some 360 passengers but some of the LaCrosse, WI locals came down to the depot to enjoy the excitement.

Video of our trip will be posted on YouTube soon. Be sure to check out my other fine videos too.

technorati tags: railfan, railroad, excursion, steam, trains, 261, 2816

Wisconsin Railfan News

Well it's been awhile since I posted on this little blog... my apologies. I've been so wrapped up in trying to make a buck that I haven't taken the time to sit back and enjoy life very much. And it's not like I'm making very much money with all my Internet marketing endeavors anyway, so I'm just going to slow down and take the time to do the things I love and then worry about where my next dollar is coming from.

Back in the spring of 2007 my husband Chuck started working as a volunteer at the Illinois Railway Museum. His first task was to use steel wool pads to polish the exterior of one of the streamliner cars used in the movie "Flags of Our Fathers". He did this by hand and although most people probably wouldn't be able to see the difference, we both could. And he felt like he was doing something useful although the man has a degree in engineering from UW Platteville. It seemed to me a better use of his time could be found but whatever makes him happy is just fine with me.

In June I spoke with Nick Kallas who is the general manager at IRM and agreed to work as a reporter for the IRM newsletter called the Rail & Wire. My first two articles are in the next issue scheduled to be released for publication soon. The first one was about the MRHA visit to IRM as part of our 2007 convention held in Elgin, IL, and the second one is about the 50th anniversary re-enactment of the last day of service for the Chicago Aurora & Elgin when passengers were dropped off in the morning and left stranded by CA&E by noon.

You can view a short YouTube video clip I posted of part of the MRHA tour at IRM. The MRHA was able to raise enough funds over the last few years to give IRM a check that will cover the cost of building a new barn specifically for Milwaukee Road equipment. MRHA is the first such group to do this at IRM and we're pretty proud of that. If you are a Milwaukee Road fan you can consider joining the MRHA too. Chuck volunteers in the MRHA archives each Wednesday night at the Milwaukee Public Library.

I'm currently putting some news articles together for the next issue that will hopefully be out in the fall. The Rail & Wire is supposed to be published 6 times a year but it has been coming out less frequently the last two years or so. IRM members get a copy mailed to them as a benefit of membership. Check out IRM membership if you are a Midwest railfan for sure.

More updates to follow but the most recent news is a short night time video capture of the Canadian Pacific Railway #2816 4-6-4 steam locomotive known as "The Empress" taken last night at the Amtrak station in Milwaukee was posted on YouTube today. Chuck was down there to pick up our tickets for an upcoming trip to Minneapolis for an excursion on the Milwaukee Road 261 and took a few minutes to record a bit. It's dark but you can still make 'er out.

Railfan Info Online

I enjoy being a railfan.

I'm not a scanner in the holster strapped to my hip, hat full of pins, vest full of patches, mongo camera lens toting, "every rivet in the right place" train-speak fanatic.

But I love trains.

I love to watch trains. I love the sound of trains. I enjoy the feel of riding in trains. I love the atmosphere of dinner trains, especially after dark.

I just like trains a whole lot. That's my only qualification for being a railfan. Because I enjoy finding great railfan experiences, I search the internet for them frequently and make lists of the best sites I find. Railfan excursions; railroad museums I want to visit; trains I want to ride; dinner trains to try. And I seek out other railfans in forums and newsletters and blogs.

The internet is such a cool way to network and can become a true resource for all railfans no matter what it is that draws them to trains.

More later.

technorati tags:railfan, railroad, trains

Railfan European Train Travel

I found this cool site today featuring travel photos from around the world by Galen R. Frysinger from Sheboygan, WI. These images include trips to the Matterhorn and Zermatt, and a ride aboard the Glacier Express. Worth a look!

European Highlights by Train - Travel Photos by Galen R Frysinger, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

... Grand European Tours. European Highlights by Train. July 2002 ...

More soon.

technorati tags:railfan, railroad, european,travel,trains

Onalaska Traveler Reviews Amtrak

Although the author has just traveled one time by rail to visit his family, he has become a potential railfan and satisfied Amtrak passenger. Learning about other people, andleaning about railroads has become a part of train travel whether in coach or first class accommodations.

We arrived in Grand Junction where we were met by our son and daughter-in-law rested, well-fed, and ready for a week of hiking and backpacking on our 23rd trip to Colorado. It was our first trip on Amtrak. And it won’t be our last.So that’s the dirt on Amtrak travel — a great way to learn about Wyoming dirt and whatever else people will tell you as you share a meal while America the Beautiful rolls by outside your train window. We’re looking forward to the ride home.

Onalaska Community Life - Features

More soon.

technorati tags:railfan, railroad, amtrak,travel,trains

Railfan Nation

This article touches on some interesting topics like 'commuter-oriented housing developments', 'transit villages', 'commuter-friendly living options' and 'pedestrian-oriented downtown'. These things make sense for urban communities and satellite subdivisions.

Planning accessible, functional, safe, effective, and on-time commuter trains is an idea whose time has come again. Solar powered public transportation is a viable option and one way we can be less dependent on Middle East oil.

Before sunrise each weekday, hundreds of people descend on the Pittsburg BART station, trying to find parking and rushing in the cold air of predawn to the train that leads them to their jobs in the East Bay and San Francisco.

RIDING THE RAILS / Far-flung Bay Area towns hope commuters will hop out of bed and onto the train

More soon.

technorati tags:railfan, railroad, commuter,trains

Thomas Makes New Railfans

As much as the Thomas events benefit railroad museums and tourist railroads, they can be intimidating to those of us without small childrent in tow.

It's a great way to introduce the children or grandchildren to riding the rails while enjoying at least some of the other activities a railroad facility hosting Thomas has to offer.

Dillsboro, NC – July 2006 – All aboard to celebrate 61 years of Thomas & Friends™! It’s an anniversary party everyday, as Thomas the Tank Engine rolls into Dillsboro, NC for Day Out With Thomas 2006: The Celebration Tour. This fun-filled family event offers preschoolers and their families the opportunity to take a 25-minute ride (approximate) with Thomas the Tank Engine, [a real steam engine,] and is sure to engineer miles of smiles for every guest. Thomas & Friends™ will be making tracks to great destinations across America, and this stop will be hosted by Great Smoky Mountains Railroad www.gsmr.com at 119 Front Street, Dillsboro, North Carolina, from July 22 – July 30, 2006.

Day Out With Thomas™ 2006: The Celebration Tour Chugs Into Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

More soon.

technorati tags:railfan, railroad, thomas,trains

Train Travel Aids Commuters and Environmental Concerns

If an urban area has a functional mass transit system in place it only makes sense that the environmental impact of large numbers of commuters each driving their own vehicle would be lessened over time.

Milwaukee used to have one of the great inter-urban systems and now it has one of the freeway nightmares. No matter how much we wish our local governments had been able to see the future, it's just as hard to see things getting any better for commuters anytime soon.

It's fitting that a new city report on improving rail service between Guelph and Toronto using self-propelled diesel multiple units on the old CN North Mainline track comes just in time for smog season.

Guelph Tribune

More soon.

technorati tags:railfan, railroad, travel,trains

Railfan Mini-Train Museum

Dennis Stalzer spends most Saturdays making sure the trains run on time in the small village of Chizton. He's the conductor of a private railroad company called Metropolitan Transit.

The trains run right behind Bert's old Five and Dime, down there across from Lady Di's hotel. Then past Chas' Pub with the nudist in the upstairs window, showing off her assets. Finally the engine slips behind Norma Jean's Café, where you can almost smell the fresh roast, before picking up the bench full of passengers at the local depot.

Trains, planes and ... | naplesnews.com | Naples Daily News

A man's model layout is his domain but is what he says true? Are there not enough young people getting into model railroading to make it last? How young do we have to be to get involved?

Chuck has had his American Flyer collection since he was a kid... albeit in boxes in storage until rather recently. It will take him another couple of years to actually have a functional layout. He didn't have the time and we didn't have the space for the trains when the kids were little. Our kids are mildly interested in the hobby now (they are 20 and 22) but once the layout is up and running we hope their interest will increase.

Someday they will have to decide if the trains are worth keeping and running or not. Maybe they'll have kids by then. And hopefully more time to play with more space to live.

More soon.

technorati tags:railfan, railroad, model, museum, trains

Railfans Online

While out and about online this morning I came across another railfan blog very similar to my own in appearance but from a completely different perspective. Please check out Eddie's Rail Fan Page when you get a chance. Lot's of great images and commentary.

Eddie's Rail Fan Page

I realize there are a lot of railfans sharing their images and videos online but there are many more who aren't. If you have an interest in getting your images and videos online to share but you don't know how, take a look at this site: http://www.RailfanInfo.com.

More soon!

technorati tags:railfan, railroad, IRM, museum, trains

Railfan Diesel Days at IRM Great Success!

The Railfan Diesel Days Weekend was a great success! Chuck captured some cool video and I'll be adding more clips to the blog a bit later. Lot's of action, lot's of railfans and lot's of breezy sunshine in the current midwest heat wave. You'll hear the wind on the video.

Trained volunteers run the trains for the most part; young and old. Many of them are railroad employees or retired railroad workers who just can't get enough trains.

More soon!

technorati tags:railfan, railroad, diesel, IRM, museum, trains

Railfan: Wanna Buy a Railroad?

Toll Holdings' sale of its Tranz Scenic tourist train business continues to track slowly, with a key participant saying it has yet to hear from any interested buyers.OnTrack, the owner and manager of New Zealand's railway infrastructure, said it had yet to hear from possible buyers of the TranzAlpine and TranzCoastal South Island railway trains about rail line access.

New Zealand's source for business, stock market & currency news on Stuff.co.nz: No interest shown in Tranz Scenic train business

This brief article underscores the difficulties of operating and selling a tourist railroad in hard economic times.

More soon!

technorati tags:railfan, railroad, trains

Railfan Diesel Days at Illinois Railway Museum

This weekend is the annual Diesel Days at the IRM. It's going to be HOT but there are at least two railcars with AC and the diner is air conditioned too. On really hot days they have a sprinkler system going overhead in a couple of locations to cool you down and the barns are always several degrees cooler than the outdoors.

If you've never been to the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL - you should go! Check out their website at http://www.irm.org for all their details. Be sure to check out their 3 webcams where you can see what's happening right now. (Look under Real-Time Activities for the links.)

Chuck likes to go to the IRM nearly every weekend and I can sometimes spot him via the webcams. Here's a shot I captured back in May from the Spalding Tower cam:

There's Chuck waving from our designated 'wave point'. This is a great place for railfans and their families!

More soon.

technorati tags:railfan, railroad, diesel, IRM, museum, trains

Tourist Trains: Solar-powered Ultra-light Rail Service?

VICTORIANS could soon enjoy a glass of chardonnay while coasting through the Yarra Valley on a solar-powered ultra-light rail service under consideration by the State Government.

Victoria puts hopes, and cash, into renewables - National - theage.com.au

I'm not currently aware of any solar-powered tourist trains anywhere but this is something I think needs to be explored.

More soon!

technorati tags:tourist, trains, railfan, railroad,solar-powered