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.
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.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
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!
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.
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
Thursday, August 30, 2007
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.
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.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
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.
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.
Friday, July 21, 2006
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
More soon.
European Highlights by Train - Travel Photos by Galen R Frysinger, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
... Grand European Tours. European Highlights by Train. July 2002 ...
More soon.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
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.
More soon.
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.
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.
More soon.
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.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
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.
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.
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.
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.
More soon.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
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.
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 PageI 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.
Eddie's Rail Fan PageI 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!
Monday, July 17, 2006
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.
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.
This brief article underscores the difficulties of operating and selling a tourist railroad in hard economic times.
More soon!
Saturday, July 15, 2006
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
Friday, July 14, 2006
Milwaukee Road 261 Excursion
In 2005 I took some digital images of our fall 261 excursion and here are some of my favorites.
We were seated in the Cedar Rapids for this excursion. Here's a shot looking toward the rear of the car.
Here's a shot taken from the back of the car looking forward. No other passengers had boarded.
Looking at the blue sky through the signature window styling of the Cedar Rapids above the back of the car.
This was taken in Winona during our layover.
One of my most favorite shots taken just as the engine was powering up for departure after we had disembarked for a two hour layover in Winona.
One of the best things about riding in the Cedar Rapids is being able to see a lot of the scenery. Here's a shot of Dayton's Bluff near St. Paul.
Recreational train travel is such a gas. But when you are sitting in the back of the Cedar Rapids sipping cocktails and enjoying the company of other railfans, it's just like heaven.
More later.
We were seated in the Cedar Rapids for this excursion. Here's a shot looking toward the rear of the car.
Here's a shot taken from the back of the car looking forward. No other passengers had boarded.
This was taken in Winona during our layover.
One of my most favorite shots taken just as the engine was powering up for departure after we had disembarked for a two hour layover in Winona.
One of the best things about riding in the Cedar Rapids is being able to see a lot of the scenery. Here's a shot of Dayton's Bluff near St. Paul.Recreational train travel is such a gas. But when you are sitting in the back of the Cedar Rapids sipping cocktails and enjoying the company of other railfans, it's just like heaven.
More later.
Alone on the Cedar Rapids
On October 8, 2005 Chuck and I took the 261 from it's barn in St. Paul to Winona, MN. Here's a short video clip of the inside of the Cedar Rapids car where we were seated that day. We arrived early and just happened to catch the car empty for a few minutes.
Chuck got a nice little camcorder for his birthday present from the kids. These first videos are a little rough but you can still get the feel for the train.
Chuck got a nice little camcorder for his birthday present from the kids. These first videos are a little rough but you can still get the feel for the train.
More soon!
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Amtrak Roomette - Milwaukee to the Twin Cities
On October 7th, 2005 Chuck turned the big five oh. I was excited to be able to take him on a great birthday weekend extravaganza which included a trip to Minneapolis/St. Paul on Amtrak, a stay at the wonderful downtown Hilton Hotel, a cool trip by the Metro Transit Hiawatha Line to the Mall of America, an excursion on the 261 from St. Paul to Winona, and a ride back to Milwaukee onboard Amtrak in another roomette.
More soon!
Virtual Train Trips to Demonstrate Convenience to North Americans
I found this interesting article today about how Rail Europe is doing something to "demystify" North Americans.
To simplify booking European rail travel, Rail Europe has introduced four categories of fares for point-to-point train tickets on all routes throughout Europe and the UK: economy (restricted economy), freedom (unrestricted economy), comfort (restricted premium) and premier (unrestricted premium). The company has also added virtual train trips featuring unscripted interviews with real travelers at www.raileurope.com to show North Americans how convenient and rewarding it is to experience Europe by rail.
More later.
World's Highest Railway to Tibet Opening Saturday!
MercuryNews.com | 06/30/2006 | World's highest railway to open
I found this interesting article today about the completion of a "staggeringly difficult" railway from Beijing to Lhasa.
"When the inaugural train leaves Beijing on Saturday on the two-day trip, passengers will remain in sealed carriages as the train climbs to the Tibetan plateau and passes delicate tundra inhabited by antelope, yaks and wild donkeys.
Three trains a day, each carrying 900 passengers, will begin what is touted as a journey to and from the "roof of the world.'' As trains traverse a peak elevation of 16,640 feet above sea level, oxygen will flow into the sealed carriages to keep passengers from keeling over with altitude sickness."
Chuck and I met a couple of fellows on the 261 twenty days ago who are heading to China to ride the rails in October of this year. Maybe we can get a report back from them.
More later.
technorati tags:railway, completion, china, tibet, train, railroad
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)