old steam trains

[Geek44]

Here are a few of the local narrow gauge railway that takes passengers 365 days a year. It's a tourist thing but it's awesome. Entirely volunteer run. When my son gets older, I'll volunteer. I'll drive a steam locomotive yet!!
This is actually my son's interest...I've taken it on so we can check it out together. He isn't three yet but he can say 'Garratt Articulated' and 'Fifteen Inches', 15'' being the width of the gauge. This is G42, the Garratt, built at Sheffield (UK) in 1926 and recently restored at the cost of 1.26 million dollars.
G42.jpg

These two are locally built for this line.
AAPB.jpg

Here, DH31 diesel shunts the 'Luncheon Special' together.
DH31.jpg

My son is obsessed. He sleeps and eats trains. He knows all the local locomotives and their parts (boiler, cabin, buffers, couplings, domes etc). He owns at least two adult books about this railway and pores over them every day. He watches his DVD about it almost every day. I'm just pleased he's 'into' something that causes him to 'read' books and look things up. As I said, he's not quite three.

[Whiterook]

OK, it's official...your whole family is cool! Awesome my friend! Does the lad fancy being a full-blown Model Railroader yet!?

[Geek44]

Not yet, although he does have a 'Thomas The Tank Engine' play table that he plays with every day. He builds his own trestle bridges but lately, he's more into staging 'accidents' with his trains...normal stage for little boys. I remember going through it myself. They say I'll grow out of it soon.
He's also quite interested in my model tractors (tanks) and 'panes' (planes). His behaviour in my study is a kind of 'sudden death' thing. He knows that if he breaks my 'no touching unless you ask' rule, he's out for the rest of the week. So far, his behaviour has been impeccable.

[Whiterook]

Haa haaaa....a young man who knows his limits...I love it!

[Wolster]

Originally Posted by Geek44

Not yet, although he does have a 'Thomas The Tank Engine' play table that he plays with every day. He builds his own trestle bridges but lately, he's more into staging 'accidents' with his trains...normal stage for little boys. I remember going through it myself. They say I'll grow out of it soon.
He's also quite interested in my model tractors (tanks) and 'panes' (planes). His behaviour in my study is a kind of 'sudden death' thing. He knows that if he breaks my 'no touching unless you ask' rule, he's out for the rest of the week. So far, his behaviour has been impeccable.

Find and show him 'The Train' with Burt Lancaster. A 3 way train crash, the real thing, not CGI. He will love that, I did as a kid!!

[Wolster]

Whilst i'm not a big train enthusiast I grew up with an Uncle who is. There is something so alive about a steam engine in steam that I have never seen with any other machine.

[Whiterook]

The town over is named Palmer, and has a train hub there that is a meca for trainwatchers. Use to have several railroads connect through there, and the big train station once had Abraham Lincoln stop through...the station is gorgeous...as big as a church, and is now a restauant called The Steaming Tender. When an order is ready, they call over the loud speaker "Order # whatever is now departing the station!" I mean, how cool is that? My favorite fare there is the Brakemaster Burger...YUM!

Steaming Tender Restaurant | Great food, Old World Elegance, located in the Historic Old Palmer Railroad Station

[Wustenfuchs]

Here's the Cog Railway in New Hampshire. This section of track is called Jacob's Ladder because of the steepness. See how the boiler tilts to stay horizontal.

[Whiterook]

I have relatives who've been on that, but I've not yet. Said it scared the crap out of them!

[krieg]

Originally Posted by Wustenfuchs

Here's the Cog Railway in New Hampshire. This section of track is called Jacob's Ladder because of the steepness. See how the boiler tilts to stay horizontal.

how come the boiler stays horizontal
somethink to do with the water??
cheers krieg