Here is a locomotive for you train buffs.

[John316]

Gents, check out what we saw when we were waiting at the border this morning (US/CA). I thought there might be somebody that would like our pics.

God bless,

John

[Tenor]

What a beautiful engine!  I had to do a quick google search on that, since my son Matt LOVES trains!

Thanks again!

Glenn

[Hi yo silver]

Wow, nice pics, John.  Nice of you to share!  I'm old enough to remember the falling cinders and the smell of the live steam.  I grew up in the "coal fields" and the Norfolk and Western, being the last major US railroad to switch to diesel power, still used giant steam locomotives until 1959.  ...so I'm really not SO old; right? ....RIGHT???  :O

Dennis

[RJ]

John -

So, was the diesel-electric loco behind it pushin', or being pulled??

[FloridaCliff]

John,

Thanks for the pictures...

I have had the privilege of riding on quite a few Steam engines and they are truly impressive.

I consider trains the Great Grandfathers of Buses anyways.

Cliff

[cody]

I'm thinking it may be a prototype of a new hybrid, RJ lol, that would be a locodiesel? or maybe dieselmotive?

[JackConrad]

Thanks for the great photos.  With a bus named Orange Blossom Special II, I guess it is kinda obvious we like the old steam locomotives. We had the pleasure of riding in a 1910 passenger car pulled by a steam locomotive burning coal last fall in PA through an Amish farming area. With no modern vehicles or power lines in sight, it was almost like a ride back in time.  It was one of the highlights of our trip last year.  Jack

[Dreamscape]

Nice pics John! Thanks for sharing!

That is one sound that is awesome!

Paul

[John316]

Glad you all enjoyed the pics. I forgot to make it "On Topic." We took the pics from the bus .

RJ, I have no idea whether the diesel was pushing, or being pulled . I do know that it looked brand new.

I agree, it was a "blast from the past." Pretty neat. It was a nice break from getting the bus searched . The locomotive was much more interesting.

God bless,

John

[Gary W]

That is the Royal Hudson, it was making a special run on Monday in White Rock BC which is at the US border.
I am a locomotive engineer and they have a diesel locomotive with a steam engine in case of break downs so they can clear the tracks for other trains. That track through White Rock is owned by BNSF railway and is fairly busy. Amtrack runs along there also.
Here is a link to a web site.

http://www.wcra.org/

Gary

[boxcarOkie]

John -

So, was the diesel-electric loco behind it pushin', or being pulled??

[boxcarOkie]

John -

So, was the diesel-electric loco behind it pushin', or being pulled??

Most likely it was a pusher.  Modern railroads insist on a helper or emergency unit when moving steam power on their systems.  UP, BNSAF and others always have one in the consist, either at the front behind the tender or stationed on the rear.  Steam loco's were huge labor intensive monsters, who were prone to break down and demand a lot of maint.  Even tho' this one has had a lot of TLC it still doesn't insure it could make the trip (trouble free).  I grew up alongside the WP & SP mainlines and they too ran steam up to the late fifties.  Most were retired to the deadlines and the scrap heap after that, fascinating machinery.

BCO

[compedgemarine]

the other night on "Top Gear" the three hosts raced from south england to north england. one took a vintage Jaguar, one took a vintage Vincent motorcycle and the third shoveled coal on a steam locomotive. it was interesting watching what all went into running the old steam engine. incredible machinery and engineering.

[RJ]

Gary & BCO -

I'm aware of the requirement for a back-up unit, just thought I'd have some fun pulling John's chain a little bit - see if he really was paying attention or was completely in awe!

And John - as others have said, thanks for posting the pics, you did a nice job taking them.

[niles500]

For you easterners, I believe they still run a Steamer from Dillsboro to Bryson city NC - And of course, for you westerners, there is the narrow gauge from Durango to Silverton CO - watch those embers -