Unrelated: Manassas Railway Festival this weekend w/ Steam Locomotive

[emorth]

If anyone has an interest in 1950s steam locomotives this engine will be in Manassas this weekend.
http://www.insidenova.com/headlines...cle_0c3ef5e8-0a4f-11e5-b34c-0b5b56c978da.html

 

[iptman]

Mmmm.... locomotives didn't much sleeker than the J class. I saw this in person at the Roanoke rail road museum last year. I didn't realize they were restoring it or that it was the last one in existence. Crazy.

Edit: Uhh.... $109 for a coach ticket for a round trip between Manassas and Front Royal? I was about to say that'd be a cool family outing but not at those prices. $20/seat maybe.

 

[emorth]

Back 20 +/- years ago, when Alexandria had a railroad yard, the Roanoke museum used to run various vintage steam train excursions from Roanoke to Alexandria and back. There was a "Y" at the Alexandria yards where the trains could turn around. We used to go down to the crossing in Burke, before the overpass was built, and watch, hear, smell & feel the steam locomotives come & go. Kids (and dad) loved it. No more Alexandria yard, no more steam trains. :-(

Yep, $109 is steep, but it is not the distance, it is for the experience and a good cause. How about $879 for the private suite? Now that's expensive!

 

[traveldud]

Thanks for the heads up. Def cool however can understand the sticker shock...

 

[emorth]

I would go just to experience an "alive" steam locomotive as it rolls in and out of the station. I don't really need to go for a ride in a coach. However, I would pay big bucks to ride in the engine. I was born 100 years too late. I was meant to be a steam locomotive engineer. Maybe I was one in a former life.

 

[Thornton]

Definitely need to make it this year. Don't know how many years ago it was that a steam engine came through Manassas that dwarfed the diesels. One of the things I enjoyed as a kid was going to Montgomery WV where my grandfather taught at WV Tech, was to go watch the coal trains go up and down the lines along the Kanawha river. The smell of the creosote and going to a turn tablevup the river and watch them turn engines , even though they were diesels.
Here's also a pic of my great grandfathers railroad lantern when he was a trainman for the M&K.

 

[traveldud]

They may let you climb up in it... The one in Cumberland let's you go and peak around...pretty fun!

 

[emorth]

Did anyone go to see it? I missed it.

From the Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...orms-the-virginia-countryside/?wpisrc=nl_buzz

Nice lantern Tom.. I have one from the Lehigh Valley (Pennsylvania) RR. Grand father and grand uncle used to work there.
Good idea Giso, I will ask for a quick peak next time I have the opportunity.

 

[Thornton]

Took both the boys and the steam engine was out. Finally saw it when it was being backed in the yard in Manassas on Sunday after its last run. It actually dwarfs the diesels.
Not too impressed with the railway festival though. Seems like just a bunch of vendors anymore. The first festival they had a crew that showed how they used to align rails. All the guys were retired and I think the youngest was in his late 60's. They Tom a 20' section of rail and moved it around like it was nothing.