Hello. I'm new to the board as many of you know, and this is my first topic that I have started.

I remember when I was eleven or so years old when my father and I went to the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Historic Spencer, NC. We had been to the museum several times in the past, but this visit was unlike anyother. Everytime we went to the NCTM in the past, we rode behind either the Southern FP-7 #6133 or GP-30 #2601, but this time sitting on the point of the excursion train was Graham County Railroad Co. Shay #1925. At that time, I had only ridden behind a Shay once before and that was Western Maryland Shay #6 at Cass Scenic Railroad in 2000, and now I would get to ride behind a Shay in Spencer. I was very happy to say the least.

I remember the loud exhaust the Shay made as it rumbled through the museum's grounds, the distinctive "hooter" whistle it wore that day, and all the cinders that got all over me.

My dad took three pictures of the 1925 Shay that day. One of them is posted below, as it is the best one out of the three. As it turned out, it would be the only time I was ever able to ride behind this engine.

Sadly, 1925 and the museum's other running steamer, Buffalo Creek and Gauley 2-8-0 #4 are now both out of service, in need of major work which seems to be eons away from being done.

While the Shay no longer runs, and now sits, "Stuffed and Mounted" in the Spencer Roundhouse, I will never forget the day that I got to ride behind one of the NCTM's own Steam locomotives.

Martin

Martin,

Welcome to the greatest hobby on earth! I rode the Wilmington and Western RR in 1971 at age 5 and something in my little brain went snap and I have been this way ever since. Railroading has so many facets; steam, diesel, traction, freight, passenger, facilities, modeling, photography, collecting, riding, dinning cars, cabooses, etc... Try to keep an open mind, learn all you can, and enjoy your hobby. There is so much to it and so many great people here. When you visit a new place and meet a comrade you will find you speak the same language and make instant friends. There is so much to see and do. Enjoy!

Thanks Tom for your post.

I was looking through some more of my old photos and I came across a few more of the 1925 Shay. These were taken in 2007. Enjoy.

Martin

Another.

Last for now. :)

Just out of curiosity, what is the 1925's ailment? Surely, it hasn't already used it's 1472 days of service yet? Or has it? She was returned to service around 1997, so how did the locos restored in the late '90s during writing process of the new regulations get on track without having to do a teardown with just a couple of years of service? Was there some sort of grandfather clause that existed for a couple of years?

Anyway, she's a great engine. I thoroughly enjoy learning about the original "GCRR"

Matt Helton
Owner/Operator of the other "GCRR"

I might be wrong, but I think somehow some undistilled water got into her and ate her flues. NCTM already was restoring BC&G #4 and didn't want to have two steamers in pieces, so they just stuffed and mounted her. Again, there may have been other reasons.

Oh. Found a 2006 picture of the 1925 in the shop. Sorry it's low quality.

Martin

Martin-

Don't forget Tweetsie Railroad. Yes, it is an amusement park aimed at younger children, but there's not a prettier sight nor sound than ET&WNC #12 pulling hard out of the town and calling out her brass-throated song among the many spurs of the Blue Ridge.

Tweetsie RR is also the only place you can go on the state and be guarantee'd a ride behind a steam engine 100% of the time. WP&Y #190, "The Queen", ain't too shabby of a gal herself!

Either one is well worth the price of admission. Hey, and there's college-age "can-can" girls there to boot!

Matt (who's becoming an old fart day by day... <sigh>)

Matt, You know you've reached "old fart-hood" when you see a sweet young thing walking down the street, and you wonder what her mom looks like..................

You're not far from the truth Gary! Some buddies and I got together before our 25th year high school reunion and went to a bar the night before. There, some beautiful, half dressed young creature walked by. My first thought was "somebody get some clothes on her!"

(OK, maybe that wasn't my FIRST thought, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it. To do otherwise might be a bit creepy!)

:>)

Matt (hey, somebody pull my finger)

Sad how all those other guys got fat and gray........or bald.

Martin has much to look forward to.

dave

Martin,

since you seem to be interested in geared locomotives; here is a thought.

The railroad Museum of Pensylvania has examples of all three types on display. They are a fine museum in Strasburg, PA. The state was noted for the amount of lumbering that went on and of course most of the companies used geared equipment.

Also, there is a web site that introduces you to all the surviving steam locomotives called locomotive.com. you should consult it!
did you know that there is a two foot gauge Shay in existance?

Enjoy your new hobby!

Ted Miles

Martin,

Again, welcome to the hobby!

I don't think you mentioned where you are from, but we also have steam just outside of Raleigh, NC, that runs on a monthly basis 7 months out of the year. Check us out at www.nhvry.org .

Coming up at the end of the month, we will have 2 tank engines running with the Flagg Coal Company #75 making a guest appearance for two day along with #17.

Ted,

I've been to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania twice. Once in 2006, and early this year. I do have a thing for Shay locomotives. I've ridden behind several. Mostly those at Cass. They are the most interesting steam locomotives I've ever ridden behind. But my all time favorite Shay is the Graham County Shay #1925.

Matt and everyone else, I've been to Tweetsie once, although I was really small, probably two years old. Mom always tells the story of when we were ridding behind the steam engine (no idea which one it was, since we have few pictures of that day), and I stuck my head out the window and got a cinder in my eye. They thought me being a little boy at the time, would never again want to ride a train again. Well, as soon as the cinder was out, back my head went out the window. So much for that I guess.

Martin

Oh, I'm from Altavista, VA.

I would love to come down to see engines run. But, I won't make any promises. I'm sure since mom loved ridding behind the Flagg Coal Engine when it visited Spencer last year, she will love to see it again. I hope that I can come.

Martin