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| Tales from a lifelong Strasburg railfan https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10330 |
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| Author: | Paul Calpin [ Sun Jul 25, 2004 7:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Tales from a lifelong Strasburg railfan |
I had posted this thread the other week in railfan.net. Since so many fans of the Strasburg Rail Road post here, I thought this might be enjoyable reading for them. Remember as you read this, these are simply the memories of a railfan, an outsider, not someone with any inside knowledge of the workings of the Strasburg Rail Road, in either the past, present of future. These are just observations, as I personally remember them. ************************************************* I have always loved the Strasburg Rail Road. I turned 40 a few months ago, and I'm still a kid at heart when it comes trains, especially the Strasburg Rail Road. The first time I went there was October 1965. I DON'T REMEMBER A THING ABOUT IT!!! I was not quite 2, and although my memories of childhood are deep and vivid, 21 months old was a bit too far back for me. I have been told many things about that visit. First, my parents took me and my older brother there, (with my grandmother and grandfather) because my older brother had seen a picture of #1223 in the weekend magazine section of the Sunday newspaper one week. 1965 was the first year that 1223 was used on the tourist trains following it's long overhaul. I have seen pictures of the day several times, and things that stand out as different are: 1223 had a BLACKENED smokebox, the station area was VERY BARE compared with even the 70's, at Leaman Place, MANY passengers got off the train to photograph the run around. I mean once in awhile you see one or two people today, but this was 30 or so! (The run around was apparentlty new then, they used to do a strange operation that involved the 44-ton diesell, but that's a story for another time), and pictures of Groff's Grove were, back then graced by the presence of a SINGLE track! My parents liked it. My brother loved it. I was told I loved it...and although I don't remember the trip, I still have the pictures, and brocheure, and the picture of 31 in the brouchure started my love for this loco that continues today. My grandparents were not impressed. For them steam trains were what they had seen all their lives, so it was not special. The next several years our love of steam trains was quenched by visiting the Wawa and Concordville in Delaware County PA, the county where I lived then. This neat little line wa close, so we went there a lot. It was open in 1967 and 1968 only. It closed after that (long story, look for an article by Kurt Bell in an upcoming PRR Hist Soc KEYSTONER). Anyway, one summer day in 1969 my parents came downstairs and asked us if we wanted to go to the swim club or Strasburg. Well, I'm sure you can imagine how fast we chose the latter! Well we drove up there, and turned in the enterance by where LEMO tower is now (ONLY GRASS THERE THEN). I'll never forget my father's reaction when he saw, sitting there taking on water he saw 90 for the first time. "What the heck is that!!!" "I can't believe it, it's a decapod! When did they get one of those?" I remember going into the OLDER gift shop, the one by the station. Back then it was the only one. I bought an old (O GAUGE SIZED) black plastic old west style locomotive that came with no tender. And of course we rode. Whether the HELLO DOLLY Couch was used that day, I can't remember. I do remember how shinny 90 was (although it had been running at the Strasburg for 2 years at that point). It was also that day when I first saw 31 in person, in a position I would soon grow accustomed to, sitting in the front of the enginehouse. We went again the next year, and rode behind 1223 again! Most of the museum trains were in their temporary places then, several on the grounds around the station. I don't recall seeing them the year before, so I guess my 1969 visit was before the famous TRAIN OF LOCOMOTIVES, that happened later in 1969. But they sure were there in 1970!!! And since I was about 6 then, I thought that thse were all locomotives that the Strasburg had purchased to use! On Saturday July 31st 1971, I saw 31 operating under steam for the first time. I only remember the date so well because it was 2 days after my kid brother was born. My mom was still in the hospital with him, so my dad took my brother and me there as a kind of bonding...and sorry I will have to divide up more of my time with you guys, kind of thing! I had no idea what train was running that day, but I kept driving my brother crazy with my, "I hope 31 is running", every couple of minutes as we drove out there. We got there and parked. And we could hear the whistle of the approaching train as we got out of the car. Suddenly I saw it as it first rounded the curve crossing Esbenshade Road, and high tailed it towards the Red Caboose. It had a centered headlight! Could it be? I waited until it was going down the little hill into the yard, when it became clear. "It's 31"' I screamed. "It's 31, my favorite train!" I was jumping up and down on the track near the enginehouse, and my father said, "You'd better move, or you'll get HIT by your favorite train!" We just stayed there in the staion area that day, watching 31, as the men readied it for the next run! I went there again in the summer of 1972. There were even more locomotives there for the museum then. One in Particular caught my eye as soon as we drove in behind the enginehouse. It was sitting on the siding, right beside the little shack where they keep the CAGNEY now, beside the engine house. I figured it was one of the museum trains. It had a centered headlight, and number board herald on it's upper smokebox like 31. We got out of the car and walked over to it. It was filthy, it almost looked like it was covered by rust, but it was really mud. People were gathered by it, and talking and for some reason, they all seemed to know about it. It was not a museum train, they said, it was now owned by the Strasburg. It had gotten caught in a flood from Hurricane Agnes a few weeks before, but that the Strasburg was going to fix her up, and run it later that year. It looked a mess, and I couldn't possible picture it ever runnnig again. It was facing the wrong direction as well! The engine was up and running, but not until March of the next year. And of course that locomotive was number 89! We went several times more throughout the 70's. I recall going in March 1973, June 1974, During the summers of 1975, 76 and 77. By this time we lived in Cherry Hill NJ, and it was even further, but we still kept going. The fun thing in going back then, is you never knew what locomotives would be running!!! These days, it's almost like a science, if 90 is running, 475 usually isn't, unless it's on the half hour trains. And 89 is running the half hour train if 475 isn't. And 90 always pulls the hour train or it is not used. Well anyway, you never knew what you were going to get in those days. Yes, the most common summer line up was 90 and 1223, but that wasn't always the case. Sometimes it would be 90 and 31, sometimes 90 and 89, and once 89 and 1223!!!!! In those days, they must have pushed 89 harder, because it would work the hour train. I have a postcard of it pulling 7 cars! 1223 was always on the half hour train, if it was running! But back in the day, the half hour train was no add on. There were 5 to 6 half hour trips a day back then, (in the summer). And I kinda remember weird things happening, like 1223, starting the day out, pulling the 10:00 train, while 90 was still steaming up, and it would return, and they would SWITCH duties, 90 would take out the 11 am, and 1223, would go back and get the other cars and work the 11:30 (it would have 45 minutes then to get ready!) I also swear I remember a FRENCH'S mustard commercial I saw once on TV that was filmed mainly at Groff's Grove, featuring 31 and 1223!!! I was like 6 or 7, and I think I only saw it once or so....but to this day, I can't find anybody who remembers it! 1977 was the last time we went to the Strasburg for a few years. My older brother was killed in a car accident in June 1978, and when I was in my early teens, I had little interest for trains, Strasburg, or what I stupidly considered KID STUFF!!!!! We went again in June 1982, right after I graduated from high school. We rode the train...but I remember only a few things from that day! I was still "TOO COOL" to like that kind od stuff! I do remember seeing 89's tender sitting behind the car shop (The backshop wasn't built then...it was the next year. Little did I know, it had been out of service since 1979, and this was the beginning of what would seem like an eternity until it would be back in service again! This was right AFTER the railroad celebrated their 150th anniversary...unfortunately I missed it all! In 1984, I began to come to my senses again! We went to Strasburg again!!! And boy talk about changes!!!!!! The back shop was built, 90 now had tender lettering, the back shop was built, and they had a new locomotive, 7002! 90 was running that day, and it was too early in June for double trains. The first I saw of 7002, (aside from in the Mueseum,) was looking through the back shop door window! It was a Sunday, so everything was closed up!!!!! 1985 was the first year of my re-falling in love with Strasburg! I couldn't get enough of it. I must have driven out there 6 times, and took 3 different girls there from my college in Glassboro, N.J. In those days, it was all 90 and 7002 running. 31 was used sometimes in the spring, and once I saw 31 and 7002 running, but from what I can tell, as a railfan, 1223, which had been the darling of the railroad from 1965, stopped being it in 1983, when 7002 was first fired up! 7002 was in commercials (for state tourism), 7002 was suddenly on all of the signs, and 7002 was always pulling the half hour trains in the summer, (at least whenever I went there). 1223, was for seveal years, sitting by alot with 31 as an extra locomotive, used in the off season! (I know there is all this talk about how much they miss 1223 now, but as a railfan, it seemed that between 1983 and 1988, they didn't care abiout it too much. 7002 was the big thing! That did change again in 1989! The odd things I saw back then were, once seeing 89's boiler sitting behing one of the houses next to the business office, One winter, I went into the museum , and 1223 was TEMPORAILY IN THERE!!!!!! (Most winters, because of a lack of space) 7002 would be stored in there when the railroad was closed for the season. But one winter they stuck 1223 in there. 972 was dismantled back then, at first to be rebuilt for Mr. Hart, then later for the Strasburg. It was dismantled in either 1986 or 87 and has never been rebuilt since! 89 was rebilt starting in 1987! It's tender, that sat out in back of first the car shop, and then the backshop, was scrapped. I remember walking amongst it's pieces, looking for bits of metal that had some of the railroad's logo on them. The frame was saved of course, and they built a new tender, in the same appearence as when the Strasburg first bought it, but much larger. The railroad rebuilt one of the regular coaches in about 7 or 8 months into the Parlor car Marian!. 89 was finished in late 88. I was not aware it was done until March 1989! In those days, the railroad shut down from December 31st until the 3rd Saturday in March. I drove out there a few days before that opening in 1989, and they had 89 and 7002 sitting out behind the enginehouse. 7002 was cold, but there must have been fire in 89's grates, because light steam was swirling out of her. This was the first and last time I ever saw 7002 and 89 together. 7002 was moved over tio the museum shortly after that due to a lack of space. I do have pictures of that day, but since I didn't realize I wouldn't see the 7002 on Strasburg rails again, my camera for the most part focused on 89. The move was supposed to be temporary again, but it sat in there all summer. I was even told in the summer of 89, (despite all of the last days of 1223 and 7002 stories you have all heard over the years) that the Strasburg was giving up on 7002! The lease they had signed was a 5 year lese, they really did it because they needed a 4th locomotive while 89 was down, and that it need HUNDREDS of new boiler tubes, and the Starsburg didn't want to pay for that since they didn't own it!Now this was told by a volenteer, and may not have been what the Strasburg was planning. But little did I know, 7002 would never run again. That summer, 90, 89 and 1223 got a lot of use, and 1223 got the most it had since 1982!!! She was run alot!!!!!! But then that fateful day in early 1990, when 31, 1223 and 7002 were discovered to have dangerously thin fireboxes!!! 31 was owned, so it was rebuilt for 6 months in 1990. 1223 and 7002...you know the story! One day I went there, and was horrified to see 1223 and 7002 sitting in the museum yard, their smoke boxes rusting! Thiat is when I learned about their fate. I learned in the summer of 1990 that the Strasburg was trying to buy a 475! But in August 1990 I was told that it didn't look like they would be buying it because the seller was asking too much. But in spring 1991, they completed the sale, and moved it there. I have pictures of it's cab, boiler and frame sitting infront of the back shop, waiting to be worked on. I remember seeing DON'T ASK WHEN chalked on the left side of 475's boiler. I'm surprised they haven't written that on 972 since the late 90's!! 475 was steamed up in 1993, and 31 was semi-retired, only to be rebuilt in 1998 and 99!!!! Well, the rest of the story, is more commonly known to the posters on this site. I'm sure others have their share of stories from the 60's, 70's 80's 90's and 2000's, and some may well contradict some of my memories.(Especially, if the poster is a Strasburg insider). This is one railfan...and 40 year old who needs to grow up (according to his wife). But let me assure you all.......I WON'T!!!!!!!!! Paul Calpin pcalpin31@yahoo.com |
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| Author: | Jeff Wienand [ Sun Jul 25, 2004 11:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tales from a lifelong Strasburg railfan |
Great article.I am 35 and I will never grow up ither.Believe it or not,if my wife would give me dirt about my trains,which she doesn't,or working at Strasburg,I would just remind her that she is the one who got me interested in trains. |
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| Author: | Howard S. Fox, Jr. [ Mon Jul 26, 2004 9:02 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tales from a lifelong Strasburg railfan |
> I had posted this thread the other week in > railfan.net. Since so many fans of the > Strasburg Rail Road post here, I thought > this might be enjoyable reading for them. > Remember as you read this, these are simply > the memories of a railfan, an outsider, not > someone with any inside knowledge of the > workings of the Strasburg Rail Road, in > either the past, present of future. These > are just observations, as I personally > remember them. > > ************************************************* > I have always loved the Strasburg Rail Road. > I turned 40 a few months ago, and I'm still > a kid at heart when it comes trains, > especially the Strasburg Rail Road. > The first time I went there was October > 1965. I DON'T REMEMBER A THING ABOUT IT!!! I > was not quite 2, and although my memories of > childhood are deep and vivid, 21 months old > was a bit too far back for me. I have been > told many things about that visit. First, my > parents took me and my older brother there, > (with my grandmother and grandfather) > because my older brother had seen a picture > of #1223 in the weekend magazine section of > the Sunday newspaper one week. 1965 was the > first year that 1223 was used on the tourist > trains following it's long overhaul. I have > seen pictures of the day several times, and > things that stand out as different are: 1223 > had a BLACKENED smokebox, the station area > was VERY BARE compared with even the 70's, > at Leaman Place, MANY passengers got off the > train to photograph the run around. I mean > once in awhile you see one or two people > today, but this was 30 or so! (The run > around was apparentlty new then, they used > to do a strange operation that involved the > 44-ton diesell, but that's a story for > another time), and pictures of Groff's Grove > were, back then graced by the presence of a > SINGLE track! My parents liked it. My > brother loved it. I was told I loved > it...and although I don't remember the trip, > I still have the pictures, and brocheure, > and the picture of 31 in the brouchure > started my love for this loco that continues > today. My grandparents were not impressed. > For them steam trains were what they had > seen all their lives, so it was not special. > The next several years our love of steam > trains was quenched by visiting the Wawa and > Concordville in Delaware County PA, the > county where I lived then. This neat little > line wa close, so we went there a lot. It > was open in 1967 and 1968 only. It closed > after that (long story, look for an article > by Kurt Bell in an upcoming PRR Hist Soc > KEYSTONER). Anyway, one summer day in 1969 > my parents came downstairs and asked us if > we wanted to go to the swim club or > Strasburg. Well, I'm sure you can imagine > how fast we chose the latter! Well we drove > up there, and turned in the enterance by > where LEMO tower is now (ONLY GRASS THERE > THEN). I'll never forget my father's > reaction when he saw, sitting there taking > on water he saw 90 for the first time. > "What the heck is that!!!" "I > can't believe it, it's a decapod! When did > they get one of those?" I remember > going into the OLDER gift shop, the one by > the station. Back then it was the only one. > I bought an old (O GAUGE SIZED) black > plastic old west style locomotive that came > with no tender. And of course we rode. > Whether the HELLO DOLLY Couch was used that > day, I can't remember. I do remember how > shinny 90 was (although it had been running > at the Strasburg for 2 years at that point). > It was also that day when I first saw 31 in > person, in a position I would soon grow > accustomed to, sitting in the front of the > enginehouse. > We went again the next year, and rode behind > 1223 again! Most of the museum trains were > in their temporary places then, several on > the grounds around the station. I don't > recall seeing them the year before, so I > guess my 1969 visit was before the famous > TRAIN OF LOCOMOTIVES, that happened later in > 1969. But they sure were there in 1970!!! > And since I was about 6 then, I thought that > thse were all locomotives that the Strasburg > had purchased to use! > On Saturday July 31st 1971, I saw 31 > operating under steam for the first time. I > only remember the date so well because it > was 2 days after my kid brother was born. My > mom was still in the hospital with him, so > my dad took my brother and me there as a > kind of bonding...and sorry I will have to > divide up more of my time with you guys, > kind of thing! I had no idea what train was > running that day, but I kept driving my > brother crazy with my, "I hope 31 is > running", every couple of minutes as we > drove out there. We got there and parked. > And we could hear the whistle of the > approaching train as we got out of the car. > Suddenly I saw it as it first rounded the > curve crossing Esbenshade Road, and high > tailed it towards the Red Caboose. It had a > centered headlight! Could it be? I waited > until it was going down the little hill into > the yard, when it became clear. "It's > 31"' I screamed. "It's 31, my > favorite train!" I was jumping up and > down on the track near the enginehouse, and > my father said, "You'd better move, or > you'll get HIT by your favorite train!" > We just stayed there in the staion area that > day, watching 31, as the men readied it for > the next run! > I went there again in the summer of 1972. > There were even more locomotives there for > the museum then. One in Particular caught my > eye as soon as we drove in behind the > enginehouse. It was sitting on the siding, > right beside the little shack where they > keep the CAGNEY now, beside the engine > house. I figured it was one of the museum > trains. It had a centered headlight, and > number board herald on it's upper smokebox > like 31. We got out of the car and walked > over to it. It was filthy, it almost looked > like it was covered by rust, but it was > really mud. People were gathered by it, and > talking and for some reason, they all seemed > to know about it. It was not a museum train, > they said, it was now owned by the > Strasburg. It had gotten caught in a flood > from Hurricane Agnes a few weeks before, but > that the Strasburg was going to fix her up, > and run it later that year. It looked a > mess, and I couldn't possible picture it > ever runnnig again. It was facing the wrong > direction as well! The engine was up and > running, but not until March of the next > year. And of course that locomotive was > number 89! > We went several times more throughout the > 70's. I recall going in March 1973, June > 1974, During the summers of 1975, 76 and 77. > By this time we lived in Cherry Hill NJ, and > it was even further, but we still kept > going. The fun thing in going back then, is > you never knew what locomotives would be > running!!! These days, it's almost like a > science, if 90 is running, 475 usually > isn't, unless it's on the half hour trains. > And 89 is running the half hour train if 475 > isn't. And 90 always pulls the hour train or > it is not used. Well anyway, you never knew > what you were going to get in those days. > Yes, the most common summer line up was 90 > and 1223, but that wasn't always the case. > Sometimes it would be 90 and 31, sometimes > 90 and 89, and once 89 and 1223!!!!! In > those days, they must have pushed 89 harder, > because it would work the hour train. I have > a postcard of it pulling 7 cars! 1223 was > always on the half hour train, if it was > running! But back in the day, the half hour > train was no add on. There were 5 to 6 half > hour trips a day back then, (in the summer). > And I kinda remember weird things happening, > like 1223, starting the day out, pulling the > 10:00 train, while 90 was still steaming up, > and it would return, and they would SWITCH > duties, 90 would take out the 11 am, and > 1223, would go back and get the other cars > and work the 11:30 (it would have 45 minutes > then to get ready!) > I also swear I remember a FRENCH'S mustard > commercial I saw once on TV that was filmed > mainly at Groff's Grove, featuring 31 and > 1223!!! I was like 6 or 7, and I think I > only saw it once or so....but to this day, I > can't find anybody who remembers it! > 1977 was the last time we went to the > Strasburg for a few years. My older brother > was killed in a car accident in June 1978, > and when I was in my early teens, I had > little interest for trains, Strasburg, or > what I stupidly considered KID STUFF!!!!! > We went again in June 1982, right after I > graduated from high school. We rode the > train...but I remember only a few things > from that day! I was still "TOO > COOL" to like that kind od stuff! I do > remember seeing 89's tender sitting behind > the car shop (The backshop wasn't built > then...it was the next year. Little did I > know, it had been out of service since 1979, > and this was the beginning of what would > seem like an eternity until it would be back > in service again! This was right AFTER the > railroad celebrated their 150th > anniversary...unfortunately I missed it all! > In 1984, I began to come to my senses again! > We went to Strasburg again!!! And boy talk > about changes!!!!!! The back shop was built, > 90 now had tender lettering, the back shop > was built, and they had a new locomotive, > 7002! 90 was running that day, and it was > too early in June for double trains. The > first I saw of 7002, (aside from in the > Mueseum,) was looking through the back shop > door window! It was a Sunday, so everything > was closed up!!!!! > 1985 was the first year of my re-falling in > love with Strasburg! I couldn't get enough > of it. I must have driven out there 6 times, > and took 3 different girls there from my > college in Glassboro, N.J. In those days, it > was all 90 and 7002 running. 31 was used > sometimes in the spring, and once I saw 31 > and 7002 running, but from what I can tell, > as a railfan, 1223, which had been the > darling of the railroad from 1965, stopped > being it in 1983, when 7002 was first fired > up! 7002 was in commercials (for state > tourism), 7002 was suddenly on all of the > signs, and 7002 was always pulling the half > hour trains in the summer, (at least > whenever I went there). 1223, was for seveal > years, sitting by alot with 31 as an extra > locomotive, used in the off season! (I know > there is all this talk about how much they > miss 1223 now, but as a railfan, it seemed > that between 1983 and 1988, they didn't care > abiout it too much. 7002 was the big thing! > That did change again in 1989! > The odd things I saw back then were, once > seeing 89's boiler sitting behing one of the > houses next to the business office, One > winter, I went into the museum , and 1223 > was TEMPORAILY IN THERE!!!!!! (Most winters, > because of a lack of space) 7002 would be > stored in there when the railroad was closed > for the season. But one winter they stuck > 1223 in there. 972 was dismantled back then, > at first to be rebuilt for Mr. Hart, then > later for the Strasburg. It was dismantled > in either 1986 or 87 and has never been > rebuilt since! > 89 was rebilt starting in 1987! It's tender, > that sat out in back of first the car shop, > and then the backshop, was scrapped. I > remember walking amongst it's pieces, > looking for bits of metal that had some of > the railroad's logo on them. The frame was > saved of course, and they built a new > tender, in the same appearence as when the > Strasburg first bought it, but much larger. > The railroad rebuilt one of the regular > coaches in about 7 or 8 months into the > Parlor car Marian!. 89 was finished in late > 88. I was not aware it was done until March > 1989! In those days, the railroad shut down > from December 31st until the 3rd Saturday in > March. I drove out there a few days before > that opening in 1989, and they had 89 and > 7002 sitting out behind the enginehouse. > 7002 was cold, but there must have been fire > in 89's grates, because light steam was > swirling out of her. This was the first and > last time I ever saw 7002 and 89 together. > 7002 was moved over tio the museum shortly > after that due to a lack of space. I do have > pictures of that day, but since I didn't > realize I wouldn't see the 7002 on Strasburg > rails again, my camera for the most part > focused on 89. The move was supposed to be > temporary again, but it sat in there all > summer. I was even told in the summer of 89, > (despite all of the last days of 1223 and > 7002 stories you have all heard over the > years) that the Strasburg was giving up on > 7002! The lease they had signed was a 5 year > lese, they really did it because they needed > a 4th locomotive while 89 was down, and that > it need HUNDREDS of new boiler tubes, and > the Starsburg didn't want to pay for that > since they didn't own it!Now this was told > by a volenteer, and may not have been what > the Strasburg was planning. But little did I > know, 7002 would never run again. That > summer, 90, 89 and 1223 got a lot of use, > and 1223 got the most it had since 1982!!! > She was run alot!!!!!! But then that fateful > day in early 1990, when 31, 1223 and 7002 > were discovered to have dangerously thin > fireboxes!!! 31 was owned, so it was rebuilt > for 6 months in 1990. 1223 and 7002...you > know the story! > One day I went there, and was horrified to > see 1223 and 7002 sitting in the museum > yard, their smoke boxes rusting! Thiat is > when I learned about their fate. > I learned in the summer of 1990 that the > Strasburg was trying to buy a 475! But in > August 1990 I was told that it didn't look > like they would be buying it because the > seller was asking too much. But in spring > 1991, they completed the sale, and moved it > there. I have pictures of it's cab, boiler > and frame sitting infront of the back shop, > waiting to be worked on. I remember seeing > DON'T ASK WHEN chalked on the left side of > 475's boiler. I'm surprised they haven't > written that on 972 since the late 90's!! > 475 was steamed up in 1993, and 31 was > semi-retired, only to be rebuilt in 1998 and > 99!!!! > Well, the rest of the story, is more > commonly known to the posters on this site. > I'm sure others have their share of stories > from the 60's, 70's 80's 90's and 2000's, > and some may well contradict some of my > memories.(Especially, if the poster is a > Strasburg insider). > This is one railfan...and 40 year old who > needs to grow up (according to his wife). > But let me assure you all.......I > WON'T!!!!!!!!! > Paul Calpin slyfox@mbcomp.com |
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| Author: | Steve Gilbert [ Mon Jul 26, 2004 7:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tales from Strasburg |
One of the things I miss seeing at the SRR is the trips that the DC NRHS (I think) used to run to there each Fall, over Amtrak. Their passengers would change to a special (and very long) SRR train at Paradise, and ride the line with a Photo-runby at the grove. . . .#90 can really talk if they let her! . . .and I remember another year, 1223 doubleheaded with ?? and having a slippery time getting started again at the grove. I have some super-8 movies of some of those runbys, and the meets between the steamers and the Amtrak train -GG-1's !! . . .ahh, the memories! |
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| Author: | Steve Gilbert [ Mon Jul 26, 2004 8:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | More Tales from Strasburg |
. . .ahh, the memories! I also have super-8 movies of: - - - #90 STUCK IN THE SNOW DRIFT right in front of the East Strasburg station - - - while trying to plow the line open in February 1983 ! -remember that day Lynn ? . . .couldn't go front, couldn't go back, slip-Slip-SLIP-SLIP-BARK-BARK-BARK!!! I wish I had the good audio/video equipment back then that we have now. The sounds echoing off the neighbor's farm was great! It was a cold miserable wet snowy mess of a day, and I would pay real money to go back and see it again. |
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| Author: | Paul Calpin [ Mon Jul 26, 2004 8:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tales from Strasburg |
I believe that double-head you are speaking about with 1223 was with 89. I only know this from seeing pictures from an earler edition of William M. Moedinger's THE ROAD TO PARADISE. Also, in 1965, 1223 double-headed with 31 during it's shake down period. (Again, from Mr. Moedinger's THE ROAD TO PARADISE 1966 edition). And of course there wer times when it double-headed with 7002. For the off-line excursions and I believe a few times on the Strasburg. And of course it double-headed with 90 on June 9th 1983 (again, Thank Mr. Moedinger for the information). Something I like to do, is a little railroad archiology.....kinda exploring the old tracks WEST of the station. They go for a about a block, then stop, but there are traces of the rails along route 896, running beside the old mill. I believe Kurt Bell is working on an in depth history of the Strasburg. Perhaps he will include actual track diagrams from the line from when it was in town. I really want to know where the I. B. Graybill and Son coal trestle was at Strasburg. (again, thank you William M. Moedinger) Did it run parallel to the tracks the Strasburg used for the loading ofa and unloading of passengers in 1959? Also, I believe the OLD enginehouse that Mr. Moedinger has refered to in his books as the one that was too small for 31 and could only house #1, is the white building on the other side of the tracks behing Issac's Deli, in the same shopping center as The Choo Choo Barn. Perhaps Linn Moedinger could shed some light on these. Paul pcalpin31@yahoo.com |
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| Author: | Paul Calpin [ Mon Jul 26, 2004 8:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tales from Strasburg |
Ah the memories indeed!!!!! You know, there most be hundreds if not thousands of people, both railfans, and people "in the know" with a large amount of memories of the Strasburg. There have been so many years to have memories. Aside from all those years it operated BEFORE the present owners bought it, it has clearly operated for a very long period of time aas a tourist railroad/common carrier. This is the middle of, I believe, the 46th season of tourist trains! Pretty soon it will be 50! There are so many great memories because, it has always been there, it is almost always running all year round, it is well run, with a specific goal and it is a first class act. Paul pcalpin31@yahoo.com |
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| Author: | K.R. Bell [ Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Homsher Mill Trackage |
The Homsher Mill was sold in March 1959 to I.B. Graybill and Son, including the railroad trackage. The company was a purveyor of coal, lumber grain and feed. The arrangement of the mill tracks looked like a backwards "N". Tracks ran along both sides of the Mill (in fact the rails are still in the dirt on the south side of the mill). The track on the north side of the Mill had a switch inside a shed; this reverse track ran pararell to Rt. 741 and ran out onto a long piered coal trestle, in the vicinity of what is now the AT&T sub station and the maroon ranch house. Where the tracks now end was the switch to the tiny garage-like one stall brick enginehouse which had a short run around that ran through it. This building as well as the rest of the trackage was torn up in the spring of 1978. Numerous lumber sheds also lined the cross-over track and main track. The milk station between the mill building and the tobacco wharehouse was torn down much earlier, sometime in the 1960s. In 1972 the complex was sold by the Graybills to the Stauffer family; freight ceased shortly thereafter (freight was pretty sporadic during the last few years of Mill operation anyway). I'm still trying to determine when the last freight car was shifted into the Mill, as the surviving records don't precisely record when this happened, and veteran memories are cloudy. It is safe to say that mill freight ceased sometime prior to 1973. I have a slide of #90 delivering an N&W boxcar to the Mill in the spring of 1968 (a very rare occurance), so it did indeed happen. The SRC stored some of the unrestored ex-B&M coaches at the Mill for awhile, and the some of the RRMPA's PRR locomotives was also stored on the lead track to the one-stall enginehouse and adjacent mainline in the early 1970s. Today the mill buildings are home to an antique mart complex, a shadow of their former railroad days. If anybody knows when the last freight car was delivered to the mill complex, speak now or forever hold your peace! :-) K.R. Bell > Something I like to do, is a little railroad > archiology.....kinda exploring the old > tracks WEST of the station. They go for a > about a block, then stop, but there are > traces of the rails along route 896, running > beside the old mill. I believe Kurt Bell is > working on an in depth history of the > Strasburg. Perhaps he will include actual > track diagrams from the line from when it > was in town. I really want to know where the > I. B. Graybill and Son coal trestle was at > Strasburg. (again, thank you William M. > Moedinger) Did it run parallel to the tracks > the Strasburg used for the loading ofa and > unloading of passengers in 1959? Also, I > believe the OLD enginehouse that Mr. > Moedinger has refered to in his books as the > one that was too small for 31 and could only > house #1, is the white building on the other > side of the tracks behing Issac's Deli, in > the same shopping center as The Choo Choo > Barn. > Perhaps Linn Moedinger could shed some light > on these. > Paul |
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| Author: | Phil Mulligan [ Tue Jul 27, 2004 12:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tales from Strasburg |
Well, the GG1's are gone from Amtrak but there are still fantrips to Strasburg - with RDG FP-7's 902 + 903 and a SEPTA train of Bomber coaches. Ah, those 567's pulling the hill to Carpenter's! I understand there's another such trip planned. Electric City Trolley Museum Association |
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| Author: | Paul Calpin [ Thu Jul 29, 2004 1:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Homsher Mill Trackage |
Kurt, This is ringing a bell with me. It has jogged my memory. I now remeber as a very small boy seeing something along route 741 that looked like a bridge, this must have been the coal trestle. I think it struck me as odd, because even back then I was aware that the Strasburg Railroad harped on that little 16 foot bridge being their only one. Well even then I thought "Well that's not true, because there is one here!" Also, since your posting, I seem to remember cars and equipment sitting on these tracks. I didn't know the tracks were buried in the ground. I just knew that you could see evidence of them being paved over beside the mill on the south side, but I thought they had just torn up the rails. See, I even like the archiology of tourist lines!!! Did the Strasburg even run DEEPER into the town, or did it always stop by the intersections of 896 and 741? Paul pcalpin31@yahoo.com |
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| Author: | JimBoylan [ Thu Jul 29, 2004 2:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: STR memories |
This brings back memories of my first trip to Strasburg, before 1964, but still in steam days. My father got the schedule from the Official Guide of the Railways at the Philadelphia Central Library. (He called the Information Dept. on the `phone!) They listed a traditional RR timetable with all the intermediate stops. While travelling West on Strasburg Rd., he realized it was almost time for the last train of the day to depart. By luck, we were at the corner of Cherry Hill Rd., which was the name of an intermediate station. We turned right and came to the station right next to the grade crossing. The sign said "Cherry Hill (pop. 19)", and, as befits a place that size, the building wasn't big enough to hold our whole family at once. There was smoke on the horizon and the train soon made a perfect station stop with coach steps right in front of us. I particularly remember the dancing drive rods passing right in front of my eyes. Before I could get a good grip on a handrail, the train started up again, leaving 7 fares behind! Daddy was still determined to get us the promised train ride, so back in the car and somehow he found the other end of the line, with the train waiting for the loco to run past. This time, he saw the conductor and made sure the train waited for us. The "brains" said something about never checking for passengers, since the stops were just for show. At East Strasburg, as Dad with the auto was finding us, there was a Public Adress call for the family that had boarded at Paradise to come to the Ticket Office. There was a refund waiting for us since we had been charged Round Trip fares for a One-Way ride. We did look for the end of the line in downtown Strasburg, and I remeber: > the tiny garage-like one stall brick enginehouse which had a short run around that ran through it. The SRC stored some of the unrestored ex-B&M coaches at the Mill for awhile < I thought the garage was a late addition and the East end was so overgrown that I couldn't tell if there was a door. I thought it was blocking the passing siding. I think there was a "Civil War" style coach on the coal trestle. 104577.651@compuserve.com |
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| Author: | Rob Davis [ Thu Jul 29, 2004 4:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Paul, Welcome |
> See, I even like the archiology of tourist > lines!!! Welcome to the dark side, Paul. Dave? Kurt? We have another! (User Above) wrote: : :-) Rob trains@robertjohndavis.com |
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| Author: | Paul Calpin [ Thu Jul 29, 2004 4:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Paul, Welcome |
> Welcome to the dark side, Paul. Dave? Kurt? > We have another! > :-) > Rob Indeed!!!!!! Last year or so, I even got two friends of mine, one of which is female, who had no prior fondness for railroads, to constantly search for traces of the P.R.R. Octoraro Branch/Wawa and Concordville. And we would do this on our lunch breaks!!!!! So, even people who aren't into railroads can get into it. As my one friends, Marc says, "It's great because here is something that hasn't existed for over 30 years, millions of people drive by it all the time (The Octoraro), and 99.999999% have no idea it was ever there, let alone is still there!" He is also amazed that the tracks still come up on his GPS!!!! Paul pcalpin31@yahoo.com |
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| Author: | K.R. Bell [ Mon Aug 02, 2004 7:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: STR memories |
I think > there was a "Civil War" style > coach on the coal trestle. That was the Cumberland Valley RR combine (now enshrined in the RR Museum of PA) stored on the coal trestle. It was kept there for awhile in the 60's. |
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