Just saw this, thought some might be interested.

http://www.thetrain.com/thomas.cfm
ryarger@rypn.org

> Just saw this, thought some might be interested.

The official schedule of dates and locations can be found on the official Thomas site: http://www.thomasthetankengine.com/home/homepage.html

Click on the "events" icon (looks like a clock) in the icon bar.



Washington Steam Railroads and Locomotives
brianfr@speakeasy.org

Do you suppose theyÂ’ll have a diesel behind Thomas? IÂ’ll never forget our group ride on the railroad in June, 2000. When we arrived at the depot in Williams the train was waiting to go, but with two diesel units and no steam. I asked one of the employees about that because they feature steam so much in their publicity, and was told that the steam locomotive would appear shortly. Sure enough, #4960 was later coupled to the train ahead of the diesels, and we made the trip that way. I asked the guide on our car why the diesels were included, and was told they might be needed for extra power, or if #4960 developed trouble.

Not only did this mar any enroute photos of “steam power”, it made me wonder if they didn’t have much confidence in #4960. Perhaps I’m wrong, but it looked like the length of the train was well within the pulling ability of #4960 (certainly no longer than many I’ve seen on the D&S with one locomotive) and the route to the Grand Canyon seems to be rather level, without the kind of grades found on the the D&S and C&TS routes. I couldn’t help but think of these and many other railroads that depend totally on their maintenance and operation of steam power that doesn’t need to be propped up by diesel.