When I was little (aka the 90s) I remember seeing a VHS video of a small steam train that had a calliope whistle on it that could play songs.

The train was probably a 15inch gauge-ish size train, definitely not a "real" full size or narrow gauge train. It was a green steam engine of sorts and I think there were three cars that were semi enclosed.

I can't remember where it was located, Switzerland is what comes to mind. Wherever it was, when I said I wanted to go see it my parents informed me that it was "twice as far a was as Disney World"(from Michigan), so I think that rules out most of North America as a possible location.

I think the video was "I want to be a train engineer"(1995). but it could have been another one.


I know that's not a lot info to go on but I figured if anyone knows of this train its someone on RYPN. I was like 6 or 7 when I saw this so some details may be off a little.

Thanks

I remember some of the video "I Wanna Be a Train Engineer" quite well. The reason is pretty simple, I'm featured in it quite a bit.

Steve Pool, a local (Seattle) TV weatherman, made a bunch of these for kids with various subjects. "Train Engineer", "Fireman", "Policeman", "Pilot", "Ship Captain", etc, etc. To keep production costs low, he simply came on site, and interviewed the various crews. No scipt, he'd just ask questions and you'd answer them on camera.

The Mt Rainier Scenic RR was in Tacoma at the time, and I was the fireman on #5. Steve showed up, asked the engineer if he wanted to be on TV and he said "Nah, Bob can do it..." and with that, I was on camera. We probably spent about 1/2 hour or more, with me showing him the engine, him asking me "What's this do?" "How does that work?"

Now, if you've been around film crews much, you know that 30 minutes of shooting typically means 30 seconds on the screen, if you're lucky! Not in this case though. He used every question he asked me where the answer wasn't simply "I don't know", like when he asked how many horsepower our 2-8-2 was. I was on the screen way more than I expected, during a couple different scenes. ("I was occasionally called 'Hollywood' for couple of years after that...)

So, on to your miniature train and calliope... It's been many years since I watched this movie, so I don't recall for certain if it was in this show or not. However, there is a train, in the Seattle area, that I think that it may have been in the movie. It also fits the description pretty well.

The train is (was) the 18 inch gauge Anacortes Railway. Built by Tommy Thompson, the railway had a gorgeous little 0-4-4 built from an air locomotive. It was definitely green too, to quote Tommy "British Racing Green". http://www.steamrailroadphotos.com/phot ... 88&cat=503

The engines and rolling stock were incredible! They're still one of my favorite trains, no matter what the size. Beautiful wood and other details in the coaches. I've linked to a video at the end of this, showing what a marvelous operation this is. By the way, Tommy always insisted that his 18 inch gauge train was "narrow gauge", rather than "miniature" and it was heavily inspired by the Welsh Narrow Gauge railways and the like. The tall and narrow cars were built to accomodate full size passengers, not be replicas of some other railroad car. When I visited him, he'd always ask me "How's things on the 'broad gauge' down at MRSR?"

While it was hand crafted by Tommy, using one of the Homestake mining engines as a starting point, I think he have argued that it was indeed a "real" narrow gauge train. I would tend to agree, with him since though it was air powered when built, the locomotive was constructed as a hard working narrow gauge engine, not a live steamer.

The engine didn't have a calliope whistle, but there was a calliope on site. I think it was air powered, but it could have been steam operated. using steam from the engine. Tommy would play it on special occasions. So maybe they showed that in the movie, along with the train. It was portable, and usually parked right next to the engine in the depot.

So, all the pieces seem to fit, but I can't recall if they featured the Anacortes Railway in this movie or not, anyone know for certain? I've got a couple copies laying around, but no VHS player to watch them on.

Sadly, upon Tommy's death, the railway ceased operation. The equipment is now stored in the Georgetown Power Museum in Seattle. No idea what happened to the Calliope.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg4yWq7ryTk

Nice history of the operation:
http://o.seattlepi.com/local/tomm01.shtml
That article is old, and the plans for continuing to operate or extend the line after his death never did get off the ground.

Wow, until I researched this a bit, I hadn't realized how much I miss Tommy Thompson and his wonderful little railway...

Oh, one more thing...

According to Mapquest, it's over twice as far from Detroit to Anacortes as it is from Detroit to Orlando. So they were right! ;)

Bob, I took a look at that video, and that is/was indeed a neat little operation.

My wife noted that the little girl who is "so cute" in the video is probably about 20 now. . .

As far as equipment is concerned, that's what a park train should look like. Sure, it's small, but it is "authentic" in feel, in this case for a Victorian age. I appreciate the ingenuity that went into the design of the modified link-and-pin couplers.

How come most park equipment builders and operators couldn't or can't get things this right?

The same thing that was right with Tommy's railway was also one of the least practical things about it. Those gorgeous cars were slow to load and unload, and took constant work.

Some of the coaches had individual compartments with doors, like an English train, they weren't bad to load and unload. Others, like the parlor car, had a single entry that slowed things down.

Also, that incredible detail, with the ornate inlaid wood and brass etc was tough to keep in good condition. To be honest, I have no idea how he managed to not have it get vandalized. Or maybe he did and I didn't know about it. The general theory was that the work was so incredible and lovely that people respected it and treated it accordingly.

The train was low capacity, and the lines were long on busy days. That was OK on this operation, which was more like a museum than an amusement park, but typical park trains are designed to create revenue, and this equipment wasn't designed with capacity and load times in mind.

Tommy didn't care about revenue, I think the ride was 50 cents. It was his passion and a way to give something to the community. I have no idea how much all of this cost him, or how much revenue he made, but I can say with pretty good certainty that he operated at a significant loss.

The same capacity issue occured at Disneyland. The early coaches were patterned after traditional narrow gauge coaches, with end doors, and looked wondeful. They were replaced by "holiday" cars, which used almost all the space for passengers, and also made for quick and easy load and unload.

http://jimhillmedia.com/contributors1/b ... /2320.aspx

That said, can you imagine how wonderful this little train would be on a park railway like the one at Fort Worth (?) where the train travels a long distance. That would be really neat.

The train in Anacortes was one that I missed. It was listed in the 1991 Steam Directory and as a 9 year old I remember wondering what it was like to ride a train that size (I hadn't seen any live steam at that point).

Anyway, I do think that more theme parks should present their rail attractions in a more historically respectable manner. One of those challenges mentioned though is major... seating capacity. Disney figured out one solution for crowds 60 years ago and was copied throughout parks all over. As time has progressed though, I feel that the practical resolution of operating difficulties has become the standard presentation of "history". Even if bench seating on open cars is the most practical option, I look at this as a challenge to see if their are ways to better translate why ornate wood work and brass and steam locomotives are interesting.

Someone mentioned that people might have respected the intricacies of the workmanship, even in a crowded, busy tourist environment. In a way, I think that is the same mentality that worked on the railroads romantic and respected image in the 19th century.

The Tommy Thompson train definitely influenced a number of fans. I know a proponent of the rail museum at Peoria was involved in producing Thompson's boiler, and as a result, for many years she hoped to build an 18" gauge line along the Illinois River. Others have gone on to build similar quality small-gauge cars and equipment, and I know of 4 or so private railroads in Oregon and Washington state. It certainly is a fun size, being roughly 3/4 scale 2-foot trains.

Australia actually happens to be a country which has a couple lines very similar in character to Anacortes. Here is the railroad at the National Railroad Museum in Adelaide:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbob51/3429651593/
And at the Border Engine and Steam Club in Laneva:

http://pics.steamfreak.com/thumbnails.php?album=219


http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3684300

To my knowledge the railroad tracks in Anacortes still sit unused, so if someone wants to rebuild it, there is an opportunity waiting to happen. It was said on the group I moderate, that if Tommy were to have built his engine again, he would have not converted a Porter air motor, but would have built an outside-framed engine from scratch. All interested in this size equipment are welcome to join, ask questions, and browse around the many links and messages.

Regards,
O. Anderson
moderator, 18inch
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/18inch