As I am sure many of you know, Southern 630 should be pulling clear of Grand Junction about now in Chattanooga, TN to head northbound on the "Rathole", traveling to Harriman, TN this morning and back to Chattanooga this afternoon.

Check out the sweet video on youtube...

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

It is really great to see people taking their children out to see steam...Don't you think?

The best part of the video...Southern 630 is rolling at a consistent clip...speedy.

Totally jealous of anyone living close enough to see the run today

Absolutely. I love seeing kids get to experience steam trains. I was one of those kids not that long ago.

What I don't love is seeing chasers driving and filming at the same time, which seems to be the case here. Twice as bad when your young son's in the car too. Anyone who's spent a few trips in a cab on the mainline can probably tell you about a close call or two. And while the video's nice, I don't think it's worth wrapping the car around a telephone pole.

Keep up the good work TVRM and NS. Here's hoping this guy gets a buddy to drive next time.

The young boy should have been in a child seat in the back of the car too.

Keith

Poor kid...his life is now ruined. He will go home, join an NRHS chapter...spend all of his life working on rusty choo choos. Sad...

T7 ;)

Your moderator is a bit grumpy... And this tread is the cause...

It started with a railfan video... interesting, but possibly off topic (we are not a railfan site, but instead a site about railroad preservation) but posted for a reason, because the video included a child, being shown a steam engine.

A member was critical in a follow up post, noting that the child was not in a car seat, and the driver was driving and filming at the same time, questioning the safety, and various possible moving violations... This is a reasonable response to the video... (in California it would be a $470 ticket... A quick Google search show it to be a 2 point violation in Tenn.)

But another member posted a "report" criticizing the member who pointed out the violations, believing it to be better to endanger a child if we are showing them steam...

There was a second critical post (ok...) and a 4th post, somewhat sarcastic (with appropriate emoticons...)

I am most frustrated by the report... of a violation of site guidelines... (since dismissed) and the idea that it is ok to endanger a child if we are chasing steam...

So... Showing a new generation the pleasures that are railroads and railroad preservation... OK... Discussing the actions of railfans... OK... Criticizing someone for pointing out problems (including legal violations) not so good...

This is not a railfan site... I suggest Trainorders for that... there are other options... it is a site about educating the public, be they adults or children...

Steam (and love of steam) will never excuse a violation of safety.

Your Sometimes Friendly Moderator....

Randy

Sweet JESUS that thing was MOVIN'!! Great video too!! Never seen rods that blurry on a 2-8-0 before!! Awesome

I'm sorry to say I apparently missed the "report" Randy is referencing in his post.

However, I would be quite interested in hearing from the author of it, whomever that may be, back-channel with their critique of my reasoning. If they do indeed disagree with my opinion on driving while filming, I'd be interested to hear their arguement.

If this post is in violation of the terms of this board, then our moderators have my apologies.