I am planning on going to the Valley Railroad in Essex, Connecticut either this week or next week. Does anybody know off-hand which locomotive they are using now? Last August when we went last the 2-8-0 #97 was running, although I have heard the #40 is their main engine (the 2-8-2). I am going to take digital pictures and perhaps some digital video clips (under 1 minute) since there isn't that great of a place to take serious video footage without standing in the middle of the station driveway. I tried to take some last year but once cars starting coming up I of course had to move, I am always cautious. If you notice a lot of railfans (foamers in particular) do stupid things and forget their common sense when they go 'fanning. I heard some bad stories about near misses with foamers standing on the tracks!!!

I also hope to visit the NYS&W "Bel-Del" Excursion in July to ride behind the Tangshan #142 (ex-Valley Railroad 1647) and also visit a small scale miniature railroad nearby that I have heard a lot about.

Does anybody have an update on Black River & Western #60? It was the last steam locomotive to operate on Long Island (full-size anyways) and I still have never seen it run. It has been out of service for some time. When I go to visit the 36" gauge park train at Northlandz I would like to stop and see the BR&W.

Thanks and Happy Rails,
Ed Kelley

GTNGRR@aol.com

Probably won't be #40 running. As far as I know it still has large pieces of it's inner firebox cut out awaiting replacement.

drotarinoh@webtv.net

> I am planning on going to the Valley
> Railroad in Essex, Connecticut either this
> week or next week. Does anybody know
> off-hand which locomotive they are using
> now? Last August when we went last the 2-8-0
> #97 was running, although I have heard the
> #40 is their main engine (the 2-8-2). I am
> going to take digital pictures and perhaps
> some digital video clips (under 1 minute)
> since there isn't that great of a place to
> take serious video footage without standing
> in the middle of the station driveway. I
> tried to take some last year but once cars
> starting coming up I of course had to move,
> I am always cautious. If you notice a lot of
> railfans (foamers in particular) do stupid
> things and forget their common sense when
> they go 'fanning. I heard some bad stories
> about near misses with foamers standing on
> the tracks!!!

> I also hope to visit the NYS&W
> "Bel-Del" Excursion in July to
> ride behind the Tangshan #142 (ex-Valley
> Railroad 1647) and also visit a small scale
> miniature railroad nearby that I have heard
> a lot about.

> Does anybody have an update on Black River
> & Western #60? It was the last steam
> locomotive to operate on Long Island
> (full-size anyways) and I still have never
> seen it run. It has been out of service for
> some time. When I go to visit the 36"
> gauge park train at Northlandz I would like
> to stop and see the BR&W.

> Thanks and Happy Rails,
> Ed Kelley
Dear Ed, Don't give up on pix. on the vally. There are many good places to get good shots.If you don"t know the area get a good local map or ask the someone where they are. Note you won't be able to shot at each spot on one trip. Its not that hard to follow the line to scout it out before train time. bb

>Dear Ed:
No. 97 will be running next week. School trips Monday through Friday (plus the two public trips on Friday). Saturday and Sunday there are 4 trips each day. You might check out the schedule at our website www.essexsteamtrain.com
Check with one of the guys on the engine or in the shop for driving directions to the best photo spots.
J.David

jdconrad@snet.net