Figured with the big storm slowing things down in the northeast it was a good day to post a few pictures from Maine :)

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 292&nseq=0
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 489&nseq=1
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 145&nseq=3
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 721&nseq=2


First train of the morning...

No 10 and train barreling northward at Humason Brook...

The unofficial ambassador of Maine, Fred Morse, greets passengers for the 3:15pm train...

Rosie meets her first Norwegian Fjord horse, Nikki!

The museum's 1929 AA Ford was on hand during the festivities...

Lining up on the platform to meet "the big guy"

Museum President Steve Zuppa made everyone's day, as usual!

Thanks for looking!
Stephen

I recognize Steve in that last picture. Who's the old guy with the beard on whose lap Steve is sitting?

Stephen -

Great photos, as usual!

Here's a question for you. I noticed your comment of 0-4-4T #10 "barreling" along in reverse. Does the engine actually "track" better running in reverse with the truck under her tank leading, that when she runs forward without the benefit of a pony truck? And are there any restrictions speedwise for the enginemen, running one way or the other? Just curious.

Les

Hi Les, I believe the Forney was actually designed to run tender first, and no I don't think there are any restrictions. Maybe James P will chime in since he's one of the museum's engineers...

I say "barreling" somewhat with tongue in cheek since she was really only traveling at around 10-12 mph. The engine was definitely working harder than usual, having had to add the caboose and open car in order to accomodate everyone.

Stephen

Seriously, do operations like these even bother with switching moves or do people just push the cars around by hand to make up a train?

Yes, we switch the cars with an engine. While it is 2' gauge, the cars can only really be safely handled with a locomotive when doing most switching operations. Very *occasionally* we will move a car a short distance with man-power, but only in limited, controlled settings.

Of course, we sometimes look for the big hand to come down from the sky... but that hasn't happened yet.

Only when they go on the ground...

Hey Bruce, I've been saving this one... from back in April.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zPatvdJm28

Stephen

That Maine 2' stuff is a tad big for the ol' 0-5-0. The 16" gage parktrains I mess with these days, though, aren't. It's possible for one person to move an entire MTC "Suburban" consist (A unit & 3 cars) alone, although NOT up any significant hill. When swapping trains off the jump siding, I usually move both trains by hand. Moving cars around in the shop is also done by hand. Of course, MTC tightlock couplers are such bi**hes to get locked that coupling ALWAYS requires moving the cars back and forth by hand a bit... make that a LOT.

Excellent!!

I am looking forward to making more parts for that engine.

We have no speed restrictions for backing or forward travel (other than the railroad's speed limit). It does track much better going backward, with the tender truck forward - unless there's snow on the track, and then it's much harder. I haven't noticed much hunting back and forth, but through the curves, as a 4-4-0 it's much smoother.

That 4 car train was pretty much a tonnage train for that engine. There was about 150 people on each train for 4 or 5 trains. Most of the railroad is uphill in the direction that the train is going, with 1% - 1.5% grades.