The loco is back at the Museum of Transportation and both weekend trips went well, although the Sunday one was delayed on the westbound run, making everything late from that point on. We had good TV and press coverage. Stay tuned.

Museum of Transportation
rdgoldfede@aol.com

> The loco is back at the Museum of
> Transportation and both weekend trips went
> well, although the Sunday one was delayed on
> the westbound run, making everything late
> from that point on. We had good TV and press
> coverage. Stay tuned.

Nice job to all involved. I rode on Saturday and photographed on Sunday. What time did the train get back to St. Louis on Sunday evening?
Don C.

old_fxrs@msn.com

> The loco is back at the Museum of
> Transportation and both weekend trips went
> well, although the Sunday one was delayed on
> the westbound run, making everything late
> from that point on. We had good TV and press
> coverage. Stay tuned.

I rode the Sunday "Farewell Trip". A fine event, and sad that it was the last.

Congratulations to everyone involved in SLSTA, St. Louis NRHS, S-L-M-O-T, for an excellent job across the board.

Thank You to all at BNSF for hosting.

Too bad you guys are retiring. Every detail seemed to be well planned- from start to finish.
Nice running - nice handouts - nice train (even with the Amtrak caboose).
I suggested to Train Director Jim S. (I don't want to mis-spell that last name) at Newburg, about putting the Amtrak unit in Dynamic for the runby. He thought about it for a moment and just smiled. That 1522 can be
So Loud! The mic on my video camera is still in shock !

Sunday's delays were due to the freight derailment, and added to the drama of the event - and "hats off" to the BNSF crews that must have worked all Saturday night to get the main open for Sunday's trip. Some durn fine fast runnin' on that home stretch Sunday night, to make up some time. The flight home yesterday was crap compared to that.

Question: any plans for SLSTA's crew cars and passenger cars?

Now, without 1522, who will claim the "loudest steamer running today" title ?

Again, thanks to all involved.

Steve Gilbert,
Director of Passenger Service
Reading & Northern.

There are four cars in the blue and white "meteor" paint scheme often seen with 1522. Two are crew cars owned by the St. Louis Steam Train Association. "Black Gold" is our equipment and souvenier staorage car, "Firefly" is our dormitory and tool car. These two are lettered SLSTA. It is the organization's stated intention to donate these two cars, and most of their contents to the Museum of Transport. A third car, "Bluebonnet," is a business car that belongs to the museum. It will stay at the museum. The last car, "Chouteau Club," is privately owned. It belongs to an individual who happens to be an SLSTA member. I am not familiar with his precise intentions. Members of the museum staff have expresed an interest in creating a walk through exhibit that will depict the life and opperations on an excursion locomotive. It will presumably include 1522, her crew cars, and "Bluebonnet." This would make and exceptionaly attractive, if rather short, train, and provide a truly unique insight into life as a crew member on an excusrsion crew. It could very much help people to understand what it takes to make an excursion happen, and it keeps an invaluable collection of resources together.

Sincerely,
David Ackerman

david_ackerman@yahoo.com

> Steve, hopefully some day we'll bring that title east of the mississippi with the return of the 425.



Superheater@beer.com

Hmmmm, I'll wager to say and see if Superheater agrees, New Hope and Ivyland No. 40 is among the LOUDEST (hint, hint). I've seen her run hard and rough by their crews.

> Hmmmm, I'll wager to say and see if
> Superheater agrees, New Hope and Ivyland No.
> 40 is among the LOUDEST (hint, hint). I've
> seen her run hard and rough by their crews.

Having never heard the 40 run, I can't offer any opinions.

I did hear the 425 and thought it had an incredible bark for an engine of its size.



Superheater@beer.com

You fellas are obviously too young to recall the glorious thunder of a Reading T-1 accelerating an Iron Horse Ramble train out of Reading westbound!

K4s1361@hotmail.com

Logical for those cars to stay with 1522.

Yes, it will make a nice display.(and, just in case...)

Thanks for the answer.

> You fellas are obviously too young to recall
> the glorious thunder of a Reading T-1
> accelerating an Iron Horse Ramble train out
> of Reading westbound!

With personal past experience, I would agree, and even would have wanted to compare a 2100 up against the 1522. -or better yet, together! (with 425 too.) All good hearty Baldwin stock.

Unfortunately, none of the 2100's are running anymore. Maybe someday.

On the RCT&HS' first Iron Horse Ramble on Sept. 14, 1985, the 2102's stack was so loud it was drowning out her 6-chime Reading Passenger whistle (which is loud too) during the runby.
And that was with only one-pass superheater units. I seem to recall 2101 was even louder on the Chessie trips.

Yes, I saw the original 1959-64 Rambles, as a kid.

That's what got me into all this !!

By the way:
Richard Carter (of New Hope, formerly of Cass) is producing some great home-made CD's from his tape recordings of the 60's Rambles, 614 coal trains, and others. You can find an ad for his CD's on the whistle web-site.

One engine to throw in the mix will be the SP&S 700. When a 1522 crew member heard her last year his comment was "That's a loud engine." You can judge for yourselves this month as 700 climbs numerous 2.2% grades. I guarantee there won't be a muffler on the stack, and she will be pulling a good sized train. Only one way to find out...
John Cox

http://www.montanarailtours.com
johnpcox@juno.com

TVRM's #610 might not be as big as some of the others....but she's LOUD! (And runs on a regular basis)

http://www.tvrail.com
sfreer@tvrail.com

Superheater,

On the 425, all I can say is AMEN!

Until later,
Chris



crhauf@frontiernet.net