Both videographers did an awesome job, I'm jealous that they were able to get out there and catch this!

Does the possibility exist for any off-season steam freights? Or if the load is too much for 8618 will you just split the consist into multiple trips?

And is there any way to get some heads up next time? ;)

.

Well, this happened still "during" the operating season...I meant something along the lines of end of January or so, when there are no scheduled trains for weeks. 475 was already scheduled to pull trips, so naturally she was available.

.

.

Awesome!
Thanks for the heads up!
/Mitch

Thanks for doing this!!
/The rest of the World

.

Kelly -

Quite a train! Looks to be about 10 cars.


Les

The clarity of the video is amazing! Thanks for sharing.

I've seen recent pictures on Facebook, seemingly that steam power is being used more often on various freight trains - whether taking empties outbound or loads inbound - is this happening on a more regular occurrence now (as opposed to earlier this year)? Or were railfans there on lucky occasions to see these steam-powered freight consists?

For the most part I think people are getting lucky.

Steam has been used more to handle freight this year, but it has been a last minute decision. There have been several instances this summer that we did offer the opportunity for mixed freight trains. But those mixed freight trains coincided with 8618 going down for maintenance this summer. Other times it was just easier to deliver to or pick up from NS using steam power instead of calling in another crew to work interchange.

The biggest issue why we don't regularly offer the mixed trains now is because of how unpredictable NS can be. Which 9 out of 10 times it is not NS fault. They are at the mercy of Amtrak. But also NS business has picked up at other places which at times leaves them with no rested crew or power available.

A perfect example is like today. NS is suppose to deliver late last night. Well between other work in the Lancaster area and Amtrak they could not. Even by 7am I had no movement on our equipment. It wasn't till 7:30am that NS notified me that they would deliver and our cars were delivered at 8:30am. But there have been other days they have not been able deliver and then everything gets pushed back to the next interchange day.

If we know ahead of time we are going to use steam we try to put the word out. But in today's time it is very hard to predict and usually becomes a last minute decision.

Hope this answers your question.

Chris Edwards
Trainmaster
Strasburg Rail Road Co.

Ahhhh the good old days. Has NS gotten any better with their delivery schedules this year, to the point where something like this can start to be offered again? Or are the mixed trains likely not to happen with the pulling power and ease of the Maine Eastern Geep around?

.

I always like pics from Strasburg shops. A 60-ish year old diesel up on stands with brand new AP roller bearing combos between it and a link-and-pin coupler. Had there been a freshly turned spoked-driver wheelset with a wisp of steam drifting about in the background I'd call it perfect....

Thanks Kelly.

If you walk to the other end of the diesel, you will find a driver with a freshly turned tire.

For a wisp of steam, you have go next door to the engine house.........