Greetings:
It just flashed to me, November 2, 1958 was in many respects the begining of my life: my first steam fan trip. CB&Q No. 5632, from Chicago to Galesburg and return, sponcered by the "Q".
About this time 48 years ago I was on a steam powered train roaring through the night at about 80 MPH.
I had seen a little ad in the 'Trib and managed to talk my Mother into letting me go (I had to take my little brother Mike too, but that was OK).
At the time, I had no connection with (or even knowledge of) the railfan community, I just loved steam locomotives and here was a chance to ride on a special excursion pulled by one.
I'll never forget my excitement walking down the Union Station platform up to see what sort of steam locomotive would be pulling our train. I was 12 at the time and the '32 seemed simply enormous to me, especially in the train shed. I had no previous experience with oil burners and really got off on the sound and feel of the fire drumming away.
There was a movie runby at Altoona which I recorded with my Mom's Brownie Reflex as well as lines of dead locomotives at Galesburg.
Mike and I hung out in the baggage car and in dutch doors for the whole trip and returned home quite filthy.
In many respects though, the best part of the trip was finding out that there were other people (including kids my own age) who were into steam locomotives.
And it led me to what I was meant to do with my life.
J.David

I think more personal stories like Dave's would be interesting, especially those that go back to the pre-preservation era. I hope more will share theirs.

J. David -

What wouldn't we give to ride behind the 5632 again? She could really run! I'm still waiting for someone to start a move to get one of the O5A or O5B's back in steam. If it ever happens, I'll be there!

Les

I couldn't resist posting my version of J.Davids "awakening" story. Mine was as a 5 year old my Dad who was a freight salesman for the CRRofNJ stationed in Albany,NY would take me every Sat. down to Albany Union Station for 2-3 hours of watching the Great Steel Fleet come and go. Being born in 1940 this was of course the height of WW11 and the railroad was super busy to say the least.
On my "awakening" day in 1945 Dad had made special arrangements for he and I to ride in the cab of the steam engine out of Albany to Syracuse. I can recall much of it like is was 2 days ago!! Not sure what was my ruling emotion-fear or excitement?? I remember the engineer calling me over to his side and lifting me onto his lap as we were about to leave Albany and having me blow the 2 shorts on the whistle to acknowledge the 2 shorts we just heard on the trainline signal from the Conductor,and having me "help" him open the throttle etc. before returning me to Dads lap on the seat behind the fireman.
As we pounded up Albany hill I can still remember the exhaust bouncing off the walls of the cut,and after we crested the grade how fast we excellerated on towards Syracuse. The other vivid memory was my amazement on how we could possibly go around those curves coming up as fast as we were going!! On the first couple of curves I was dead sure we would end up in the ditch!!!!
Anyhow that initial dose of being aboard a big steamer on the mainline is all it took to inculcate me with this incurable rare disorder known as " foaming". I've been a willing player ever since!!
Ross Rowland

I 'woke up' to steam one night in probably 1968 in Sterling, Illinois. We had three units on a westbound out of Proviso for Nelson, and had to pickup a string of empty gons at Sterling. I lined the switches and rode back in to make the joint. Realized I had to make up all the air. Got back to the third joint and leaned in to make the hose when I heard a loud steam whistle about ten feet away. I jumped out from between the cars, scared the crap out of me. I looked through the fence to see a very bright headlight on the front end of an 0-8-0 switching just insde the fence. Watched it go by for a few minutes, till the engineer hollered back at me on the radio, to find out what the hell was taking me so long didn't I know we had the westbound main all tied up. Got back to business, made the hoses and rode back out to tie on to the train.
I was 'bit' right then and there and always stood up and watched out the window whenever we passed through Sterling after that.
Never forgot it.

Any photos from these experiences? I think we'd all like to see a 5 year old Ross Rowland in a steam locomotive cab if his father took any pictures..

Bob,
I never carried a camera on the CNW.
In fact, I hardly got by carrying my lamp, a lit fusee, and a radio without falling off a ladder.
Funny how there are so few pics of the CNW Galena Division in the sixties.
Jim

47 1/2 (more or less) years ago, I was watching PRR 5244 take her last breaths as she arrived at Pavonia yards from duty on the Union Transportation, then slowly steam out of sight to the roundhouse to have her fires dropped. My Pop took me to see her and said something to the effect "Pay attention, you'll never see this again". I can still see it like it was yesterday.

I never saw a camera in my Dads hand. It must be genetic as I've never owned one either and to the best of my memory the next picture I take will be my first.
Guess I always felt that there'd be plenty of others around to do the picture taking-so far thats proven true. Sorry Bob, no pictures from my "awakening" ride. Wish now there were!
Ross Rowland