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.......................this page was last updated in the autumn of 2000..................................................
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I have traveled across the country to see and ride trains. Although I don't have anything against diesel locomotives, I prefer steam locomotives. My first steam excursion was in November 1992 behind the Norfolk and Western J-class 4-8-4 #611 from Birmingham, AL to Chattanooga, TN. I admit I was too young to remember most of that trip, but I remember more from my April 1993 trip behind the same locomotive on the same route. I also rode Southern 2-8-2 #4501 in 1994 (sort of) from Birmingham to Columbus, GA. 4501 broke down on the way there, and a diesel pulled us the rest of the way. This would be my last Norfolk Southern steam excursion, as the NS quit their steam program in late 1994. The last NS steam train I saw was in June 1994 at Anniston, AL when Frisco 1522 was doubleheading with 611 to Atlanta, GA. I have sinced longed to see 1522 again, since that engine was not owned by NS and still operates today.
In the summer of 1996 my grandparents took me on a trip out west. While we were out there, we rode the Nevada Northern Railway in Ely, Nevada, my first train trip in two years. #40, of course, is a nice 4-6-0, and so is the trip, but I enjoyed my trip on the Grand Canyon Railway a few days later even better. We rode behind 2-8-0 #18 and diesel #6773. I was old enough now to start remembering these things vividly, and I won't forget the sounds of the engine echoing off of the town of Williams (because I have it on video :]). Just kidding.
Well, along comes the summer of 1997, and skeptiks are fearing the end of mainline steam. But, in the mean time, I went up to New York City with my grandparents, and for the first time since 1994 rode my first mainline steam trip, at mainline speeds (80 m.p.h.!), and behind a big engine: Chesapeake and Ohio 4-8-4 #614. The excursion was from Hoboken, NJ to Port Jervis, NY where I witnessed my first photo run-bys on a steam trip (there were none on the previous trips). The engine roaring by at 70+ m.p.h. three times in a row is something that dosen't come often.
1998 saw my grandfather and I going up to Chicago, IL. Our plans were to chase (I finally realized if you want to see the engine, don't ride the train, but stand trackside) and ride Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 #261 (another big engine) from Chicago to Galesburg, Illinois for Galesburg Railroad Days Festival. On June 27, the day we chased 261, the engine had an overheated bearing and was 6 hours late getting to Galesburg. A diesel pulled it back to Chicago while 261 stayed in Galesburg. The same diesel, an SD9, pulled the train to Galesburg on June 28, the day we rode it. Luckily, 261 was repaired and pulled us back. During the photo run-by near Kewanee, IL, Amtrak's Southwest Chief passenger traing roared by just seconds before 261.
Despite the draw of mainline excursions, and scenery of the many of these tourist railways, my favorite railway is fairly close to home.
It is the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad that runs between Dillsboro and Andrews, NC. The railway offers half day trips from Dillsboro to Bryson City (westbound), Bryson to the Nantahala Gorge (westbound), and from Andrews to the Nantahala Gorge (eastbound). It also runs a full day trip from Dillsboro all the way through the railroad to Andrews (called a 3-in-1 trip). On October 27, 1996, my dad, my grandfather, my friend Kevin Kennamer, and I rode behind 2-8-0 #1702 over the Bryson City branch of the railway. Be sure to check out Kevin's homepage im my links listing on the home page. I returned to the Great Smoky Mountains Railway in September 1997, where we again rode 1702 out of Bryson City and I also did my first real train chase the next day on the same route. In September 1998, I chased the 1702 and train on a 3-in-1 trip from Dillsboro to Andrews, and the next day chased the train out of Bryson City. The Great Smoky Mountains Railway is by far now my favorite railway. The photo at the top of the page was taken by my grandfather in the Nantahala Gorge on a June 5, 1999 chase.
I didn't ride, but only chased, the Tennesse Valley Railroad Museum's 2-8-0 #610 and Southern #4501 on a doubleheader from Chattanooga, TN to Lafayette, GA in October 1997.
April 10, 1999, saw my Mom, Kevin, and I going up to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to chase a Tennessee Valley excursion behind 2-8-0 #610 to Summerville, Georgia.
On May 9, 1999, my parents and I briefly visited the Great Smoky Mountains Railway again as the train returned from Bryson City to Dillsboro. Even though the train was pulled by a diesel, I was able to see 2-8-0 #1702 running backwards and hear its new whistle, a copy of a Southern Railway class Ps4 steamboat whistle. On June 5, 1999, my grandfather, Kevin, and I again went up to Dillsboro to chase 1702 on a 3-in-1 excursion to Andrews. This chase went off without a hitch, everything ran according to schedule, and I got lots of great shots.
On the evening of June 27, 1999, I finally got my chance to see Frisco 4-8-2 #1522 again. We saw the engine and all the other exhibits on display at Galesburg Railroad Days 1999 (which included an F-7 and FP4A diesel from the Monticello RR Museum). We then chased the 1522 from Galesburg on its way home to St. Louis, Missouri. This was not the best chase in the world: #1, the train didn't leave until almost 5 p.m. and was limited to 15 m.p.h. due to bearing problems, so darkness fell upon the train after hadn't covered much mileage and #2 it was pouring rain. However the engine put on a good show. The rain finally let up in McComb, but by then the sun had set. We gave up the chase north of Augusta, IL, at around 11 p.m. after a long pacing sequence in the dark. Due to the weather conditions, I'm already anxious to see 1522 again in good weather.
On the weekend of October 23 and 24, 1999, my mom and I chased TVRM 2-8-0 #610 from Chattanooga, TN to Trion, GA on Saturday, and rode on Sunday (actually we only rode as far as Lafayette because we were running behind schedule). It was bitterly cold that weekend, about 15 to 20 degrees below normal, but the sun was out on both days, and the chase and ride both went alright. The day I rode the train, I spent almost all my time in the vestibule of the first coach car, which was directly behing the engine's auxiliary tender. My face was black with cinders after the spectacular experience.
November 13, 1999, saw another 3-in-1 chase on the GSMR with engine 1702. The first three or four scenes I shot out of Dillsboro included huge smoke plumes, and the first two have a dramatic fog effect. It warmed up nicely and the sun was out for the rest of the chase. As usual, this chase went almost perfect. We turned back to our hotel in Bryson City after the train left Topton, however.
On April 23, 2000, we stopped by Dillsboro and chased the 1702 again on her way to Bryson City. This year, the railway came under new ownership. The equipment was repainted and there were several crossings with lights and gates that had lacked these appliances before. The chase went perfect, as usual.
On May 20, 2000, we rode Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 #261 from Chicago to Galesburg, Illinois again. Great ride, no break downs like 2 years ago. On May 21, we chased the train. It was a pretty good chase except that the train was going as fast as we were! We could never catch it!
