Rail roads and their tracks.

   / Rail roads and their tracks. #3,611  
There was a nice discussion about these back in May in this thread. Glad ArlyA got to stop in and see it in person. (y)

 
   / Rail roads and their tracks. #3,612  
I didn't get the story on why this gorgeous NG Mike (Mikado) is being retired. I really hope the carriages stay on the line.

A spark from one of the Durango & Silverton coal fired steam engines started a big fire in 2018. As a result, the line agreed to convert to oil.


When I last made the run in 2022, about half their engines had been converted. Luckily for us, the #473 still burned coal:

P1040328a.jpg


It won't be the same without that coal smoke.
 
   / Rail roads and their tracks. #3,613  
I've been by there a couple of times and always stopped and looked it over. Those were amazing pieces of machinery. If I remember correctly, that one had over a million miles on it when it was retired.
 
   / Rail roads and their tracks. #3,615  
Another derailment. Matteson, IL (properly pronounced: Mat-a-son) Burning off LP, to "make removing them safer". A mile from where I used to live. I know that area/curve VERY well... Interchange of ex Illinois Central and EJ&E (now both CN). I used to sled down the raised IC roadway and also set coins on the EJ&E rails there, to be flattened... ;)

I always thought those double ended ALCO's the J had, were strange looking.

 
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   / Rail roads and their tracks. #3,616  
I used to live about 1/2 block from the UP mainline, close enough I could smell the exhaust when they went by. Could see them through the trees when the leaves were off.

Loved it, but then again, I'm weird....
 
   / Rail roads and their tracks. #3,618  
My wife laughs at me because I'll purposely avoid a local overpass and take the grade crossings in hopes of being stopped by a train. :ROFLMAO:
I like trains too, but as soon as the engines pass by I get increasingly annoyed by the delay.

If I'm the first or second car waiting on a fast train, I find myself envisioning the destruction if a derailment happens and the rolling stock comes barrelling down toward me. :eek:
 
   / Rail roads and their tracks.
  • Thread Starter
#3,619  
When I worked in a small town as a carmen, I resided about a 1/3 of a mile and tad higher from a double main line, the screech of wheels and rumble of those power-heads is etched in my memory. Plus that smell of coal dust and diesel exhaust. 🥰
 

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