Rail fanning weekend with Southern 4501

A Rail fanning weekend with Southern 4501

Well, we ( the family) rail fanned the next to the last weekend in October. Southern 4501 was in great shape, very alive and well.  We planned to chase the train Saturday from Summerville Ga. then follow it north to Chattanooga. 

It was a cool clear sun shining day.  We actually started in Trion Ga. at the Bridge next to the park.

And we went back to Summerville at the turn table as we watch the big steam engine turn around and  head back to Chattanooga.

The town Summerville also, had a little Arts & crafts Festival and many had gather for that and the big train locomotive.  We had lunch and then we chased the big engine northward to Chattanooga.



 

 

The First spot was the Bridge at Trion. Notice the steam and the wood holding the track.

Notice the train coming through the woods on the train tracks. You don't see that often.

She crossed the Central Ga. bridge ofd Hwy. 27 near Rossville. Many were there to see the sight.

She ended the day crossing Holtsclaw Avenue in Chattanooga. 4501 looks like it's driving on the highway.

It was a smoky start early Sunday Morning for another day of train chasing. As she backed her way back to Grand Junction for the day's trip to Summerville.

She was really showing her stuff that cool weather morning as many of us gather on the east 23rd bridge to take some photos.

A stroll through Chickamauga and by the Depot on a very beautiful day.

4501 went through the Rock Springs area and we (the family) called it a day. :-)

 All of these pictures where taken with my Iphone 4 and we also had regular Digital cameras and video cameras too. It was just a great time and a great time with the family.

North GA Modurail at SRM

North Georgia Modurail train club at Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, Ga.

Oct. 8th - 11th 10:00am to 5pm

The club will have a 40 X 16 ft. layout and the museum will have exhibits and trade rides.

Saturday they have the kid's train rides.

Rail Fest 2014 & TVRM

Rail Fest 2014 TVRM & Southern 4501

Well, the family and I went to Chattanooga to Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and enjoyed the day at rail fest, where the Southern 2-8-2 Mikado 4501 made it's inaugural run being the first time in many years.

It was a fun day with food snacks and music entertainment. But really locomotive steam trains where the interest of the day.  Rail fanners and photographers was to the order of the day. Many showing great interest in the steams trains.   That day Southern 630 was also in operation too. Making a steam photographers dream. Active steam engines in 2014 !!  Just not something seen anymore.

They put 4501 on the turn table and she barely fit. There was about four foot on the front and back of over hang.  But she did fit and the turntable was able to rotate the grand engine of old. The train pulled the passenger cars from Grand Junction to East Chattanooga and back. Once they got there the workman would detach the train, then roll it on the turn table. Turn it around, reattach the passenger cars and ride back to Grand Junction through a 900 feet tunnel in the middle of the ride.

 So it was a great day with family, friends and train enthusiasts.  We have 4501 in HO scale as a model train at home and it was very good to see her come alive.  At the of the day the workman allowed the two engines to Double head back to the shop. And it was a sight to behold.  A blast from the past, to see 4501 and 630 double head a load of passenger cars.

Again, just a good day with our family and many train friends !!

Rail Fanning in Tate Ga.

Greetings, I was looking at a map of northwest Georgia the other day and found a CSX line going from Marietta to Ellijay. I followed the tracks on the map and came up on a yard.  It was in Tate Ga. and there was an old Depot building.

 

 

So we drove up and I took my camera and used my cell phone / I-phone camera and took some pictures.  It was a very pretty day but by the time we got there the sun was straight up high noon.

 

I came in the back way to the yard, as I almost went passed it, I knew that it was near the four way intersection and a church but I was not sure where it was located.  We found the train tracks and of course we just followed it south.

We crossed the railroad tracks and went through a small neighborhood and then came up on the shop.

It was a very warm day but it was a clear day and I snapped off some shots with my Digital Camera.

The old depot was right by highway 53 and another photographer stop and took pictures as well .

Later we would have lunch and we went by the BBQ place which was very good.

BBQ and trains kind of go together hand in hand.  :-)

DanSamRR

Savannah Round House

A couple of summers ago, we took our family vacation in Savannah Georgia.  With River street, the train Round house and Tybee  beach near by, it has something for the whole family.  We enjoy River street day or night, either morning or afternoon.  We enjoy a first night walk on the beach, then next day on the beach. But with young Caleb, the meaning ALL day is usually spent at the train museum and round house.

    


Well He had  the best day ever. As they had a local active steam tank engine and Caleb wanted to ride in the cab.   Obviously, he could not do this in t-shirt and shorts with flip-flops.  So they gave him some train clothes with boots.  And he got to ride in the cab.

  

This also meant  prep work for the engine.  Firing up the engine then adding coal and water. An exciting job for young man hooked on trains.  

 

As Caleb got into the cab, he was given the responsibility of Bell man. A position  took very seriously. 

 

So now you can see while it took almost the whole day.  But it was  a good time and a good day.

It was a very hot day but we cooled off at the pool and did then did river street that night.

 

Here's a picture of the crew and yes one was a girl.

I must admit that we have gone there a couple of more times. And right now, it's a family favorite.

Southern 630 in Atlanta

A couple of years ago the steam engine Southern 630 a consolidation 2-8-0 came to Atlanta to carry Norfolk Southern employees from Atlanta to Hapeville.

When My son and I heard that Southern 630 was coming to Atlanta, we sought to follow her and chase her and take pictures of her.  We knew that she would have to come through Dalton Georgia, so we picked a spot just north of the old depot and restaurant at the split. It would be a first time to see a active steam engine in Georgia, especially in our life time.

And there she came, the experience did not let us down, at all !!  We both had smiles on our faces as we realize the history and what a special moment of the day.  A high railer (NS service truck on the track, even knew and spoke us about 630 coming down the line.  At that particular time on her journey, she was running an hour behind. But we did get to see her.  An active steam train in Georgia in our lifetime, what a trill it was to us. Then, on to Rome Georgia.

She stopped at the NS yard in Rome, Ga. to take on some water and maintenance.  We were racing to see where would be our next stop.  As I drove down the road, perhaps it was Highway 53, I happened to see a little sign pointing  to the NS yard.   We turned and drove down the road and came up on a cleaning and found the train yard. 

She would leave there go south and head towards Atlanta.  The NS securities were there and made sure all rail fans where safe and not get to close.  You meet a lot people when rail fanning, and that day we met an elderly couple and her Dad was a engineer for 630 many years ago.  She told us about riding the train wearing her Sunday dress. They were a delightful couple, who lived near by and came out when she heard the steam whistle.  :-)

The old steam engine would go on to Atlanta and carry the NS employees on their excursion run from Atlanta to Hapeville and back.  But son and I will never forget that day.  When steam train came to Georgia, in the 2000s.  The steam engine consolidation 2-8-0  Southern 630.

Have a great day friend !!

DanSamRR

North GA Modurail Smoke Rise show 2014

Greeting friends,

On this my Railroad blog, today I am advertising our next club show and I invite you to come and see out layout of modules.

North Georgia Modurail Model RR Club presents:

The 15th annual Smoke Rise model railroad exhibit dates and times are now set for 2014.
Dates:

Sat, Jul 26: 10:00a - 5:00p public display

Sun, Jul 27: 12:00p - 4:00p public display

 

Venue:

Smoke Rise Baptist Church(external link) (gymnasium)

5901 Hugh Howell Rd.

Stone Mountain, GA 30087

 

Venue Contact:

Rev. Tim Adcox (770) 469-5856

Show Coordinator(s):

Rob Keeney

Notes:

Set up: Fri, Jul 25: 4:00p - 7:00p

Tear down: Sun, Jul 27: 4:00p - 5:00p

Come visit our 80 x 50 layout (with 3 model RR clubs joined together)

 

Cass Scenic Railroad

Cass Scenic Railroad

Our family was able to visit and take our vacation there in Cass, WV.  We really enjoyed the steam trains and the beautiful mountain scenery.  We rode the steam logging train up the mountain to Bald Knob, the 3rd highest elevation in West Virginia. 

Of course, the trains were not built for speed as the trains were built to move logs up and down the mountain. We moved along the side of the mountain averaging 12 to 13 miles an hour in an open air car observing the beautiful mountains and trees.

It would be a 4 hour ride so we had to take a lunch for the trip. And we picnic at Logging Camp Whittaker.  Tables were provided and they even had a snack shack with drinks and hotdogs. The mountain view was beautiful.

But greatest views of mountain scenery was on top Bald Knob with its wooden observation deck.

With the cool wind blowing and low mid 70's temps, it was very comfortable for all.

Our family enjoyed it and perhaps yours will too.

The first day we took the four hour round trip to top of Bald Knob.  The Second day we visited the train maintenance shops and had lunch at the depot restaurant.

Also we were able to do Rail Fan photo shots with our camera of the active steam trains. Hearing the whistle blow and seeing the steam let out.

Fun, food and family time, you might like it too.