Steam Trains and Kilts .. it doesn't get much better!

**2176agp** · 9th August 10, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by Mike_Oettle

Hi, Tony – what a behemoth that steamer is!
Nice pictures. Did the missus take them? And if not, where was she?
Regards,
Mike

Ah -- it was a lovely ride. Soot cinders, and all. She's a lovely bit of loco.

The missus did in fact take the pics. I shall ask if she okay with me posting a pic of her, not kilted of course -- ah -- you know -- not like un-anything -- ah -- in lass's wear of course.

Tony

**Bugbear** · 9th August 10, 01:17 PM

Someone needs to direct Nighthawk to this thread.

**cessna152towser** · 9th August 10, 01:28 PM

Alex, there is a small steam railroad in Lincoln NH where you will be at Loon Mountain. I don't know if you knew about this. Check it out. Looking around with google I see what looks like steam and some other images that appear to be diesel.

I found details on the Hobo Railroad at Lincoln which I hope to ride on.
It appears there is also another shortline in the Loon Mountain area which steams a small German wood burning locomotive.

**Cygnus** · 9th August 10, 01:42 PM

Great photos, Tony.

Interestingly enough, I recently discovered that my third great grandfather (an immigrant from Scotland), after being elected to a government position in the city, would take a train (probably similar to the one in your photo, though smaller) to his home in a nearby village after performing his duties. He refused to ride in a passenger car and would instead take his gun to a box car with the door open and would "test his aim on local vermin" as the train passed.
I don't know if I'll ever see another train without thinking of him in his suit shooting prairie dogs and jack rabbits from a dirty box car!

Thank you for the fine photos!

**Nighthawk** · 9th August 10, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by Bugbear

Someone needs to direct Nighthawk to this thread.

Just spotted it!!

**dutchy kilted** · 9th August 10, 05:25 PM

Big question of the day -- where's your bag pipes?

Answer - "right here under my kilt - want to see?"

I have ridden the Strasburg Railroad kilted, and was actually asked if I was Amish.

If anyone is interested in older trains, the Railroad Musuem of Pennsylvania is right across the street from the Strasburg Railroad, and has an impressive collection of rolling stock.

**Mike_Oettle** · 10th August 10, 01:52 PM

Great pics, Nighthawk!
That side tank loco looks interesting, especially since it is standing on a piece of rack rail track.
When the line from Delagoa Bay (now Maputo) to Pretoria was first built, the route chosen for climbing the Drakensberg escarpment was by means of a rack rail line linking the stations Waterval Boven and Waterval Onder, going through a tunnel.
The tunnel has long since been replaced by a more modern piece of engineering, but one can hike through it.
The snow plough looks like a museum piece – has it been replaced by something more modern?

And Dutchy, how could anyone have taken you for an Amish?
I suppose it takes all kinds . . .
By the way, I like your answer to the bagpipe question

Regards,
Mike

**Santa Wally** · 15th August 10, 11:20 AM

Steamtown National Historic Site is in Scranton PA is another place of interest for steam train enthusiasts. The website is: http://www.nps.gov/stea/index.htm I have not personally been there so I can't say anything about it.

**Woodsman** · 16th August 10, 10:12 PM

Steamtown is great. I haven't done it kilted yet but now I'm inspired. Kilts and steam engines look great together. Plenty of steam engines to pose by in Scranton. If you go, across town is Lackawanna coal mine. An underground tour puts you in a 52 degree coal mine year round. That would be fun kilted too.

**Nighthawk** · 16th August 10, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by Mike_Oettle

Great pics, Nighthawk!
That side tank loco looks interesting, especially since it is standing on a piece of rack rail track.
When the line from Delagoa Bay (now Maputo) to Pretoria was first built, the route chosen for climbing the Drakensberg escarpment was by means of a rack rail line linking the stations Waterval Boven and Waterval Onder, going through a tunnel.
The tunnel has long since been replaced by a more modern piece of engineering, but one can hike through it.
The snow plough looks like a museum piece – has it been replaced by something more modern?
Regards,
Mike

The side tanker was designed to climb Long's Peak. That's the reason for the track. It goes up about a 40 degree angle. That snow plow is a museum now, but there is a snow plow that has not been replaced. It's part of a living, functioning museum, called the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, which is a narrow gauge mountain line that was completed at the turn of the century, and runs as a tourist line now with most of the original rolling stock.