Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 21

Thread: Diesel Trains - A New Experience for Me

  1. #1
    Orca Whisperer n2ize's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Crestwood, New York
    Posts
    33,899

    Diesel Trains - A New Experience for Me

    Growing up in and around New York City all my life I have rode many trains but always of the electric variety, from electric subway trains to electric commuter trains. This Thanksgiving all that changed as I got to ride on a diesel train for the very first time in my life. I was heading upstate a little ways to my brothers house for the holiday. I boarded an electric commuter train at my usual local stop heading north. A few stops later I had to change trains to a train that heads all the way up to where my brother lives. A few minutes later a train pulled by a diesel locomotive pulls in and the conductor tells me its my connecting train. Even though the line is electrified all the way up to my brothers stop the line further north is not electrified and runs on diesel. As I rode I got to thinking... this is a first time experience for me. For the first time in my entire life I was actually riding on a train pulled by a real diesel locomotive.
    I keep my 2 feet on the ground, and my head in the twilight zone.

  2. #2
    Master Navigator K4PIH's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Northern Virginia
    Posts
    1,287
    Try steam next if you haven't already. Amazing!
    "Don't put it on the plate if you can't eat it!"

  3. #3
    "Usual Suspect" WZ7U's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    CN86jc
    Posts
    5,452
    Oh my John. A whole different experience. Steam is a whole 'nuther world truly. As a child I rode the steam train on the Georgetown Loop up in the mountains of Colorado. What a blast!!

    I've never ridden a full size, modern passenger train although I did get to putt around in a diesel/electric locomotive a little, around on the property of my last major employer. As a control room operator I was expected to know how to operate the locomotive but the solo opportunity never came up.

    Glad you got to try something new.

    Like that post was...
    Moving on, my posts are not helpful

  4. #4

  5. #5
    Orca Whisperer n2ize's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Crestwood, New York
    Posts
    33,899
    Quote Originally Posted by K4PIH View Post
    Try steam next if you haven't already. Amazing!
    Yeah, that would be awesome.In the old days the old New York Central ran a lot of steamers on my local line. But that was before my time. One of these days in my travels I['ll get to ride a steam train. I am sure there must be railroads that offer "nostalgia" rides.
    I keep my 2 feet on the ground, and my head in the twilight zone.

  6. #6
    Orca Whisperer n2ize's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Crestwood, New York
    Posts
    33,899
    Quote Originally Posted by KG4CGC View Post
    Hope you wore a mechanical watch.
    I wasn't wearing one but I did have a mechanical watch on me.
    I keep my 2 feet on the ground, and my head in the twilight zone.

  7. #7
    Administrator N8YX's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Out in the sticks
    Posts
    26,070
    If you want to experience diesel railroading up close and personal, go hop a cab ride in a Roots-blown EMD 567 loco.

    A GP7, GP9 and an ML2 are three I'm familiar with. They're also probably the reason that the FRA and OSHA enacted noise limits for motive power cabs.
    "Everyone wants to be an AM Gangsta until it's time to start doing AM Gangsta shit."

  8. #8
    Master Navigator K4PIH's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Northern Virginia
    Posts
    1,287
    Quote Originally Posted by n2ize View Post
    Yeah, that would be awesome.In the old days the old New York Central ran a lot of steamers on my local line. But that was before my time. One of these days in my travels I['ll get to ride a steam train. I am sure there must be railroads that offer "nostalgia" rides.
    There are several nostalgia train rides in my area. Most are old logging trains running through the mountains on the Virginia/West Virginia border.
    "Don't put it on the plate if you can't eat it!"

  9. #9
    "Island Bartender" KG4CGC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    EM84ru, Easley SC
    Posts
    51,262
    My avatar was taken when I was riding this train. Some kind of diesel. Nantahala Forest run out of Bryson City NC.


  10. #10
    Lord of the Flies kb2crk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    arnoldsville ga
    Posts
    4,124
    Quote Originally Posted by n2ize View Post
    Yeah, that would be awesome.In the old days the old New York Central ran a lot of steamers on my local line. But that was before my time. One of these days in my travels I['ll get to ride a steam train. I am sure there must be railroads that offer "nostalgia" rides.
    There used to be a Steam nostalgia train running in NJ. I got to ride it a couple times as a kid.
    http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/new-j...j-train-rides/

    Looks like there still is


    a yankee living in the hind end of the bible belt
    some people are like slinkys, not really good for anything, but still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •