Greetings! October has returned, if you didn't notice. Along with it is sometimes cooler weather, more colorful trees and the real Autumn season we thought begins with September. Midweek Photos is your chance to catch the changing seasons, (if that is what happens near you) and most of all, to share photos of trains in the real world. This past Saturday, I spent at the Strasburg Rail Road with some friends, and we attended the Norfolk & Western Reunion weekend. N&W 4-8-0 no 475 and 4-8-4 no. 611 ran trains on the line through Amish country.
When I arrived, and parked, the day was well underway. 475 was heading out on another one of her journeys. We see her and the train of 9 cars passing the farmer's field, and then crossing Paradise Road.
Paradise Road is famous for the Red Caboose Motel and Casey Jones restaurant. Just past this location is the National Toy Train Museum
Shortly after the 45 departure, we catch N&W J no. 611 making a move to pick up her train for the next run.
The fans are all in place to see the coupling of the locomotive and see/hear what this 1950 built steam engine has to say about it.
Getting in position.
A perfect coupling.
The locomotive's horizontal grab iron makes her "face" seem unimpressed.
Later in the day, I was fortunate enough to see no. 474 take on some water at the water tank. This face is also altered for the event. Her headlight is normally near the top of the smokebox. The cow catcher is also changed out for the weekend, being replaced with footplates, as she might have work in the late 1950s.
Fans were everywhere. It seemed as if we all wanted to see the J at J Tower just past the station.
No. 611 also needed a bit of water.
My friends and I took the 4:30 excursion, and I was lucky enough to get this view of our train coming up to the 475's train at Cherry Hill. The Amazing Maize Maze is in the foreground.
Final shot of the 611 before we headed out to dinner.
So, how was your recent rail adventure? Did you ride or chase? Was it steam, diesel, or electric? Freight, passenger or work train? Whatever it is, you know we want to see it. Post here, if you can. Have a great week otherwise.
