December! Welcome once again to the Midweek Photos thread covering railroading in the real world. This is the time of the year of Santa Trains of all types. Steamtown brought their 0-6-0 steam engine no. 26 out for her biggest trip of 2018 as she rode on the former Delaware & Hudson Railroad line, Scranton to Carbondale, PA and return. This track is now known as the Carbondale branch of the Delaware Lackawanna Railroad.
A momentary pause in Carbondale, PA before pulling into the Pioneer City Station. This is a 1995 structure built near where the D&H depot once stood.
I got a little ahead of the train as some crew members cleared the track of people waiting to see the train.
Here comes Santa Claus!
Santa and Mrs. Claus meet with some of the people. A party at the nearby Anthracite Hotel would be where you could get photos with Santa Claus.
It isn't often that this steam engine leaves Scranton, so you take pictures when given the opportunity.
Due to this being the last excursion trip of the year, we had a large number of train crew members on board. Many were just getting acquainted with this route, since we don't take it often.
That is my contribution to this week. Now, for some of your photos. Also, since we are nearing the end of 2018. The Year In Review thread begins on December 26. Time to look through your 2018 photos, and help fill out a picture of what went on during this year. Ordinary freight trains, specials and tourist trains are all welcome here. See you next Wednesday!
,) and stowed my best winter alpine gear/boots in the car too. I looked over Google Earth to find spots to set up. Finally, I asked my wife if she was going on this adventure. She asked, "Are you sure it's running?" I said I had checked a few hours before and yes it was. She then went to the website and began bombarding me with bad news. "It's running, but only half way and back. Two of your locations won't work." Well crud, that leaves one other and really I only need one. She then asked, "Did you read this part: "All December trains will be pulled by a diesel." What! I had to read that myself. A diesel. I called a buddy who lives in Hill City and asked him about that. Yup--a diesel. It's not even a cool diesel. The steamer is put away for the winter. Well crud. Not driving 400 miles through a snow storm to photo a diesel! I dejectedly unloaded the car and made alternate plans for Saturday.
Hopefully there's one or two you like. Some of the better ones, all from South Dakota:
