Last weekend I took a trip to Railway days at the Danbury Railroad Museum. I planned it very last minute and extended the invite to Tom P./MNCW who had prior plans. I went because they were offering the chance to operate a train with a GE 44 Tonner. The whole process was very nice I got a full hour one on one tour /lesson with the engineer.
The unit that was used was former 44 tonner GE demonstrator #1399 built in 1947 that was sold to UP and was the Omaha shop switcher pushing Big Boys and Challengers around the shop. It was the only UP 44 tonner #903999. In 1974 it went to Grotton CT Electric Boat becoming #41902. Then in the early 2000's the unit was donated to the Danbury Railroad Museum.
I got a full history of the unit and all access doors open tour of the running engine, compressor, air brake lines, operating the couplers and on and on. Inside I learned all about the sanders, unit brake and train brake, compressed air bell, wipers, the importance of putting the brake in the Lap position to move, throttle notches and reverse handle.
I had the full attention of two people because not only was the engineer in the cab with me but the train conductor was in the caboose I was pulling and pushing around. The conductor would radio the all clear in reversing moves and tell how much room I had to the chosen spot. I made 4 full push and pull movements running the legth of the yard. I only dumped the train air once. Oops it was my first time. By the end the conductor complimented my smooth stop.
It was a lot of fun and not something I have done before. I got a very nice personalized and signed certificate that I had run the 44 tonner. Also they made me a nice full copy of a 44 tonner operators manual.
The museum was very interested in my feedback and any suggested inprovements for the program. They claimed that they had not done this sort of thing before and they were experimenting with the idea. I know that they have done cab rides in the past because I've ridden in the cab of the SW8 there. I had a nice experience it definitely was reassuring to have someone right there to fix things like a DMV instructor. Since it was their premier trial they had a lot of questions for me on my feedback. I spoke at length with the engineer/instructor Tom McCullogh and Museum President Wade Rouse.
They claim to be interested to run a full day long class in the future that would start with ground work throwing switches and un/coupling cars on the ground to show what is is involved there up to operating the engine and building up a train by switching cars. This seems like an "in the future" thing. At any rate I really enjoyed the trip and hope they keep it up. It didn't hurt that it was an early 44 tonner either.
Also they said that if I enjoyed it I should inform anyone I knew who would be interested in the program. Here I am telling you my Saturday Switcher friends this is a great program and I strongly recommend it to give a better understanding of what moving a train entails.
I am including a few other images from the trip that may be interesting to SWSat guys. Here is the Brookville BL-20 that got me from South Norwalk to Danbury. 
The Danbury Museum had many units open for viewing. This one was particularly interesting to me. It is a RS3m. These were reengined with EMD engines from retired E7/E8s in the 1970s and 80's. I have never seen how these were shoehorned in. This one had the doors open to view. I have an o scale engine that I am making of this kind of unit on my work bench now. 
Here are some other switch units in the yard an ex Rock Island SW8 among them. The other 44 tonner here is ex New Haven and has extended swivel couplers for tight radius track switching on former trolley tracks. 
This RSC-2 is former Seaboard
This RS1 was built for Illinois Terminal. I unfortunately missed photographing the big smoke plume when this was pulling its train.
Have a great weekend guys. I'm loving the pics so far.
Oh a quick PS. The October/Nov run 287 of OGR has a great article on making a On30 critter by Allen Littlefield. It is a very nice in depth article and has a great looking result.
:
