Tourist and short line railroad survey

Steamtown rides cuz it's Scranton!

I would have to say Cass, WV would be my favorite.  Lots of steam (and geared locomotives at that), great scenery, and a pretty unique ride!

 

I have the 2 Shays and 1 Heisler and all the skeleton log cars that Lionel has done so far, and the two bobber cabin cars that MTH did, so I guess I collect Cass as well.

 

Andy

Conway Scenic RR and Winnipesaukee RR, both in NH.

This link may help:

 

http://www.touristrailways.com/namerica/

Huckleberry RR near Flint Mi. is a fun ride.(steam loco) Plus an assortment of early 20th century buildings to roam through.(just a few miles off of I-75)

Jim

These are a couple of my personal favorites out here on the West Coast:

 

 

California Western (aka "The Skunk Train")

 

http://www.skunktrain.com/

 

Beautiful ride between Ft. Bragg and Willits through the Mendocino redwood forests.  Looks like they had a cave-in in tunnel no. 2 and need to raise funds to repair it so operations to Willits can continue, although even the halfway trip to Northspur and back to Ft. Bragg is worth it too.

 

 

 

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad

 

http://www.ymsprr.com/

 

For a good Shay fix.

The Black River and Western should be fairly close to you.

 

http://www.brwrr.com/

The CASS in WV and the Skunk in CA.

 

Then there's the NAPA Wine Train....  

The Hobo RR in NH is restoring the B&M MEC Flying Yankee, and their almost done.

 

There's a narrow gauge railroad museum in Maine that has a short excursion ride.

The only place I've seen three steam engines putting together a early morning freight. Combres & Toltec. Don

East Broad Top RR   (though its not running this year, hope things change next year)

 

My mother is from Robertsdale Pa ..... a Rockhill Coal & Iron Co/EBT company town. Her family immigrated from Italy to mine coal there.

 

Nothing available in O that I know of, so I did-up a few undecorated Weaver hoppers with EBT decals from the society. Thinking of doing the same with a Legacy red-roofed Mikado. (Narrow gauge notwithstanding)

 

Jim

Mount Washington cog Railway in Bretton Woods N.H. Only 1 steam trip a day now. The rest are Bio deisels. Always been my favorite. John DellaGrotte

My two favorite - Durango & Silverton and "The LaVeta Pass Route.  From Alamosa

to LaVeta, Colorado and back.  

Given one’s geographic limitations, you may find obtaining a copy of “Tourist Trains Guidebook – 4^th Edition” published by Kalmbach Books very helpful for selecting something of interest within reach.

 

Not to slight other areas and offerings, but Colorado south and west of Denver may be the US gold standard of tourist excursion railroads. Having very recently been to Colorado, I strongly concur with Don’s suggestion of the Cumbres and Toltec RR. The recently restored and reconfigured parlor cars are exceedingly well done and recommended. A vintage narrow gauge steam excursion at its finest.

 

 

If you are in the general area, one must also strongly recommend the iconic Durango and Silverton. Currently, the track is in better shape on the C and T yielding a smoother ride, but the D and S has the even more spectacular scenery and offers a very interesting tour of the shop and museum. The significant other will likely find Durango more appealing than Alamosa.

 

 

 

 

While we are discussing Colorado rail sights, do take the Royal Gorge Route Railroad out of Canon City. The Royal Gorge offers smooth diesel service with available full dome cars with dining service and truly spectacular views of the route of the California Zephyr in its D & RGW glory days.

 

 

If you can also arrange to do so, the Pike’s Peak Cog Railway with its Swiss-built equipment is a must. Beware that is considerably cooler on top of the peak than in Manitou Springs. The views are breathtaking (literally) and some can briefly con themselves into believing that there really are prototypical 3-rail railroads. 

 

 

Steamtown in Scranton is always very worthwhile with its live steam train rides, museum, and working turntable and repair shop.

 

 

 

While you are in Scranton, be sure to visit the Electric City Trolley Museum and take a ride on one of the Brills such as the beautifully restored Red Arrow Lines example shown below.

 

 

Enough for maybe two summers, hey?

 

Bob

 

Wholly cow, I almost forgot my hometown tourist narrow gauge railroad only three blocks from our house. The Lahaina-Kaanapali & Pacific in Maui. The engineer Auntie Shantel would have killed me if I forgot. Don

Pretty big wildfire at the Royal Gorge if you haven't heard. Got an e-mail this morning that the train is running halfway up the canyon right now, hoping to restore the full trip next week. Have a new GP-40 engine. My best wishes go out to those who live and work in the region.

 

The narrow gauge railroad at Cripple Creek, CO is worth a look. The ride is peaceful, get a good history lesson during the excursion, and the scenery is breathtaking. Go when the Aspen's are turning in the fall and it's amazing.

when i worked for the Army at Fort Monmouth, i  used to bike ride over to Allaire State Park quite often...

 

http://www.njmt.org/

 

glad to see the Pick Creek RR is still running.

and if you're ever out on the west coast...

 

http://www.sdrm.org/

 

Campo is interesting with a lot to see, though during the summer it can get pretty toasty out there.

 

cheers...gary

I second on the pike's peak train. However make sure you bring/wear a jacket because it will be freezing at the Summit. When I was there in October, it was about 60 on the ground but 29 at the top without wind chill.

Another good one is the Seminole Gulf Railway in Fort Myers Florida. In addition to a dinner train, daytime excursions, and a murder mystery train, they also operate freight service. I have not been on the dinner train (only on the daytime excursions) , but I have heard that the food is good.

This, and every year lately, it seems, if planning a train trip in Colorado, check out the

fire conditions.  I missed a ride a few years ago on the C&T because of cancellation due

to fire hazard.  Have been chased around South Dakota and NW Wyoming (Yellowstone)

by "controlled"!!!, yeah, right, burns, too.

Cass WV.....yes...I am bias living nearby......but before I moved here in 2002 I had gone there 25 times or more. My ride count is up to almost 50 with a ride schd in July. 

It is a unique place with 100 year old locos, Shay, Hiesler and Climax steam. The only state park in the world 10 feet wide and 12 miles long. Located in a county that 12 rivers flow out of but none flow in and when you get to the top of Bald Knob you often see planes flying below you! A good old time slice of life!! 

 

Remote for sure.....but so much to do and see in the area and almost all of it is FREE!!! A great place in these days and times. (and lack of cell service gets the kids off them things for a few minutes)

I have to kick myself at times like this. I grew up in Colorado and have not been on any of those trains.

 

Here in New Hampshire I have ridden the Conway Scenic several times now and the COG up mount Washington as well.

Remember your camera or you WILL regret it !

For the COG try to get the first run of the day, it's the only run with a steamer. Also be sure to take a heavy coat, hat and gloves.

It can be 70° at the bottom and below freezing at the top.

And the wind chill must be experienced to be believed.

A few Cass pics for you.......

Nearby Marlinton station rebuild after fire burned it to the ground.

Can't forget the Golden Gate Railroad Museum's Southern Pacific 2472. It runs four times a year through Niles canyon. Last shot is with my buddy Matt from the forum working as my sound man on top of the tender filming tests of the engine. ggrm is their web site. They are just south of San Francisco.  Don

 

 

       
       

Thy also have the New Haven Roger Williams experimental trainunder restoration.

I would add the Valley RR in Essex CT. Several steamers and a nice matched heavyweight trainset all operated out of a great early industrial site along the Connecticut River. They have a new last year Chinese Mikado rebuilt as a New Haven steamer. Last year they had a really cool very well done Circus train they ran for photos.
The Saratoga and North Creek has 2 BL2s and several full dome cars. It runs inupstate NY and must be one of the fewtourist trains that meets Amtrak scheduled trains.

One last reply I promise.
Your second question. Yes. I have the Kline Plymouth painted as the Strasburg one. I also have the Lionel Service Station set NYC RS3 from the passenger/freight set. It has the same # as a unit that runs on the Adirondack Scenic RR near where I go in the summer. I have a NJ Central lines GP7 the same # as a unit that runs in Cape May in the summers. I'm sure I have others but these are fun.

Yes it does, and I live about 2 miles from it's winter resting spot.  Its up and running right now, in Thendara.

 

 

 

Four of my favorites:

 

Illinois Railway Museum: Link is under my signature.

 

Fox River Trolley Museum: http://www.foxtrolley.org/

 

East Troy Electric Railroad Museum: http://www.easttroyrr.org/

 

Kenosha Trolleys: http://www.kenoshastreetcarsociety.org/

For my choice The Saratoga and North Creek Railroad running from Saratoga Springs to North Creek, New York with it's E8, BL2, and 1950 era passenger cars is my current favorite. It is listed with New York State as a common carrier railroad meaning that it can pickup passengers at intermediate stations between it's two end points. They have built 6 stations along their route for this reason and plan to operate to Albany, NY. with an arrangement from Amtrak and the Canadian Pacific. All their equipment is kept in like new condition and they serve food and drinks on all trips in their full dome cars ex-Santa Fe (1956).

In North Carolina there is the Great Smokey Mountain RR; http://www.gsmr.com/?crcat=brand~smr&crsource=adwords&crkw=smoky%20mountain%20railroad&crcampaign=12898225268&gclid=CNzKss7u9bcCFdKd4AodzWsAGg 

 

Also check out the NC Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC.  They have a great rail days celebration.  http://www.nctrans.org/