My wife bought me the "Hand on the throttle" at Valley Railroad for my 60th bday ..Was Awesome
I had a great time ..She got me the rich kid package which is 1 hour instruction and 2 hours at the controls 
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That's awesome!!
Well!? ...did you slip the wheels? Take advantage of having the whistle cord nearby? Let's hear about it!
@BillYo414 posted:That's awesome!!
Well!? ...did you slip the wheels? Take advantage of having the whistle cord nearby? Let's hear about it!
LOL..No wheel slipping ..I had been instructed to be patient with my throttle inputs ..I think he mighta smacked me if I did..I got plenty of Toot time there where more than a few crossings both public and private ways ..I ran her out 12.5 Miles and back 12.5 ..I just enjoyed the fact I was the one running her..Great people also ..very nice scenery as the track runs up the CT river to the right
I did that as well. What a great experience. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Yeah haha @Snkbittin I didn't think you would slip the wheels for enjoyment. I just figured it was easy to hit the gas a bit to hard, so to speak. I gotta be honest, I would be a little nervous to run a locomotive with passengers in tow like that without experience. Pretty awesome stuff! Sounds like you earned your stripes.
@BillYo414 posted:Yeah haha @Snkbittin I didn't think you would slip the wheels for enjoyment. I just figured it was easy to hit the gas a bit to hard, so to speak. I gotta be honest, I would be a little nervous to run a locomotive with passengers in tow like that without experience. Pretty awesome stuff! Sounds like you earned your stripes.
Oh no there was no cars behind me!! ..the Lawyers get involved then Im sure
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Co
Congratulations! In my case it was also my wife that pushed me to do it. Loved it (and her). My profile photo is me in the diesel. Well run operation, steam goes north and the diesel south down to where the track belongs to Amtrak. Much better scenery going north but of course that's not what you're there for.
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@Scotie posted:Co
Congratulations! In my case it was also my wife that pushed me to do it. Loved it (and her). My profile photo is me in the diesel. Well run operation, steam goes north and the diesel south down to where the track belongs to Amtrak. Much better scenery going north but of course that's not what you're there for.
Scottie..she didnt have to push me..I wanted to go then the Plague struck ..had kinda forget about it and she got it for my 60th
This is on my bucket list with my son when he gets out of the Army. Glad you had fun.
@Snkbittin posted:Oh no there was no cars behind me!! ..the Lawyers get involved then Im sure
So, it was just a light locomotive with no cars? What did you use for air brakes?
@Snkbittin I understand now. Still pretty awesome!
@Hot Water posted:So, it was just a light locomotive with no cars? What did you use for air brakes?
Good question, they been doing this behind the throttle event every fall and spring for years now.
@superwarp1 posted:This is on my bucket list with my son when he gets out of the Army. Glad you had fun.
They run the program now spring ,summer and fall ..sells out fast..Thanks I did enjoy it
@Hot Water posted:So, it was just a light locomotive with no cars? What did you use for air brakes?
No cars ..Used the Independent Brake ..Apply / Lap / Running / Release Westinghouse Brake Valve
It was a very nice area ..we stayed at the Griswold Inn ,Essex One of the longest continuely run Inns in the country ..1776 ..Low key and quiet .Not like the Cape..its only 2.25 hrs from me.. we will go back to do the train ride and the steamboat at somepoint ..probably Foilage season ..One of the best Bday presents I have gotten ..Not many folks are lucky enough to try sitting up there now adays and with my interest in Trains it was perfect ..Engine 40 is the real deal 1920 ALCO 2-8-2 ..All in All a very nice Shutdown week for me ..back to work tomorrow
@Snkbittin posted:No cars ..Used the Independent Brake ..Apply / Lap / Running / Release Westinghouse Brake Valve
Hmmm. Such practices tend to be hard on the drive wheel tires and their associated brake shoes, unless the locomotive is equipped with a separate cut-out cock which cuts out the air pressure to only the drive wheel brake cylinders (called a 'Mountain-Cock' on the western railroads such as SP and UP). Also, overheating of the driver tires is definitely NOT GOOD.
@Snkbittin posted:They run the program now spring ,summer and fall ..sells out fast..Thanks I did enjoy it
I noticed that and sold out for 2023. More options, maybe next year.
@Hot Water posted:Hmmm. Such practices tend to be hard on the drive wheel tires and their associated brake shoes, unless the locomotive is equipped with a separate cut-out cock which cuts out the air pressure to only the drive wheel brake cylinders (called a 'Mountain-Cock' on the western railroads such as SP and UP). Also, overheating of the driver tires is definitely NOT GOOD.
Well ..as I never got her over 15 MPH and had to apply the brakes 2-3 times under minimal throttle..Im pretty sure there was no damage done but Im no expert..On Locomotives ..Now other stuff..Thats a diffrent story so going by what I DO know I think she'll keep on Chugging for a spell longer and the Senior Engineer who was with me can keep on adding to his 50 yrs experience
The Griswald is the best place to stay in the area. Great rooms and two fine restaurants to choose from. My wife and I always stay there when we visit the Valley RR.
@superwarp1 posted:This is on my bucket list with my son when he gets out of the Army.
Driving a real locomotive is a really cool experience. You and your son will love it. I did it a few years back at the Nevada Southern RR Museum in Boulder City, Nevada. It is so amazing, and I highly recommend it. It's so awesome that railway museums will let you pay money to get the chance to drive a real-life locomotive. I would love to drive a steam locomotive. I drove a diesel (UP GP30 #844). I would like to do it again sometime. For now, I have my O Scale trains to enjoy, especially since I'm building a new layout soon.
@Dylan the Train Man posted:Driving a real locomotive is a really cool experience. You and your son will love it. I did it a few years back at the Nevada Southern RR Museum in Boulder City, Nevada. It is so amazing, and I highly recommend it. It's so awesome that railway museums will let you pay money to get the chance to drive a real-life locomotive. I would love to drive a steam locomotive. I drove a diesel (UP GP30 #844). I would like to do it again sometime. For now, I have my O Scale trains to enjoy, especially since I'm building a new layout soon.
"drive"?????? Come on Dylan, one does NOT "drive" a locomotive nor train in the U.S, Canada or Mexico. The term is "run" or "operate".
