ET&WNC 3-footer # 12 at Tweetsie RR. I was probably 4 at the time.
First cab ride I ever got was at the age of 11, at TVRM at Chattanooga, also a former ET&WNC locomotive (standard gauge, though).
Can you imagine what RR I model today?
Yep, I have a On30 model of # 12 less than ten feet from where I type this...
The first steam I saw was as a little boy at the Southern Pacific Bayshore Yard. It was an SP Mikado! Matt
New York Central Niagara #6018, Englewood, IL, June 1949, at age 4. Recently asked my Dad, (age 93) if he thought that marked the point when I became a railroad enthusiast. He said, "Nah, you were a train nut way before that" !!
Unfortunately I can't remember this myself, but I am told that at age three I was in the cab of a steam locomotive and was invited to put a piece of coal on the fire.
This happened at Paddington Station on a trip to London to visit my Mum's parents.
The first steam locomotive I remember was the one at Flemington New Jersey in the 1960's (and I have a Kodak Instamatic slide to prove it 
).
He said, "Nah, you were a train nut way before that" !!
Now that's funny! 
Disneyland, followed by Knott's Berry Farm. Fast-forward about 35 years to seeing 3751 run again. Looking forward to seeing 4014 again in 2019.
This.......Altoona, KS 2-8-2004.
The B&O "Docksider" 0-4-0 back in the early 50's. Built the Varney H0 kit in Cub Scouts and bought the MTH model when it came out (couldn't afford the ROW).
My first experiences around steam (and real railroad equipment in general) was probably one of the many visits to the Henry Ford Museum or Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI the summer after I was born (and every summer since).
"Edison", a converted 1868 Manchester 0-4-0 made into a 4-4-0 by Henry Ford's rouge locomotive shop workers in 1932
"Torch Lake", an 1873 Mason 0-6-4T
Up until 1999, I also saw Detroit and Mackinac #8, a 1914 Baldwin 0-6-0 under steam and powering the village's Michigan Central steam crane. Also the several steam locomotives on static display inside the museum such as C&O 1601, Bessemer 2-8-0 #154 and other's, as well as Detroit and Lima Northern 4-4-0 #7 under restoration to operation in the village roundhouse.
All last summer I volunteered in the roundhouse working on those same locomotives and plan on spending more time there this summer.
Sometime around 1949. I was the grandson of a Wabash engineer in Moberly, MO. Grandpa's home was on the east side tracks going toward Illinois. The backyard boundary was the railroad ROW. When I was 6, he stopped and gave me (with my Dad) a ride into the freight yard in Moberly.
It was probably 7002 or 1223 at Strasburg, but the moment that sticks in my head was turning down the dirt road from Rt61 to the Blue Mountain and Reading's S. Hamburg station just as 2102 was running around the train. HOLY **** I'd never seen anything like it. Another time we paced 2102 down 61 at Glen Gerry... I think only seeing a Space Shuttle launch from the press site at KSC has left more of an impression on me than the 2102.
The first steam locomotive I ever saw got me hooked on trains for life. I was 2 years old at the time of my first steam locomotive sighting and experience. The NSA was just being built in Ft. Meade Maryland and several B&O steam locos were being used to heat the building. The B&O had a line that intersected with the B&O mainline ( now the CSX/ MARC Camden Line ) at Annapolis Junction ( there is now a stone company located there where CSX gets alot of its ballast ). This line ran eastward, passed the new NSA building right into Ft. Meade Army base. There were I think 3 steamers sitting there on a siding, fired up and heating the building. We were out on a Sunday drive and stopped so i could see the locos. The fireman invited me aboard. He opened the firebox doors and showed me the fire. I still have vivid memories of this experience. I loved the fire and all the valves and controls on the backhead. I've been a train junkie ever since.
My second steam experience was again on the B&O ( Camden Line ) the following year ( 1955 or 56 ) A steam powered passenger train running out of Baltimore passing me and my dad as we were standing at the junction where the Patuxent Branch leads off the main. This steamer must have been pulling some kind of special train because this line was one of B&Os first dieselized lines and this steam sighting was on a weekend. I remember the conductor ( or other crew member ) threw a lit fuse out the back of the rear car. None the less seeing this steamer pulling a passenger train was a sight to behold.
I still get a HUGE smile on face everytime I see a live steam engine up close be it at Steamtown or Staussburg. I want to see 4014 Big Boy when she's fired up and running and of course 611 as well. They are on my bucket list.
At Port Jervis, NY in the early 1950's. I remember as a little boy how smoky that terminal was as we got off the Erie passenger car to then move on to a hotel we were staying at in PA.
John Knapp
Erie, not Eerie
First one I remember the best is the B&O Cincinnatian streamline 4-6-2 went through Hamilton Ohio in the early to mid 50’s. When I was in the 1st grade 54-55 our1st grade class went to Cincinnati Union Terminal by buss and rode the Cincinnatian back to Hamilton that was the first steam engine I rode behind. I grew up about 75 yards from the B&O tracks.
I can't say exactly what the first steam loco I saw was since we lived in a house that had a direct view of the L&N depot at St. Matthews, Ky, an eastern suburb of Louisville. All of the trains serving Louisville from Cincinnati or Lexington went by this depot. In addition to the L&N trains, there were four C&O trains from Lexington each day. Only two passenger trains, one from/to Cincinnati and one from/to Lexington stopped here and there were two L&N local freights that served the station area which had a team track and few local industries.
So, the first steam I saw were likely L&N Pacifics, Mikados or Consolidations although Mountain types ran on a few passenger trains. L&N got their first road diesels, EMD E6's, the same year I was born and those ran past here, too. I fondly remember the locals stopping to set out and pick up cars and hot cinders shooting out of the stacks if they slipped on starting after dark.
I was always watching over the back fence or out of a window to see the action and later, as I grew bigger, going over to the station to view the action.
-JH
A New York Central Ten-Wheeeler on the Putnam Division, making a station stop at Van Courtland Park.
My first experience with steam was seeing a Pennsy L-1 Mikado backing down the main line toward Phila. at Merion Station PA. Early 1950s as I recall.
J
Being I was born 1962 I missed most of all the steam engines on the PRR.
I remember going to Altoona with my Mom and Dad, this is when all the shopping was in downtown Altoona. My Dad would drop off my Mom Gables and we would then go down by where the Altoona train station use to be and watch the trains for maybe an hour and then go back and pickup my Mom.
My Mom and Dad took us out to a steam train ride on the Penn View Mountain which is just east of Blairsville PA. off route 22
This was a steam engine but a very small one at that what I recall.
When growing up my 2 train sets I had where always steam engines but like most kids then teenagers the trains go away and cars and girls take their place.
This first big steam engine I ever saw but unfortunately from a distance was PRR K4s 1361.
This was when Doyle McCormick and crew did the first overall after it was moved from Horseshoe Curve and they ran a few test runs and excursions.
I seen the K4 go by on the main line below Bellwood from old PA State Route 220.
The people I was with at the time couldn't care less so I could not follow the engine to get a better look.
When my oldest son was born and Thomas the Tank Engine came on the scene the enthusiasm he had for trains started again with me. Now it was, lets go to Maryland and ride the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, Lets go to Steamtown, lets go to Cass for the weekend, "for my son of course"
So I have to say the first big steam engine that I ever seen up close was the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad steam engine.
I remember my son and I making our way to the front of the train in one of the cars with open doors and listening to the engine. I also remember my wife being upset because my son had a white shirt on that was now covered in soot!!!
No doubt the Western Maryland is impressive in it's own right great ride and a very nice crew.
But I think the most I was ever amazed and stood back and said wow!!! was last year in Altoona when Nickle Plate 765 came to town.
This to me was the most impressive piece of machinery I have ever witnessed.
Yes Steamtown has a Big Boy just sitting there, but to see NP 765 under steam was breathtaking!!!!
Then seeing it out on the road coming past the Brickyard grade crossing was again just breathtaking.
Great show guys!!!
Mark Strittmatter
TCA # 14-69917
WK&S 65 probably around 1994. My Grandparents took me to a car show they were having there, and took me down to ride the train.
After that, there were some trips to Steamtown around 97 or 98, but that was it...until 2011 when I decided to go to Strasburg. Now I'm off to see steam several times a year (now that I have wheels and the $$$ for gas)
Whoops, that one I missed was Strasburg Railroad and staying at the Caboose Motel.
The only place I know you could be on the toilet and in the shower at the same time!!!
Mark Strittmatter
TCA # 14-69917
Numerous Grand Trunk and CN steam locomotives, from switchers to mainline steamers, back in the 50s. I lived near Landers Yard in Chicago back then.
I'll never forget it. Chessie Steam special 1977-78. I was 12 and had my first camera... of coarse I could not find those pictures and they did not stand the test of time. My dad took me down to Southfield yard to watch everyone board, then we chased the locomotive back to Plymouth Michigan.
The following year it returned and I was able to ride my bike with my friends to go see it. It was cool to hear it in the morning... great summer.
There is a great website that host the stories of re-building the engine... great reading
I did not see it in the 1976 freedom train run, must have been cool.
Then in 1979 it was caught in a fire by vandals and permanently side lined... here it sits today at the B&O museum rusting away in the last photo... very sad.
A 0-6-0 Alco switcher at the Whippany Railroad museum in NJ was the first steam engine I ever saw operate up close, road on one of the last times it was fired up, c 1980, at the dedication of a new park in town.
Only other time with a steam engine was at Strasburg about 20 years ago. Haven't had the chance to get to Steamtown yet.
I first became aware of Steam Locomotives in 1939 when I was 3 years old.
They were swarming all over my home town of Wheelng, W. Va., which was a big steel and coal town in the northern panhandle of W. Va., about 50 miles south of Pittsburg, PA, another big steel town.
Steamers were constantly running on both sides of the Ohio River in Wheeling, and we heard their whistles all day and night, especially during the WW2 years, when huge shipments of coal and steel were going to war plants and shipyards from the Wheeling mills and mines.
A few years later, in 1942-44, I actually spent entire days in the cabs of switchers as a "guest" while my Dad and the Hogger assembed consists in the huge freight yards around the city, when my Dad had occasional yard duty from his regular job as a Fireman on the main line, keeping the boilers hot in Consolidations and Mikados.
Quite an experience for a 6 to 8-year old!
BAD ORDER
I first became aware of Steam Locomotives in 1939 when I was 3 years old.
They were swarming all over my home town of Wheelng, W. Va., which was a big steel and coal town in the northern panhandle of W. Va., about 50 miles south of Pittsburg, PA, another big steel town.
Steamers were constantly running on both sides of the Ohio River in Wheeling, and a person heard their whistles all day and night, especially during the WW2 years, when huge shipments of coal and steel were going to war plants and shipyards from the Wheeling mills and mines.
A few years later, in 1942-44, I actually spent entire days in the cabs of switchers as a "guest" while my Dad and the Hogger assembed consists in the huge freight yards around the city, when my Dad had ocasional yard duty from his regular job as a Fireman on the main line, keeping the boilers hot in Consolidations and Mikados.
Quite an experience for a 6 to 8-year old!
BAD ORDER
From Wheeling WV, There certainly plenty of RR steam for you to watch. I remember when the reading Steamer and C&O 614 came down 18th street? on their way to New Martinsville WV. What a sight.
Larry
To all of you who didn't include the DATES of your experiences:
You're depriving the rest of us of the historical periods of those events!
WHEN did you experience it...what year?
BAD ORDER
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