Train Stuff
Today's "Anything Goes" entry celebrates trains. Everybody loves trains, even communists.
This first photo shows a beautiful miniature locomotive that was once located at Crandon Park, Florida (famous for its miles of sandy white beaches). From what little I could glean online, this 2 foot gauge train debuted around 1949, and was powered by gasoline rather than live steam. Accounts vary, but it seems to have operated until the mid-1970's, when it was replaced with a completely different train - but as of now none are still there.
This next picture is from July 1971, and it features the California Western Railroad (affectionately known as the "Skunk Train") up in Mendocino County, California. Wikipedia sez, The CWR runs steam and diesel-powered trains and rail motor cars 40 miles (64 km) through redwood forests along Pudding Creek and the Noyo River. Along the way, the tracks cross some 30 bridges and trestles and pass through two deep mountain tunnels. Sounds pretty neat! The locomotive dates back to 1885 when, as the Fort Bragg Railroad, it hauled redwood logs to lumber mills.
And I'm throwing this one in as a bonus, even though I don't have any info about it. At first I thought it might be another view of the Skunk Train, but there is a sign on the building to the extreme left, and I think it says "Burlington Route", which operated throughout the Midwest.
10 comments:
Trains!!! Groovy.
My gosh I've never heard of the "Skunk Train" is it still in operation!? If so I oughtta go ride it.
Trains are cool!!! Thanks for posting these.
Vintage trains are the coolest and yet due to cost are rapidly becoming "static" displays of our past. Beyond the fun of a joy ride trains shaped this country. Being Armed Services Day think of (before air travel) how many service men and women rode trains to get to base or home to visit family. Cool pix thanks again.
Chiana, as far as I know the Skunk Train is still doing its thing!
Alonzo, why doesn't my calendar tell me that it is Armed Services Day? Weird. It is hard to NOT think of movies in which soldiers are saying goodbye to their families.
Nice pictures! There's just something about a train!
I rode the Skunk train with my family back in the 1990's when we lived up in the area. Very fun, and very scenic. You can ride outdoors or inside. It took us to a picnic area where we had lunch, then we rode it back to the depot.
I love trains - especially the steam trains. Back in the early 1990's we took a trip and stayed overnight in Ft. Bragg. Got up early to watch the train come out and then took the half day round trip to North Spur. So much fun. And yes, they are still doing this.
http://www.skunktrain.com/index.html
Pudding Creek? Sounds delicious! Let's put on our Bill Cosby sweaters and jump in!
I live in Northern Calif. and the Skunk Train is indeed still active EXCEPT for the fact that one of its tunnels caved in in April. They estimate they'll need $300,000 to excavate and repair it, and are appealing to local groups and crowdsourcing for funding. It's a great attraction and I'm sure will be up and running in no time. Details at www.skunktrain.com.
I love trains...even one named after a skunk. Great shots!
The second picture is of the Black Hills Central (1880 Train) in Keystone, SD. It runs to near Mt. Rushmore. The picture is from the 1960s-1990s when the route was quite poorly maintained and for a while still run by Burlington. It had an unused 3rd rail from a complicated enthusiast narrow gauge train and Burlington std. Gauge trains agreement from the 1960s. Those 1/2 open coachs there have been retired due to structural issues (sag roof) now that the new owners have plenty of historic wooden cars.
Jacob, thanks for your info. These slides were mixed in with other train slides (including some Black Hills Central images that are on this blog); I can't remember if these were mislabeled or if I just got it wrong!
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