Hi group, I am bring my 84 year old dad to the US in September to visit North Platte. We arrive in LA on the 11th September & will be visiting in Missouri from around the 22nd till we return on the 25th. He is a former railway guard here (30 years ago). I wouldd like to take him to visit railroad related exhibitions, model, live steam etc on the west coast before we head to NorthPlatte and I am looking for suggestions. Travel arrangements are flexible as I have driven on other occasions whilst visiting, so we can fly/drive. My email address is brad@donovanelectrical.com.au. Thank you for you suggestions in advance, Brad Donovan.
I can’t help you, but I’m curious why (and I recognize Nebraskans might be insulted by my next statement for which I apologize) you are coming to the middle of nowhere USA?
Mark
Maybe “Somewhere USA” is overated?
[:D]
Everybody has to be somewhere. Is this a case if it’s not New York, your’e camping out?
Hi Brad,
I can think of a few ideas for you. The California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California would be a Great start, I haven’t been there in years but it was great then, they have the only remaining example of Southern Pacific’s Famous Cab-Forwards, unfortunately, it is just “Stuffed and Mounted” on display, not running.
Both the Nevada Northern in Ely Nevada, and the Sumpter Valley Railway in Sumpter, Oregon have Steam rental Programs, where You can rent their Locomotives, and they will take you out and teach You to operate the Locomotives. It is not cheap, but just about the ultimate rail-fan excursion you can think of. I did the Nevada Northern last Summer, their #40 a 4-6-0 type, plus they also have some Diseasels(pun intended[swg]), I did the two pack and also ran an EMD SD-9. I will be going to the Sumpter Valley the end of July, this year. I Hope to run their Heisler geared Steam Locomotive, but being a wood-burner it might be to late in the fire season to run her, but their 2-8-2 is an oil-burner and would be available if conditions don’t allow for the Heisler to run.
If You will be near St Louis, while you are in Missouri, the Transportation Museum there has many train related exhibits, including one of the eight remaining Union Pacific Big Boys. I will be visiting St. Louis in mid July, and I have heard and read that their collection is impressive.
I Hope You Enjoy your Visit,
Doug
I’ve been to the museum in Stl. Louis. Very extensive collection including and Aerotrain, a DD-40AX, a rotary plow, operating vintage street cars, a cut-away steam locomotive, a DC-3, a tug boat, and the Frisco 1522. I do not know if the 1522 is on public display. I believe she is. She is not “Stuffed and mounted” but merely “resting”. a few months work, and a backer who can finance the rediculous ammounts of insurance required these days and she’s be back on the rails where she belongs.
Hi V&AL,
I am looking forward to visiting the St. Louis transportation Museum very much. Does the AeroTrain have a complete consist including the “Tail Car”, just a partial consist, or is it the Locomotive only? What kind of condition is it in?
Thanks,
Doug
Brad,
Along with Doug, I’d put my vote in for the Nevada Northern Railway in Ely, NV. And while you 're there, “rent” a steamer or diesel for a 14-mile trip. [:)][tup]
Another one to consider would be the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in northern New Mexico. I haven’t been to either one but they both are on my “to do” list.
Lastly, would be the Durango & Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad in Durango, CO.
Tom
Here’s a sample of displays at the St Louis Transport Museum. I took the photos about 5 years ago. Another great museum is the Illinois Railroad Museum west of Chicago.
The Aerotrain was in rough shape with one loco and two coaches. (no tail car)
Any SP fans recognize the partial view of the front of a steam loco to the left of the MoPac observation car?
Hi Garry,
Thanks for the pics. I have heard that IRM has the other AeroTrain, do you know if it has it’s “Tail Car” or was it lost forever also to the scrappers torch?
Doug
Hi Brad: We’re just west of Fort Wprth Texas if you thin you would get down here. We have a 7 1/2 inch gauge track with about 8,000 ft run. If you go to AVW.org you can see a bunch of photos and track diagrame. If you’d like to come by let me know or contact Terry Mc Grath the track owner. Have a great trip.
Here’s a sample of displays at Illinois Riaroad museum from about 2 years ago. I did not see the Aero Train and did not hear it mentioned when there. They have plenty of steam locomotives, too.
Garry–
OHMYGAW!! St. Louis has a Milwaukee BI-POLAR??!! I’ve got to get out there, I thought they’d all been consigned to that Great Electric Heaven In The Sky! WOWSER!!
Tom [:P]
Hi Garry,
Thanks Again for the additional pics. I may have been mistaken about IRM having the other AeroTrain. I know that both are still around, and I thought that OI had read in a thread on one of the forums that IRM had the other, but maybe not.
Doug
Hi Garry,
There were actually three AeroTrains made, but the third which has been referred to as “The non-demonstrator model” was little different from the two better known models. According to Wikipedia (I know, don’t take as the gospel truth) IRM has the non-demonstrator model, while the second demonstrator version is at Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Doug
Doug … The IRM is SO HUGE, they could hide a complete AeroTrain easily.
Tom… Yes, the MILW bi-polar is there, and it was freshly painted when I took the picture. Coupled ahead of it is none other than B&O 50, the original EMC road passenger locomotive, a box cab in dark blue paint.
The St. Louis one is getting restored. Here is a relatively recent video that features it.
Thats exactly what I said!!! Thanks for this information guys. [tup] [8D]
Mark, you do realise don’t you that “the middle of nowhere USA” (North Platte, NE) is the home of Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard, THE Largest freight classification yard in the world, Right? Whether or not this is the reason, or some other, I don’t know but obviously rail related attractions are targeted on this trip, so North Platte would definitely fit their Agenda. There may well be other rail attractions in the area that I am unaware of, never having been to North Platte.
Garry, IRM is definitely on my “I’m gonna go there someday” list.
Simon1966, Thank You for the AeroTrain you-tube link. It was very interesting, and I am Happy to see the one in St. Louis is getting some much needed attention. Living in Portland, OR I grew up ( Some would debate that point[swg]) seeing our ZOO Liner, which is a 30" gauge replica of the AeroTrain. Also being a Union Pacific fan, and they were one of the RR’s that demo’ed the AeroTrain, and add it’s good looks, the AeroTrain has always interested me.
Brad, SORRY to have HIJACKED your thread, didn’t mean for it to get so off-topic.
Doug
Hi all and once again thanks. My wife is from the north east & her parents are now in Missiouri. So have had a few trips over, but as the wife is not a big train fan its hard to do when I’m with her, so when we found out that North Platte was having a big open day on that weekend, we thought it would be a nice Fathers Day present for my dad (& me), hence the trip into to “middle of no where”.
When ever my wife & travel to the US (2 to 3 times a year) we usualy under take a road trip with no end in mind, just to see what we see, but as time is limited with this trip, I need to make time to see what is available and from what I have been reading it is going to be a hard choice, I’m thinking that maybe an extra couple of weeks would be good, but as tickets are booked,might not be possible.
Once again thanks for all the posts & I am sure that my dad & I will be having a father/son holiday that will be remembered and talked about at the local “pub” for quite a while.
Brad