My best day ever (so far) with trains, and I know that this may sound simple, sappy even, but…It was last summer I took my 7 year old son up to Steamtown in Scranton, Pa. As we walked through the parking area toward the old round house, now museum. His eyes exploded, his jaw hit the ground and he was off on run of which an olympian would be proud. What could do this—The Big Boy! We’d read many stories about this mamouth, he’d seen many videos regarding this legend. But now right in front of him there it was. He looked over at me and said ‘Dad do you know what this is?!’ He knew, I knew. He went on and on, the driver size, the firebox, the speed…
Yep, a great day, I felt like a good dad, I have brought forth a new railfan![:D]
Well I would have to say it was at Dagget Ca in May 03. I went their as the sun came up over the desert & saw a UPRR military train entering the BNSF on track 1 on track 2 at the same time was a Amtrak WBer at speed & on track 3 was a BNSF EBer ntermodal train at speed. From a train watching stand point had to be the most exciting thing I think you can see. Another was at Marana AZ when we saw the UPRR bullet train at full speed. One second it was coming over the a rise & the next 2nd it was where we were standing. The ground trembled as it went by. [:o)]
Paul
your son and my son would get along great.
stay safe
Joe
Your seven year old son knows stats on driver size and the firebox? I would have been impressed if he looked at it and called it a Big Boy. Congrats on having a Rail Savvy kid!
My best day was my first trip to the Cu mbres and Toltec Scenic. By far the closest experience this 24 year old will ever have to seeing true steam railroading. Started the day with the 463 waking me up in the middle of the night from the campground at Cu mbres Pass, and ended it with a night photo shoot of 487 simmering away. A truly cool day.