I remenber i used to go every year until they stopped having it. iT sucks they dont have it anymore, i really thought is was really cool.
My father and I went about 10 yrs ago. UP 3985 was there as was ATSF 3751. Both on static diplay while we were there. Got to ride on an interesting passenger train. It was made up of the UP RR excursion car set that came in with the Challenger, but it was powered by 2 newer Santa Fe war bonnet GE’s (inlcuding Santa Fe #844 on the head). (Ironic number, eh?)
I happened to see Santa Fe #844 again just a few weeks ago at Corwith Ramp in Chicago. She looked like she’d been to hades and back. Perhaps suffered a fire. The paint job was in terrible shape, but there she was, still doing the job.
Nice event they used to have down there in Topeka. Lots of vendors, lots of trains to see.
On the way home, we stopped in nearby Lawrence KS at “Don Ball Curve” to watch some UP action. Cool to stand at the place where Don Ball took photos for his book “America’s Colorful Railways.” Man, I wore that book out as a young boy. This is Lawrence. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=49134
I had gone to the very first Railroad Days in Topeka and all the railroads brought several pieces of equipement. UP brought #844, Santa Fe brought a couple of their new GP50s and EMD brought couple of their demonstrator units. If memory serves me right they brought a GP60 and GP59. Santa Fe also brought some of their business cars and some of the very first double-stack container cars. It was good times!
Dblstk, I went to KU long enough ago that I actually used the UP passenger station in Lawrence. I see it apparently fenced off from the right-of-way in your photo, dated almost three years ago. Was the station being used for any purpose? Was the Overland Route herald still on the N. Mass bridge?
Larry
I went to the Topeka days a couple of times. I think I went to the last one. They were fun to go to. I went to Lawrence the other day and watched Union Pacifc trains cruise through the depot.
RR Days was held at Forbes Air Base just south of Topeka at Pauline. In 1994 the Katy Historical Society held their yearly meeting there in conjunction w/RR Days.
Ifish,
I’m not Dblstk, but hopefully I’ll do. To the best of my knowledge, the UP depot in Lawrence is now used as a Kansas information/gift shop. There were a few good places to park and photograph trains around that area, but don’t know if there are now.
I have been to some of the Topeka RR days festivals myself. My favorite one was when UP 3985 and exAT&SF 3751 were there as mentioned above. One memorable moment was when I was taking a picture of 3985. Just after I took the photo, the engineer, or someone in the cab, blew the whistle. A little boy a few feet in front of me, maybe 8 or 9 years old, just dropped to the ground in fright. His father was behind him and laughed as he told me that was the first time his son heard a steam whistle. I was instantly reminded of my similar [:0] encounter with the American Freedom Train, led by SP 4449, back in 1976.
Take care,
Russell