If I had a time machine I would ride all the passenger trains that I have read about.
I would go back to the 1920’s. That decade has always interested me in terms of politics, baseball and rr history. I would also take a issue of ORG from say the 1950’s and plan a series of trips that would cover several wks. If possible, all overnight riding would be in a Pullman.
Sorry, guys! I’ve experienced some of the past, and read about some more of it. I’d rather go into the future, beyond what I can reasonably expect to see in my lifetime, and find out whether all of the things that are now being discussed actually make it to reality.
And maybe take my great-great grandchildren railfanning…
I would like to go, at least train wise, to the steam-diesel transition era to see the best of both worlds. Then I would go into the future just enough to meet myself and say "Listen, you are going to really screw up around this time…) but then there’s that whole changing the future thing.
First, I would jump back to 1971 to take photos and video of the CN in Toronto.
Second, I would jump back to 1968 to take photos of Kalamazoo, Michigan railroads.
Third, I would jump back to 1962 to get great color photos of the Soo Line from Chicago to Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Fourth, I would hop back to 1958 for more comparison photos of Kalamazoo, Michigan railroads.
Fifth, it would be great to finally get some sharp slides, photos, and video of the Sunset Lake Ice Harvest for the Grand Trunk Western in the Winter months between 1900-1910.
Sixth, I would zip forward to 1978 and 1988 to preserve the photos properly.
Seventh, Get to 1998 to digitally publish books and CDs of all the recorded information.
Andrew
…Time machine: I’d like to go back and visit The Late Great Pennsylvania Station in NYC as it was during it’s massive traffic {trains and travelers}, during WWII…as I had the oportunity to do back then as a rather young lad but with vivid memories of it…
Wouldn’t mind seeing and hearing {once more}, the massive B&O Steam engines pulling and pushing loaded coal trains uphill back on the S&C of the B&O near Kantner, Pa…as they passed our swimming hole and ash and small cinders raining down on the water next to us as they blasted past…Noted as 218 bridge…The actual number of the bridge the RR crossed right at our spot we swam in, in Stoney Creek.
And how about a little time to observe the massive traffic passing the Johnstown, Pa…Pennsylvania RR station platforms during WWII era…Passenger trains flying thru on some of the 4-track mains…!
Guess I’d settle for any of the above, but it would be great to have a shot at seeing them all…again.
It’s funny you should mention a time machine. I was born about a half a mile from the Missouri Pacific railroad tracks a few miles from Gads Hill (yes the Gads Hill of the Jesse James robbery) and I tried to convey to my grandkids the sights and sounds of the late 1940s steam power. The quiet of the rural country side at night. The sounds that my uncle would play on that whistle to let us know when he was going by. The sounds that a steam loco makes when it’s down to a crawl trying climb the hill, the drivers start to slip, the enginer lays on the sand, your back to a slow “chuff, chuff”. Some how it’s hard to translate to kids that live at “warp” speed. Thats what I need a “Time Machine”. [sigh]
Lee
…It is difficult to translate to someone of a more recent era the sounds echoing up the valley from a coal train working very hard to make the grade…A bit over 2% in my case of the location at 218 bridge. And if it slipped…the drivers would momentary speed up until the engineer “caught” it again and got his connection back with the rail. One could hear said train working up the valley for several miles on a clear quiet night.
Our home was about a mile and a half from that spot but the sound would be so clear. Some times the engines would get in sync…and then quickly back out of sinc with the chuffing, etc…Made for special sounds that almost can’t be translated to anyone that has never heard it.
I have a time machine… I call it a clock. [;)]
Seriously…
Modelcar
Amen brother [yeah]
Happy Railroading
Lee
From a railroad perspective, it would be interesting to go back to several eras in steam, just to see and experience what went on both with the equipment and the people who surrounded it.
It would also be interesting to see some places I’m familiar with in previous lives - when the station really was the center of attention in the town, etc.
Hmm I had not thought of jumping to the future i guess the machine works both ways. Interesting thought!
I’d say I’d head back to 1970. I’d start with two days of train-watching in Decatur, IN - seeing the EL, PC & NW again.
Then I’d have to get to Ft. Wayne somehow since I know the EL passenger service didn’t stop there then, and take the PC’s version of The Broadway Limited to Chicago, and I’d hop onto one of the MILW’s Cities trains to Marion, IA, where I’d spend another two days around Marion & Cedar Rapids, seeing the MILW, ROCK and ICG, with the CNW, Waterloo RR and CRANDIC thrown-in. I’d focus on the ROCK mostly.
From there I’d get up to Oelwein somehow (maybe hitch a ride on a ROCK job heading north on the Decorah line), and spend another two days watching the CGW and those glorious 8-engine lashups of F units.
From there I’d take the CGW north to St. Paul and spend at least 3 days seeing all my favorites here: MILW, ROCK, SOO, CGW, CNW, and I’m sure there’d be plenty of GN, NP & CBQ power in their pre-merger colors around for me to enjoy at Northtown Yard in Minneapolis.
Then I’d head back to St. Paul Union Station, and wait there for the last train I’d take: The train to Judgement Day, because after a trip like that, when I know that no such thing as a time machine is possible, I’d be dead.
Sorry - I just got done watching, The Bucket List, so I’m in that frame of mind.
I would either go to the 1970s with the Southern Steam program and see what i missed here in Alabama during that era. Or i would go to the 1950s and see steam in its final form and see the first generation diesels that replaced it. But definately headed to Cheyenne, Wyoming to see the Big Boys and up north to see the Nickel Plate Berkshires.
I’d like to see Richmond, IN, when it was a PRR stronghold, preferably steam era.
I’d like to see Continental, OH, when it was a crossroads of the NKP, how about way back, when traffic actually came west from Bellevue and went southwest toward Delphos, OH, at Continental.
I’d like to see the T&OC Eastern Branch in action, when there was a lot of coal traffic between Thurston, OH, and Toledo. Wouldn’t it be interesting to visit the beginning days of the first CTC operation in the U. S., centered in Fostoria?
…I’d go back to watch and ride and photograph and try to save the North Shore interurban. Then out to Colorado and do the same on all those narrow-gauge lines, then the standard-gauge lines…
Also…
…I’d go back to 1980 and buy some shares of some new company called Microsoft…
…I’d go back and try to save the Royal Library of Alexandria…
…I’d go back and try to find out more about this dude named Jesus…
Oh, the fun I’d have…
Going back to pre 1954 would suit me just fine![yeah]
I’d like to ride the Yellow Dog w9th Robert Johnson. Or park my bootie on a baggage wagon outside of RDG’s huge double-hung sash window at the D (dispatchers) office at Outer Station in Reading.
Rix
Being the mercenary that I am, I’d go back to the early 80s and sink every cent I had in an outfit known as Microsoft!!! Then back to 1915 and visit the NWofSC for a looong ride
…Wouldn’t mind seeing some GG-1’s flying past again.
And if we’re able to go back and pick some stocks…Give me some Wal-mart and Microsoft, early on…