I had the chance to be a part of Train Festival 2009 in Owosso, Michigan. It was quite the event. Eight operating steam locomotives in one location. The three big steamers were the hometown favorite Pere Marquette #1225, Nickel Plate #765 which was recently rebuilt and getting to stretch its legs for the first time. And the long distance visitor the Southern Pacific #4449. Plus also visiting were the Little River #110 4-6-2, Little River #1 0-4-0T tank engine, Flagg Coal #75 0-4-0T, Viscoe #6 0-4-0T and the Leviathan #63 4-4-0 American. All of these steamers were under steam at various times throughout the event.
Myself and a friend left Milwaukee at 6am Thursday July 23 2009 on the Lake Express High Speed carferry to Muskegon. We had the pleasure of sharing the cruise with Jim Wrinn and Rob McGonigal from Trains magazine and Classic Trains magazine. The Lake Express moves across the lake at about 35mph, not sure what the would be in knots, but your moving. Weather was OK until about mid lake when it got real foggy. Then it cleared up in Muskegon.
Thursday we chased the inbound trip of the SP #4449 which was pulling the daily excursion. This trip was added due to the response to the #4449 Friday trip which sold out very quickly.
Friday we chased the northbound trip of the #4449. The excursions were about 50+miles one way from Owosso to Alma. In Alma the locomotive was turned on the wye. The line from Owosso to Alma is pretty straight and not real good for lighting, the train was always going in the wrong direction for good lighting. Friday afternoon we headed back to Owosso and did something a bit different. I got into a helicopter for the first time and we flew over the Train Festival. This was a small helicopter with NO DOORS. Pretty much like the helicopters seen on the MASH TV show. The pilot told me if I fell out I got my money back. We also wanted to catch the Little River #110 4-6-2 working the “hourly” train. We w
Keith - Good stuff! I was also there and thoroughly enjoyed the entire event. I didn’t ride - I do that all the time on the Adirondack. I preferred to watch the action from the ground.
One minor correction - the scale live steamers are 1.5":1’ (1/8 scale). There are apparently a couple of gauges, but it’s around 7.5". They’re still amazing.
Thanks for the correction on the gauge. I think our Zoo has 15" gauge steamers that must have been stuck in my head. Yes they are amazing especially pulling several car loads of people around, powerful little critters.
I think they just split a switch. Probably a bit more weight than the track is used to. The switch was spiked and ready for operation the next morning.
I was on the grounds Saturday for the couple of “showers” or downpours whichever you prefer. The tents filled up quickly, but the people in line for cab tours of #4449 and #1225 never got out of line. I ended up at the Milw #261 area of the tent both times. I helped move the headlight assembly and display table undercover so it would get ruined. I noticed alot of bags of wood shavings around to help soak up water in front of tables.
I have uploaded a couple of videos shot during Train Festival 2009. The first is of Nickel Plate #765 showing off its two different steam whistles. I didn’t know #765 had two different whistles until then. Below is a link to the video on You Tube.