One thing I often wonder about is do you guys in America have many special trains run for rail fans? In Britain we have quite a lot, mostly using older passenger cars which are kept for such outings. As well as steam hauled specials we also have special trains run to give rail fans a chance to visit lines which are normally freight only. I went on one such trip this Saturday, which visited various freight only lines round London. With a lot of older diesel locos having been replaced there are now a number of preserved diesel locos that are allowed on the main line.
Many such trips are run in the USA, and some are noted in the back of TRAINS. In 1962 I had the privilege of riding a British fan trip, using a Terrier Tank engine (0-6-0T?), a Black Five (4-6-0) and a Manor (4-6-0). We covered a lot of territory, leaving from Waterloo Station and returning to St. Pancreas. Oxford was one point on the itinerary, and we visited the overhall shops at Reading(?).
Some of the finest fan trips were run by the Chicago Railroad Club under Marie Kliebolt’s direction. In the summer of 1960, 61, and 62, we had a coach and sleeper train with private car observation on the rear, platform open for sleeper passengers as well, and full dining service, from Chicago to Omaha behind Burlington 4-8-4 5632. Domes included. Steamer also used on the return trip. A 2-8-2 was used for the 1962 trip since 5632 was not available. Diesels took us to Denver, and until we returned to Chicago it was the Denver and Rio Grande Western’s show . Except that in 1960 we joined another fan group for an 844 excursion on the UP from Denver to Cheyenne (diesel) and then with 844 to Rawlins and back. In 1961 the train went to Craig and back instead. In 1962 it was out to Dotsero and back through Tennessee Pass and the Royal Gorge instead. Anyway, with some nightime running we would arrive in Alamosa early in the morning, leave our sleepers, and board the narrow-gauge equipment (coaches and gondola at the rear) for an all-day and into the evening ride to Durango. Then of course a day up to Silverton and back. In 1962 we also went to Farmington and had the Nomad private car on the rear to and from Silverton and the William Jackson Palmer private car on the rear to and from Farmington. Then an all day ride back to Alamosa and boarding the sleepers and then two nights and a day and half back to Chicago. There were photo stops and plenty of places, like at the overpass near Galesburg where the Santa Fe main crosses over the Burlington and we did wait for the AT&SF freight to pass by overhead.
The operative word about fan trips on this side of the pond is “had” rather than “have” although trips are still run, especially the Union Pacific under steam. Most of the fan trips today are run using Amtrak or local commuter authority passenger equipment and crews, and they rarely cover freight only trackage. Some of the regional railroads still do run fan trips, and a few of the freight carriers host an occasional “Operation Lifesaver” trip which are more for local government and public safety officials than for railfans, although many railfans chased them since they were often hauled by EMD E Units.
However it wasn’t always that way. In the late 1940’s and 1950’s many of today’s freight railroads were very cooperative regarding fan trips. The B&O and the New Haven come to mind. Then there wee a series of steam specials run by the Reading in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s.
The Southern’s, later Norfolk Southern’s, steam program was one of the better known series of trips, but it was discontinued in December, 1964 becasue the Norfolk Southern felt it could put the resources to run the special trains to better use.