O.K. I know I’m a little early but I could not wait.
We are within a week of the end of 2005 and I was thinking back on the last year of railroading. What are some of your most notable rail memories? Be it the steam excursion you went on, a derailment you saw, or a rare train you chased across the state, I would like to hear about it here.
For me the most notable was the UP Derailment at Galt, Illinois in early May. It happened in my area and I was able to get up close and photograph a lot of the wreck. Trains Magazine even published one of my pictures (September issue).
This derailment is what really got me into railfanning I just happened to meet some other trainspotters at the derailment site and they turned to on this forum.
I also had a very nice round trip on the Alaska Railroad this year that stands out as a high point, and then theirs the hike my brother & I took to the abandoned Winston Tunnel (CGW) near Galena Illinois. I had done a lot of reading about this tunnel, the men that built it, the trains that ran through it, and the interesting ventilation system it utilized. Standing at the west portal marveling at the fan house and all the work it took to make this tunnel, in the distance you could hear the trains blast their horns as they ran along the Mississippi on the BNSF Route to the Twin Cities. If you closed your eyes you would swear that the line was still in service.
But enough about my year how about yours, drag out the pictures and tell us about your year in railroading.
Later Bill