I am searching for locations where one can pay to operate a locomotive. Are there any places that are not in Nevada or California?
Yes! I had a whole thread up on this under US Guest Engineer programs. It is not a current thread though, so I will message you the info. I wanted to post here for others wondering. Also, go to railroad data.net for some other resources, too. [:D]
Where can you go to operate a locomotive? The currant Kalmbach guide to tourist railroads and museums has several listed. One that springs to mind is the Valley Railroad in Connecticutt. The Williams Grove Association in Williams Grove PA. has a steamer you can run, it’s also the last operating Pennsy steamer.
Thanks; I didn’t know of that book as a resource. I have pulled my thread back up out of ‘storage,’ so go check it out! It is under Gen Disc. Enjoy!! Let me know if you want any more info !!
We live in Wisconsin. Are there any places in the Midwest?
The ones I know of are:
Midwest:
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Fort Wayne Indiana RR historical Society
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Monticello (IL) Railway Museum ‘Throttle Time’ $100 for 30 mins
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Midwest Central RR Mt Pleasant IA is planning one for 2012 but I am unsure of the dates at this time. THIS IS STEAM, folks!!
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Please be sure to verify any/all info with that RR
AWESOME!!! Thanks so much!!!
You are very welcome, happy I could help!! ENJOY; it was the start of the best days of my life!!
New Hope & Ivyland in New Hope, Pa.
Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, CA., for further info. go to oerm.org
The East Broad Top in Rock Hill Furnace, Pa. has a engineer for an hour program and a “railroader for a week” program in the summer, if you would be interested. Details on their web site, ebtrr.com
Tim
Thanks very much for that info; that’s a new one to me. I’m glad to know this now. Thanks again!!
We are lucky up here in Connecticut.
Located along the Connecticut River just off I-95 we have “The Essex Steam Train & River Boat”. They operate two Steam Locomotives with a third one about to join in the operation. Two “Mikado” (2-8-2)class and one “Consolidation” (2-8-0). They have Train Rides, Train Rides combined with an hour cruise on the Conneticut River, and a Dinner Train.
If you want your hour driving steam you make a reservation. You then will receive home study material including a copy of a 1918 locomotive manual. On your selected day, you sign release forms and attend a class that includes a test. You then have one hour as engineer, just you, a licensed engineer, and a fireman in the cab. I was told “you’ve got 8 miles of track and 5 grade crossings, Don’t Hit Anything”!
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum has a guest engineer program. Located in North Judson, Indiana.
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, IN. About 45 miles southeast fo Chicago. Closed for train service until May 2012, but open after that. There is both a guest engineer (locomotive run, teaching handling and usually couple and pull one car) Throttle time ( mainline run with several cars teaching handling a train with load). www.hoosiervalley.org
Sumpter Valley Railroad, located about 25 miles southweat of Baker City Oregon has a wood fired Heisler #3 available in their “engineer for a day” program. Generally the season is June thru sept but arrangements can be made I believe. See www.svry.com
“Sumpter Valley Brakee” - Welcome to Trains.com! [tup]
Illinois Railway Museum in Union Ill. has a regular “Take the throttle” program for diesels and some of their electric equipment.
At our Silver Creek & Stephenson Railroad in Freeport, Illinois we frequently let interested parties run our 1912 built standard gauge 36 ton coal burning Heisler steam locomotive. The last three years we have set aside a particular date for the “throttle time” and firing. We have also added a photographer’s special the last two years. Tentative date for 2012 is May 26th. Arrangements for throttle time can usually be made most any day that we operate as well. Guests that have participated in the past have often commented on how reasonable the cost is, especially in comparison with other such programs offered by other organizations. Granted, our line is only 1.72 miles in length and most runs are about 35 minutes in length. More information can be found on our website. The 2012 schedule is not out yet but will be similar to the 2011. There is contact information for the throttle time event as well as running at other times. I am actually the person you will be contacting.
Roger Holmes
The Florida Railroad Museum has a Locomotive rental program