Mr. Jacobson's passing, and my thoughts back to Steam Fest 2004 brought this though to my mind (I have a strange mind!): what moments do you consider to be some of the best\most unique in your travels? Mine are, in no particular order:
1. Catching a glimpse of some of the last trolley cars in Cleveland before being shipped off to NORM (no of course I didn't have my camera!).
2. Riding behind NKP 765 on the CVSRR for Steam in the Valley, twice! Really fun, great pictures, and I also got to see an rare FL9 to boot.
3. The aforementioned Steam Fest 2004: where else will I ever ride behind a 4-8-4 again? Or sit in the cab of multiple steamers, and diesels, including an FM switcher?
4. Riding the Shinkansen: again more than once, including out to Atami. Even though the Shinkansen is less romantic than steamers etc., it sure is efficient, comfortable, and fast.
5. Being able to see some other sights in Japan related to railroading that were pretty unique, including a small preserved steam tram loco (stuffed and mounted), some 1920s GE electric locos on display, seeing a Odakyu Romance car of one of the early series that's being\been phased out, and riding on a two deck Kyoto subway train.
6. Visiting the Lakeshore Electric Museum, when it was still in Cleveland after Trolleyville closed down. I got to see the bulk of the collection when it was still together, sit in a O&W bobber caboose, try my hand at a handcar, and play "Shave and a Haircut" on the trolley gong of a ex-Shaker Heights car.
7. Visiting the B&O Museum, really a beautiful collection of Antebellum locomotives and equipment.
8. Visiting the Lincoln Funeral Car in Worthington, and riding behind the Levianthan. Especially fun since I work in an 1850s era house as a docent, so horsehair sofas and coal stoves are very familiar to me, and generated a conversation with Dave Kloke! Also, on that tour apparently someone donated a part of a link and pin coupler to Kloke&co, which was a neat factoid to pick up.
That's all I can think of at the moment... what do you guys think? Any favorite moments you'd like to share\relive?
