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I've been looking recently for schedules from famous or infamous historical Railroads that show dates when things such as double headers and photo freights occur, and I've found really nothing other than for a few. For railroads such as the SRC, does anyone have a schedule for dates that show days when they'll be running double headers or photo freights, because I'm still bummed that I missed the SRC "Triple header" last year. Like, any railroad that has them please let me know!

Last edited by Rich Melvin
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RDGCO.Productions posted:

I’ve been looking recently for schedules from famous or infamous historical Railroads that show dates when things such as double headers and photo freights occur, and I've found really nothing other than for a few. For railroads such as the SRC,

What is "SRC"?

does anyone have a schedule for dates that show days when they'll be running double headers or photo freights, because I'm still bummed that I missed the SRC "Triple header" last year. Like, any railroad that has them please let me know!

 

Last edited by Rich Melvin
RDGCO.Productions posted:
Hot Water posted:

What is "SRC"?

SRC is the reporting mark for The Strasburg Railroad Company.  

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strasburg_Rail_Road

 

OK, must admit that I've never heard it referred to as that, especially since it is The Strasburg Rail Road. I really don't think that the vast majority of the visitors/riders the Strasburg operation would be familiar with the "reporting mark" for Strasburg.

At any rate, I'm not aware of The Strasburg Rail Road posting about when double headers operate, and the various "photo freights" are generally charters, and the members on the mailing lists for those charter organizations, generally receive private mailings/notifications.

RDGCO.Productions posted:

So I've been looking recently for schedules from famous or infamous historical Railroads that show dates when things such as double headers and photo freights occur, and I've found really nothing other than for a few. For railroads such as the SRC, does anyone have a schedule for dates that show days when they'll be running double headers or photo freights, because I'm still bummed that I missed the SRC "Triple header" last year. Like, any railroad that has them please let me know!

One thing I'll add is that a lot of photo charters intentionally try and keep the awareness low just because people "crashing the event" can often really mess up the works.  Because of that, most of these events are during the week, when the railroad has the crews available.  The Strasburg event was kept very low key for this reason.  That Strasburg charter was organized by Carl Franz, who if you send him an e-mail at cmfrr@aol.com, he might put you on the mailing list.  That said, most of these charters will be $200+ per day, and many will sell out in a few days because your limit is often in the 18-45 people range.  I think the Strasburg one was $325, but we got in almost 50 runbys---and the tripleheader was not announced.  That was a surprise to everyone.  If you want good photography options, they are a lot of fun, but they are catering to the photography crowd moreso than the "railfan" crowd.

RDGCO.Productions posted:
Hot Water posted:
RDGCO.Productions posted:

Well, there's this car with the name on it...

"... it has plain bearing trucks..."

Ah, but you see historical and even class 1 Railroads have put the casings or outerrior of older barring son the outside of rollers to make it look like there using old bearings, like how #60 on BR&W has it.

Sorry but, no Class 1 railroads do that.  Per the FRA and AAR, the old plain bearing cover lid MUST be removed, plus the bottom of the old oil lubrication cellar MUST be cut away, in order to expose the cartridge roller bearing to wayside hot-box detectors. Historic equipment, especially on museums and short line tourist railroads are a completely different story. 

For what it's worth, SP 4449 has had the engine truck, trailing truck, and all tender truck axles upgraded to roller bearings, yet due to her "historic status", all the old/original covers are still in place.

Kelly Anderson posted:
Hot Water posted:
RDGCO.Productions posted:
Hot Water posted:
RDGCO.Productions posted:

Well, there's this car with the name on it...

"... it has plain bearing trucks..."

Ah, but you see historical and even class 1 Railroads have put the casings or outerrior of older barring son the outside of rollers to make it look like there using old bearings, like how #60 on BR&W has it.

Sorry but, no Class 1 railroads do that.  Per the FRA and AAR, the old plain bearing cover lid MUST be removed, plus the bottom of the old oil lubrication cellar MUST be cut away, in order to expose the cartridge roller bearing to wayside hot-box detectors. Historic equipment, especially on museums and short line tourist railroads are a completely different story. 

For what it's worth, SP 4449 has had the engine truck, trailing truck, and all tender truck axles upgraded to roller bearings, yet due to her "historic status", all the old/original covers are still in place.

UP's tenders have the historic covers over modern AP bearings as well.

Kelly,

What UP "tenders" are you referring to? All the UP steam locomotives, and their tenders, that I have been around came from ALCO with roller bearings on all axles, even the auxiliary water tenders.

Kelly Anderson posted:

Right, but the historic, non-standard in today's world, as built roller bearings inside are long gone.  Take the box cover off, and you're looking at the rotating end cap of an AP bearing.

No, the original, as delivered, roller bearings are STILL just like they were on the tenders of 844, 3985, and 4014. The two auxiliary water cars have had their trucks rebuilt and up-graded to the big "GE" type diesel locomotive roller bearings (EMD units have "GG" type and GE units have "GE" type). 

Will Ebbert posted:

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum hasn't announced the dates for double headers yet, but all of the Summerville Steam Special dates can be found on our website. March 3rd is the start of the steam season with 630 on the Missionary Ridge Local and 4501 on the Summerville trip. Our photo freight is sold out.

Here's a link to the calendar.

https://www.tvrail.com/calendar

Will, it appears they have announced them on 4 dates: June 2nd, October 21st & 28th, and November 11th: https://www.tvrail.com/events-...rville-steam-special

J 611 posted:
Will Ebbert posted:

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum hasn't announced the dates for double headers yet, but all of the Summerville Steam Special dates can be found on our website. March 3rd is the start of the steam season with 630 on the Missionary Ridge Local and 4501 on the Summerville trip. Our photo freight is sold out.

Here's a link to the calendar.

https://www.tvrail.com/calendar

Will, it appears they have announced them on 4 dates: June 2nd, October 21st & 28th, and November 11th: https://www.tvrail.com/events-...rville-steam-special

Good eye! 

Are all plain bearings banned from class 1’s? I believe since 1994 because there were a ton of excursions steam and diesel in the 1980’s with friction bearing equipment on class 1 railroads like Conrail, etc. But did NS make exceptions with the recent steam excursions because I believe 630, 4501, and 765 have plain bearing drivers. 630 was converted to oil feed in 2012 the temp sensors were high during those long NS deadhead moves and excursions. It got sidelined for emergency repairs in Virginia and a diesel had to sub for two one way excursions to Bristol and Knoxville. Diesel a NS heritage unit also subbed for two mainline excursions out of TVRM’s station in spring 2013 I believe because 630 wasn’t ready yet. I think UP and BNSF are the only railroads that will continue to allow steam with paying passengers, NS not sure yet if they will ever allow another public excursion with 611. 611 is all rollers though and I believe Amtrak certified. But it’s probably other issues that will sideline 611 unrelated to whether or not it’s fit for the mainline.

Last edited by Robert K
Robert K posted:

Are all plain bearings banned from class 1’s? I believe since 1994 because there were a ton of excursions steam and diesel in the 1980’s with friction bearing equipment on class 1 railroads like Conrail, etc. But did NS make exceptions with the recent steam excursions because I believe 630, 4501, and 765 have plain bearing drivers. 630 was converted to oil feed in 2012 the temp sensors were high during those long NS deadhead moves and excursions. It got sidelined for emergency repairs in Virginia and a diesel had to sub for two one way excursions to Bristol and Knoxville. Diesel a NS heritage unit also subbed for two mainline excursions out of TVRM’s station in spring 2013 I believe because 630 wasn’t ready yet. I think UP and BNSF are the only railroads that will continue to allow steam with paying passengers, NS not sure yet if they will ever allow another public excursion with 611. 611 is all rollers though and I believe Amtrak certified. But it’s probably other issues that will sideline 611 unrelated to whether or not it’s fit for the mainline.

Yes, my friend tried to buy a caboose and move to over NS and they wouldn't allow it, same reason why #142 hasn't returned to the excursion possibilities. 

So tourist lines and museums with a connection to a class 1 if they buy or sell something they have to truck it or put it on a flat car if it is shipped via the class 1? But I saw NS move old coaches to Pottstown on their own wheels which are the ones at Colebrookdale. Same thing for the Kutztown operation, NS did move most of that stuff there on its own wheels. I think most old cabooses are not roller bearing. Strasburg did take a steam loco and a few coaches to Harrisburg on Amtrak for something a while back, how did they do that? A waiver? In 1985 and 1986 there were doubleheaded excursions with 7002 and 1223 with steel open window coaches on Amtrak and Conrail to Harrisburg and Philadelphia, can’t do that today. The rules were much more lax in 1985 than 1994 and up. I wonder how Amtrak even approved any steam movements on its 125 mph railroad. The steam train would hold up Amtrak trains going in the same direction if they were behind the steam train by several miles unless the Amtrak had several station stops.

Last edited by Robert K

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