The Strasburg Railroad Thread

[TheJJ]

                                                  
                                                 The Strasburg #475!
Now just out of curiosity #475 was the normal engine used in Thomas and the Magic Railroad, right?
(Yes the thread is in larger print but this is a largre deal since I am going to Strasburg tomorrow and I would appreicate if I could get an answer as soon as possible).
+PLUS+ The Strasburg Railroad is a big deal to the Thomas and Friends universe...examples?
Footage for 10 years of Thomas and Friends was shot here,
#475 was the engine used in TatMR (RIGHT?),
..it has one of the most popular Day Out with Thomas events in the US!
So I feel this great Railroad deserves a Thread...but in this thread we don't have to talk about how it relates to Thomas we can talk about it in general!

[BillingsRR]

No. 475 was the engine pulling the Rainbow Sun, which consited of Strasburg coaches. This is where the 10 years of Thomas Event was filmed. And I would say the have the most popular DOWT on the east coast, possibly the nation.

[TheJJ]

My trip was amazing! And although I rode on the #90, #475 was the engine that pasted by.
Fun Fact:
Strasburg is the only Railroad that has two trains scheduled to pass each east of the Mississippi!

[BillingsRR]

I think it is also the only place in the USA with two steam engines that still pass each other daily.

[J3a-614]

Ah, yes, and Strasburg is one of the few places to see steam in regular, revenue freight service, including this train that was heavy enough to call out their diesel switcher for pusher service:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HuuvS1t4fw&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7BmVqkwr9Q&feature=related

The 475 has worked freight, too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQM4BVd0W1M&feature=related

Of course, for a real trip back in time, you need to go on a photo charter (which I haven't done, at least not here):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goM_7b7Vlos

And that includes operations in winter, too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgSolc8Nb5k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJPzZLur4ho&feature=related

It's not always fun, at least for the people at Strasburg. . .although we may well appreciate their efforts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGYJRsiuHEM&feature=related

Have fun.

[TheJJ]

Its a shame they don't use the old but gold self powered Thomas for the DOWT events.

[J3a-614]

Ah, but at Strasburg, they do use a "real Thomas;" check out these clips from just last month:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J0IMbHe8e4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOwBZ30tNk&feature=related

[TheJJ]

I could have swore they changed it.

[BillingsRR]

Nope, Strasburg built their own coal-fired engine (The only coal-fired Thomas in the USA, the other is oil-fired) along with five "dummy" or "boxcar" Thomases for other railroads.

[TobyTheTram16]

One of the many "dummy" Thomas models

[PasqualeCS96]

Whay are they dummy thomases?

[BillingsRR]

They are "dummy" Thomases because they do not move on their own power, they just whistle and blow steam. That is why there is always another engine behind them or on the other end of the train. They look real, but the actual engines were made out of former American engines, so they still carry the typical American parts. It is also cheaper to operate, and rent, the dummy Thomas versus Strasburg's coal-fired engine or the narrow gauge oil-fired engine.

[Calebtrain]

I know everyones going to hate me for this but, I like the "dummy" Thomas better. I know it doesn't have its own power but it looks much more accurate. The Strasburg Thomas has a chasis that if you removed the middle wheel, It would almost be Percy's chasis. Plus he has Cowcatchers! I'm just giving my opinion. Please noboby start bashing me!

[BillingsRR]

He has to have cowcatchers, it is the law in America for steam engines, they must have cowcatchers.

[Calebtrain]

He has to have cowcatchers, it is the law in America for steam engines, they must have cowcatchers.

I did not know that, Learn something new everyday I guess. Thanks for the info!