great places to visit

[Terry Toenges]

Tehachapi Loop - Where the train crosses over itself.


Golden Spike National Historic Site - Reenactment of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.

[richG]

Not sure it qualifies as "great" but can be an interesting spot to spend a little time: The Wilmington & Western here in Delaware.

www.wwrr.com

Ned

Hi Ned

Thanks for the link. I was a NASA Contractor from 1970 to 1984 at Wallops Island, VA and was never aware of the road when I use to travel North up Rt 13. Maybe I will get down that way in the future.

Rich

[jsmvmd]

Dear Ned,

A very nice little rr that I used to pass on the way to the Jersey Shore.

Rich,

Many times we stopped at Wallops info center on the way to Chincoteague.  How the heck did you fight all those pesky green heads?
What did you do there, or would you have to shoot me if you told?

Best Wishes,

Jack

[Paul W.]

The Wilmington and Western has just done ALOT of reconstruction work, and is a nice ride. Plus it's all done by volunteers!
The Strasburg RR is the oldest running short line still in operation since 1832

http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/

Plus while you are visiting the Strasburg, you can just walk across the street to visit the RR museum of PA.

http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/

If you wanted to spend a weekend in the mid atlantic area, there are alot of areas to visit to see steam!

[richG]

Dear Ned,

A very nice little rr that I used to pass on the way to the Jersey Shore.

Rich,

Many times we stopped at Wallops info center on the way to Chincoteague.  How the heck did you fight all those pesky green heads?
What did you do there, or would you have to shoot me if you told?

Best Wishes,

Jack

I sent you a direct email. Off subject.

Rich

[pdlethbridge]

On a trip back from Scanton, I came across this viaduct/ Totally awesome.
http://www.historicbridges.org/pennsylvania/tunkhannock/index.htm



Key Facts
Bridge Name    
Tunkhannock Viaduct
"Nicholson Bridge"    Railroad (St Lawrence and Hudson / Norfolk Southern) Over Tunkhannock Creek    Nicholson: Wyoming County, Pennsylvania    Concrete Deck Arch, Stationary    1915 By: Flickwir and Bush
Technical Facts
length-2375 Feet (723.9 Meters)    
span height-180 Feet (54.9 Meters)    
Width-34 Feet (10.4 Meters)    
Total height-240 Feet (73 Meters) 
spans-12 (2 buried in approach fill)    

[richG]

If any of you ever drive the Florida Keys, you can see a lot of the Florida Keys railroad. There is a passenger car at Pigeon Key where Henry Flagler's workers stayed in buildings on the island. Tours take you down the old railroad bed/road to view the structures. You would not expect to see a railroad car in the middle of the Keys. I traveled the railroad bridges converted to car brdiges in 1960 and was very aware of how narrow the roads were. Some times cars or trucks would knock off the drivers outside mirror. The converted bridges were all replaced by 1980.

Here is a photo I took of a steel bridge that was converted to a road after the hurricane of 1935. The original tracks are inside the steel bridge.



http://overseasrailroad.railfan.net/

http://www.pigeonkey.net/history.html

http://overseasrailroad.railfan.net/views.htm

A building was put up in Key West that resembles the old train station.

I have done this route in 2007 and 2008 as I like exploring where there are not many people.

Rich

[SteamGene]

http://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/exhibit/video/4-minutes-wunderland/

Longest video I've seen of this extravaganza.  Next time I'll close my eyes when the double headed Challengers go by. 
Gene

[jsmvmd]

Dear Rich,

Not sure if the email got through my spam filter.  And me liking SPAM!

Best Wishes,

Jack

P.S.  Very interesting pix of the FL Keys.  I have been there twice with family, but did not see any of that.  What is the part Arnie blew up in True Lies?

[jayl1]

P.S.  Very interesting pix of the FL Keys.  I have been there twice with family, but did not see any of that.  What is the part Arnie blew up in True Lies?
[/quote]

I believe that was Seven Mile Bridge.  BTW the History Channel had a documentary on the destruction of the FEC along the Keys during a hurricane in the 1930(??)s.  It was amazing what Flagler did in that time period!

It is a nice drive & some of the original bridges are used as fishing areas. BUT I would not want to be there with a hurricane approaching - long stretches of road are 2 lanes  in many places.

[Terry Toenges]

We've been to Key West a few times. The last time was probably 12 years ago.
I get a real uneasy feeling on those bridges when the sky darkens and the wind and rain start.
If you are of a nautical mind, take a day cruise on the Schooner Wolf out of Key West.
We've done that a couple of times. What a really peaceful and enjoyable time (until the sky darkens and the wind and rain start). There's a guy named Rich McKay that plays guitar and sings seafaring ballads on the cruise.

[richG]

Here are a couple more from the Florida Keys.
Railroad car.



Rail bridge converted to vehicle bridge. The rails where used as guard rails after the 1935 hurricane destroyed the railroad.


This bridge, the railroad was "inside". The vehicle bridge was on "top" after the railroad was wiped out.


Rich

[Michigan Railfan]

Pike's Peak Cog Railway is only 25% maximum grade, but still a breath taking ride.

http://www.cograilway.com/history.htm

I second that.