Pages

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Our First Ride

We took our first ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad this afternoon and what a ride. Remember that we are in the MOUNTAINS so the rail bed has to go around the higher mountains and through the smaller ones. All this and not have a grade of more than 6%. Our conductor today told me that the GSMR has some of the steepest grades in the country, one that is 5.58%.

We didn’t notice the grades but the switch back turns were really something. It was really hard to get good pictures of this since we were in mostly heavy woods and lots and lots of rocks.

Tomorrows ride in the cab will have provide better pictures and some good video. If i can figure out how to insert them you will get to enjoy. For now here are some photos.


IMG_0176


This is the locomotive i will be riding in tomorrow. It is a GP-5 (1500hp) but repowered to a GP-9 giving it 1750 HP.





IMG_0184



This is a shot looking from the rear of the train at our stop at the Natahalla Outdoors Center for lunch.





After we returned to Bryson City we went to the Smoky Mountain Train Museum. I think i may have found a good layout to model our future one at the Historic Onley Station.

IMG_0198

It’s only 25 ft by 45 ft. Of course that will take up the entire station plus 10 ft. Might have to rethink this a bit. More tomorrow from the cab.

Grenville

12 comments:

Connie said...

Nice pictures! Enjoy the trip tomorrow.

DeniseinVA said...

So much fun to ride a train. Been on the metro but no long journeys. I haven't done that in many years. I've always thought it would be great to go across country in one.

Elaine said...

What fun! You'll have a totally different view from in the engine tomorrow. Enjoy yourself!

Anonymous said...

I like to ride on trains. Did that more frequently when I was a youngun...

possum said...

Have fun!

Diana said...

Wow, you are having a great time.. esp. love the cloud pictures from the last post! We are getting more rain today (Wed) not a lot but every little bit helps the garden.. enjoy and nice to hear from you! Love,Diana

MadSnapper said...

yet another wish i were there moment. i love riding trains and grew up riding them several times a year. what fun and the photos came out good, can't wait for the next set

Unknown said...

This is something we would really enjoy. A couple years ago we took the steam train ride from Winona, MN to home and back. So interesting.

Anvilcloud said...

You could build an addition to your house. After all, we must get our priorities straight.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful locomotive!
I and a work friend is just about to buy our starter model railroad sets next week (I the Z scale and he the HO) and we looked through the catalogue. American locomotives look so powerful and are so beautiful!

Are there any american model railroad makers or is it the European that is sold in the US too?

Looking forward to more photographs (and video)!

Have a great day!
Christer.

Anonymous said...

Have you ever been to Roadside America in Pennsylvania? The museum that you visited reminded me of the Roadside America attraction.

Theotherjew said...

Once in Ukraine I got to ride on the cow catcher with the video guy. No OSHA in former-Soviet republics. It was climbing the Carpathian Mountains, pretty slow and very exhilarating.
Enjoy!