Trains

Taking a Short Break

December 28, 2019 These two men were taking a short break while the Union Pacific “Big Boy” steam engine was being decoupled from the George Bush 4141 engine in Palestine, TX. I found it very interesting how many people were working (and some waiting) to take 4141 off the main track, move it to a side track, then reconnect Big Boy to the rest of the train in preparation for their departure the following morning. “I like trains. I like their rhythm, and I like the freedom of being suspended between two places, all anxieties of purpose taken care of: for this moment I know where I am going.” ~ Anna Funder Thank you for your comments and critiques. They are always make me so happy thank thankful. I’m grateful to this community for teaching me something new each day. Have a grand day, and perhaps a new adventure! Linda

Durango - Silverton

December 27, 2019 The ride on the Durango/Silverton train (Colorado) provides some of the most gorgeous scenery to all those who are on the train. The landscape is majestic. This is one of the photos I took during that ride. I liked the big plume of steam from the engine. “I yearn for mountains that I have never even seen.” ~ Unknown Thank you for your comments and critiques, they are much appreciated. Have a day full of adventure today my friends! Linda

Big Boy……..Moving On

December 19, 2019 Even though you can just barely see the historic Union Pacific Big Boy Steam Locomotive to the far right of the frame, you can see the steam plume. When the train stopped for the night in College Station, TX they picked up the George H.W. Bush engine which traveled from there to Palestine, Texas where it was removed and returned to its home at the President’s Presidential Library. The man front and center is my stepson Robby, Bill’s son. To the far right you can see a portion of Bill with Abigail, one of the Grand twins. “There’s something about the sound of a train that’s very romantic and nostalgic and hopeful.” ~ Paul Simon. Thank you for your comments and critiques, they are always appreciated. Have a fun day today my friends! Linda

Debris in the Steam

December 3, 2019 Here’s another Union Pacific 4014 “Big Boy” Steam Engine photo. I was intrigued by the amount of debris that the steam blew up off the sides of the tracks. View this in larger sizes so you can see it too. Chasing Big Boy for a day was a great family outing that was a load of fun. “At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. And with boiling water, comes steam. And with steam you can power a train.” ~ S. L. Parker Thank you for your comments and critiques, they are very much appreciated. Have a powerful day today my friends! Linda

Rocky Mountain High

November 14, 2019 This is a shot at a pretty high altitude in the Rockies as we traveled by train from Durango to Silverton, Colorado. In this image you cannot see the Engine as it is already around the far curve. The landscape is beautiful. You can see the Animas River far below. We’ve been on a few train rides over the years. We really like it when we can ride with an old steam powered engine. This ride is certainly one of the most beautiful we’ve taken. “I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery, air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, “This is what it is to be happy.”” ~ Sylvia Plath Thank you for your comments and critiques, they are always appreciated. Have a Rocky Mountain High day today. Linda

The Big Boy………

November 12, 2019 This past Saturday our family watched the “Big Boy” which is Union Pacific’s 4014 Steam Locomotive. It is the largest steam engine in the world weighing in at 1.2 Million pounds. It has a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement. This photo is of the train leaving Jewett, Texas. We then went to Palestine to see it come into town. Us and about 50 other people watched it from a Highway overpass. I’ll post a could of those photos later. For me, one of the coolest things was (which we didn’t know when planning the trip) that during the stop in College Station, the President George H.W. Bush diesel engine 4141 was added to the train. It was removed in Palestine and taken back to G.H.W.B.’s presidential library. It was said, that this particular run would be 4141’s last run. The 4141 is behind the first diesel engine, but it is very hard to see anything other than the top of it in this shot because the ground steam has obscured it from view. Thank you for your comments and critiques, they are all appreciated. Have a day full of adventure today my friends! Linda

Durango to Silverton Train

October 8, 2019 One of the great treats we gave ourselves while on vacation recently was to ride the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Train. The Engine was steam fired by coal. As I mentioned on an early post, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride and the beautiful lands that we traveled through. We were the last car which gave us some great views of nearly the whole train as it went through some of the curves in the track. In this shot, I am hanging out the window near our table. There’s just something so calming about a train ride. One of the common sayings in our family is that “it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.” And so, riding in rail cars gives you a wonderful journey to enjoy and explore via your eyes and camera. “A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.” ~ Moslih Eddin Saadi. Thank you for your comments and critiques, they are always appreciated. Have a day full of doing things that provide you with fun. Linda

Making Friends

October 4, 2019 While on vacation, we rode the Durango to Silverton narrow gauge steam train. Shortly after we got on the train, Bill started talking to guy at the table behind ours. He was a car guy. So, it wasn’t long before the guy across the aisle asked Bill if he worked for Americase (Bill was wearing one of the company shirts) and of course after telling the gentleman that he was the founder, they started talking for a long time. This man owned several of Bill’s early cases and still carries them to Africa nearly every year. I can’t take that man anywhere! LOL. Of course, he says that about me too. 😊 He’ll talk to a fence post. Just kidding. Disclaimer: Bill had ridden this train before, it was my first time. So, we were very happy doing our own thing. He was visiting and making new friends. And I was doing my thing, enjoying the scenery and taking photos. It was GREAT – we were both doing what we love to do. This is an iPhone photo. “Be like a train; go in the rain, go in the sun, go in the storm, go in the dark tunnels! Be like a train; concentrate on your road and go with no hesitation!” ~ Mehmet Murat Ildan Thank you for your comments and critiques, always appreciated. Have a fine day my friends and make a new friend! Linda

Case is excited about the 844 Steam Engine - and he's got a high perch on Grandpa's shoulders.

Today Is A Red Letter Day For Me! - Yay!!

May 24, 2018 I'm happy to say that this is indeed a "Red Letter Day" for me. Today is my last day of work in the corporate world! I start the next chapter of my life tomorrow. I'm excited to see where it leads me. And..........tomorrow evening, Bill and I leave for a twelve day vacation in Ireland. We're very excited to explore that country. This will be the first time in 30+ years where I've taken a vacation and not had to worry about checking work emails, or being on conference calls. I think it's going to feel great. I will be off SM for two weeks for sure. Maybe longer. I'm having a minor surgery on June 25th and will be in a neck brace for 6-8 weeks. The brace will preclude a lot of computer work. So I'll just see how it goes, and how much I can do on the computer in a day. I'll miss you all and will try to comment on your photos as I can. Just know that even though I'm MIA from SmugMug for the next several weeks, I'll be back again as soon as I can be. For those of you that are FB friends I'll post a few iPhone pics from the vaca. Look for lots of the Emerald Isle photos on SM starting in July. This is a photo from the rail yards in Chama, New Mexico. It was taken in May, 2017. Have a fabulous day! Linda

New Mexico Rotary Snow Remover

March 18, 2018 This weathered old rail car/machine, is one of the great relics in the train yard at Chama, New Mexico. I thought the old wooden rail car, which certainly shows its age, had a great bit of character. Best viewed in larger sizes. "Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow." ~ Langston Hughes Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have a 'red-letter' day my friends! Linda

Step Back Into Time

November 19, 12017 These old wooden rail cars are certainly a step back in time. I love the weathering of the old wood, and the fading paint. "Mickey Mouse popped out of my mind onto a drawing pad 20 years ago on a train ride from Manhattan to Hollywood at a time when business fortunes of my brother Roy and myself were at lowest ebb and disaster seemed right around the corner." ~ Walt Disney Thank you for your comments and critiques. Keep the faith today that something good is just around the corner. Linda

The Chain

October 31, 2017 I found this color-coordinated chain in the rail yard of the Cumbres Toltec which is home to the narrow gauge train in Chama, New Mexico. It caught my eye because its color so perfectly matched the pipe it was partially wrapped around, and also was complemented by the color of the wooden rail car. "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." ~ Nelson Mandela Thank you for your comments and critiques. Best viewed in larger sizes. Happy Halloween! Linda

Miles of Railcars

October 12, 2017 This photo was taken in the train yard of the Cumbres and Toltec narrow gauge railroad in Chama, New Mexico. We were there in the Spring of 2017 and being that I am married to "Head Train Nut" we spent a lot of time roaming through the miles of train cars. Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have an awesome day! Linda

Rio Grande

August 21, 2017 While on our vacation this past May, we spent some time in Chama, New Mexico. Chama is the starting point for the Cumbres & Toltec train ride. The ride goes from Chama to Antonito, Colorado. We didn't ride the train during this trip as it had not started it's annual summer schedule when we were there. Bill has ridden it before. It's a wonderful trip, according to him. We wandered around the old rail depot and the surrounding maze of old rail cars. We saw hundreds and hundreds of cars. This is a photo of the side of one of the wooden cars that were parked at the depot. It was quite fun to see all the old railcars. "I come from a line of railroad men. My great-grandfather was a surveyor for the Burlington Railroad." ~ Bill Moseley Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have a wonderful day! Linda

She's Seen Better Days

February 16, 2017 This old train car has certainly seen better days, but I liked it for many reasons. It was in an overgrown storage lot with other cars. I was attracted at first by the great red color on the old wood. Then for the curious "roof-like" structure that is metal. And finally, I liked the old Venetian blinds in some of the windows. I thought they seemed a little out of place, but who knows - maybe having them in the passenger cars was normal back in the day. "I love to wear red lipstick a lot, even in the daytime." ~ Heather Morris Thank you for all your comments and critiques. Have a "red letter" day today my friends. Linda

Skagway Snowblower/Ice Breaker

January 18, 2016 The old engine and caboose were in a small city park in Skagway, Alaska. The engine was quite small by today's standards. The car in the background is equipped with an Icebreaker or snowblower of sorts that was used to clear the snow and ice from the rails. Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have a fine day! Linda

A Far Away Light - The Train Cometh

January 4, 2016 This was taken about dusk several years ago of an on-coming train on the tracks that go through a town near where I grew up in Oklahoma. Have a great day full of light and joy! Thank you for your comments and critiques. Linda

White Pass & Yukon Railroad

December 12, 2015 Here's another photo from the White Pass & Yukon Train that we rode from Skagway to the Yukon Territory. The countryside is just gorgeous, but it was terribly cold. I went outside the enclosed cars several times and stood on the platform between the rail cars (you can see other people in this shot doing the same thing) in order to get photos. It was so cold (in mid-July) that I had to go back into the train car (where the heaters were) several times to warm up. Best viewed in larger size. Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have a day filled with sunshine and light. Linda

The Train from Anchorage to Talkeetna, Alaska

November 25, 2015 On the train ride from Anchorage to Talkeetna, we passed another train going south as we were going north. I took this from our northbound train car. It was amazing how close the two trains were to each other. Also, I liked the window reflections of the pine tree forest on the other side. "To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world." ~ John Muir Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have a wonderful "pre-Thanksgiving" day! Linda

Wooden Train Bridge!

September 23, 2015 This is a shot of the White Pass & Yukon Rail train as we went over one of the highest wooden railway bridges in North America. The first (of three) engine was halfway into the tunnel when I took this photo. The tunnel is not terribly long, perhaps 1/2 mile, but it's amazing to think that you are riding on a track that was blasted through the mountain. And I also thought the wooden bridge was very cool. This was an amazing adventure, and we saw some of the most incredible landscapes along the train ride. "While no one railroad can completely duplicate another line, two or more may compete at particular points." ~ John Moody Thank you for your comments and critiques my friends! Rock on! Linda http://lgood.smugmug.com

The White Pass and Yukon Route Railway

August 26, 2015 While in Skagway, we took a ride on the White Pass and Yukon Railroad from Skagway into the Yukon territory. The scenery was absolutely lovely and stunning as we climbed through the mountains. The day we took the ride was very cold and overcast with low hanging clouds that oftentimes hid the peaks of the mountains. You can see that in this photo. According to the railway's website: "Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow gauge railroad is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, a designation shared with the Panama Canal, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. The WP&YR railway was considered an impossible task but it was literally blasted through coastal mountains in only 26 months. The $10 million project was the product of British financing, American engineering and Canadian contracting. Tens of thousands of men and 450 tons of explosives overcame harsh and challenging climate and geography to create “the railway built of gold.” The WP&YR climbs almost 3000 feet in just 20 miles and features steep grades of up to 3.9%, cliff-hanging turns of 16 degrees, two tunnels and numerous bridges and trestles. The steel cantilever bridge was the tallest of its kind in the world when it was constructed in 1901. The 110 mile WP&YR Railroad was completed with the driving of the golden spike on July 29, 1900 in Carcross Yukon connecting the deep water port of Skagway Alaska to Whitehorse Yukon and beyond to northwest Canada and interior Alaska." Thank you for your comments and critiques! Have a great day! Linda http://lgood.smugmug.com

Through the Window, Another Train Passes

July 3, 21015 This is a shot taken during the family outing to ride the historic Texas State Railroad steam train from Palestine to Rusk, Texas and back again. About 1/2 way along the route, we passed another of the historic trains making the same trek. I almost forgot about the final Friday of Judy's lexicon challenge, but I was at a bit of a loss for a photo to post, so here's a couple of "sort of" lexicons for the word train: Caravan, Convoy, Concatenation (as in a connection or a chain) and consecution (arrangement, order, procession, series). Thank you for your comments and critiques! Have a fantastic day today friends, and I'm hoping you are looking forward to all the Independence Day celebrations this weekend. Linda http://lgood.smugmug.com

Seen somewhere along a small highway in Western Texas. I loved the colorful and artistic graffiti on this rail car. Check it out in X2 or X3 size.

Melrose, New Mexico

2011 Trip to New Mexico - on the way home back to Texas, we went through a little town in New Mexico called Melrose. We spotted this depot and stopped and explored for awhile. It was quite lovely with stucco exterior walls, red tile roof and the window frames were turquoise blue. Very interesting architecture.