Pix is from Kalmbach’s Classic Trains special “Trains go to War.” My guess is they used the shipping crate. Modifying it slightly to resemble a boxcar, and directed the exhaust downward to be disbursed among the desert sand. (Yankee Ingenuity at its best), Gary O. Ostlund
Rail safety has always been a high priority. Technology has provided the industry with a wide variety of devices to keep us safe, and the railroads from being sued. Even so, railroading is still a dangerous profession, and grade crossings still claim many victims.
Ditch lights, those twin headlights about five feet apart at eye level on the front of locomotives create a triangle of bright light on an approaching train. When the engineer blows the whistle, the ditch lights flash alternately as an added alert for the wary automobile or pedestrian.
It’s been widely reported that ditch lights were the creation of the Canadian railroads in their western mountains. These lights could peek around tight corners spotting fallen rock or other problems. Soon other railroads went along and by the mid-90s most railroad locomotives in the Americas had them. The Federal Railway Administration has since mandated them.
But, wait a second. Look at the second picture to the right. Seems the Russkies beat us to the punch just like Sputnik in 1957. The Russian steamer appeared in the August 1958 TRAINS Magazine. Photo Credits: B&LE 905 – Michael S. Murray, Russian Steamer #251 – J. N. Westwood
This multi-trip, three-day event will operate Friday, January 20th, Saturday the 21st, and Sunday the 22nd.
Trips will feature day-long train rides, multiple photo opportunities, and onboard appetizer and non-alcoholic drink service each day. One day will be behind steam locomotive Sugar Express No. 148 and the other two behind South Central Florida Express diesel locomotives. Three-day packages will be available for $400. Ticket sales begin October 5th.
For more information go to https://sugarexpress.com/rare-mileage-excursion/
Click on images for full view.
A Moment in Time – It’s August 25, 1994, as Midwest Coal Handling prepares to depart P&L’s Central City, Kentucky yard back to TVA’s Paradise Steam Plant. The four locomotive consist included CF7 2508, GP7u 2005, CF7 2525, and another unidentified CF7. CF7 2525 was still wearing the paint of previous owner Nashville & Eastern. Today CF7 2508 survives in Enid, Oklahoma serving Consolidated Grain & Barge. Photo by Evan Werkema, Chris Dees collection.