Trians, Trains and Trains

A week or so ago it was National Train Day and one of our local train museums had free admission for the day. Aside from them allowing people to blow the horn on one engine, which the boys really didn't like, it was a pretty nice day.

There were several lanes of track with numerous cars on them. One length was opened for people to walk through. There were fans going so you didn't notice the heat - much. A couple cars toward the back had air conditioning, so that wasn't too bad.

Coach Car, nicely refurbished.

Sleeping Cars were interesting. This was more of a private room, but even so space is at a premium. The table folded up and the couch folded out to become a bed.

Berths folded up into the wall during the day and the ladder was stored in the tiny bathroom. Cramped quarters to say the least, but I tried to explain to the boys how this was how people with more money travelled and most people did their best to sleep in the coach seats. That didn't sink in this time around.

A couple of Tanker Cars seen from the hallway window of one car

This was the Turquoise Room. A section of one car separated by accordian doors on both sides with a hallway bypassing the room (the window slats behind the boys show the hallway from the room, but people walking the hallway can't see in. This room was for movie stars, corporate execs and prominent politicians. It had its own porter and it was very close to the kitchen, so personalities didn't need to leave at all - except to go to the bathroom.

We took a little ride in a caboose. Mostly the public was not allowed in this part of the train as it was for workers only.

Erik relaxes at a trainman's workstation in a caboose. This is where he would record what cars were picked up or dropped off and at what time for each station.

Jake was sitting in the Trainman's seat in the caboose. Here one can get a pretty good view along either side of the train and probably try to scare the boys who stood and watched as the train went by (or rather those boys who did a bit more than watch - throwing rocks at the train or getting closer to the tracks than they aught).