DRIVING THAT TRAIN…….
Remember that old Grateful Dead song? Well, I actually did that, drove a train. (Not the second part of the lyric, just the driving part!)
In researching this trip, I found that, in Ely Nevada, you could pay to run a locomotive, so, as a train buff since childhood, I booked that experience and did it. Ely had a giant copper mine since the early 1900’s and a railroad to work it and take the ore away. In 1983, the owners essentially walked away from everything, I think via bankruptcy. And deeded the entire railroad to the county which turned it into a historic park. What is different is that it remains a working railroad with about 30 miles of track, repair shops, everything as it was. After much advance studying and passing a rigorous test (LOL), I drove the 109, a diesel locomotive built in the same year as me. (And, like me, still mostly functioning!) Drove about 10 miles up the track out of town even crossing a 4 lane US 93 highway. And then back down. Not a “bucket list” experience because who would think to put it on a bucket list? But totally fun. Here is the link if you want to know more.
Number 109, built 1950. Been in Ely its entire existence.
Test has been passed and ready to go aboard.
The controls. Pretty much 4 levers do all of it. Just need to remember which does what and which way to push/pull depending on what I need to do. Easy, well sort of I guess.
Does that old man look confident or terrified? Or just totally oblivious to what he is going to need to do?
The view forward. Sure hope there is nothing I need to see on the left, because I cannot see that way.
Going back down, we were in reverse and a better view. It sure operated differently going uphill versus down hill.
OK, we are back. Not sure who is happiest to be back without incident, me, the instructor, or the poor old train itself.
The working shop. It is Sunday and a number of people are there working on that 105 year old steam engine in the rear right side. At this stage they do not know if they will successfully get it working again or not. Frankly it looked doubtful to my eye.
Dan, your commentary is killing me! I can hear you! The man sitting in the conductor seat (so I have to assume it is that seat) looks thrilled and excited!!! And in typical Dan Flickinger form….only you could get off what most of us think of being the loneliest road, to find a road less traveled! Keep it up!