Cab Rides

[JuanFu]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-07-02 AT 02:07PM (EDT)[p]Just out of curiosity how many of you guys have ridden in the cab of a train or drove a train. I ridden in the cab of 3 of the Georgetown Loop's locos. #12,#14, and #40 and driven #12 with the engineers help and supervision. If I can get my scanner to work I will show you the pics!

-Zach

[CPR_Malice_96th]

I have been in the cab of a VIA Rail F40.

Also a couple CN SD40-s ( one ex IC ) and a brand spankin new SD75i ( I think thats what it was ).

My buddies dad works at CN Transcona shops here in Winnipeg, so getting in to see BIG Toys is not an issue.

No units were in motion, BUT still just as cool

Tim Kent
http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3d00f7e5732a6459.jpg
"Power for You"

PS : I used to drive STEAM for the UP 'till the DEISELS came along and ruined everything....Because of diesels we have drugs,depression,war.....I still drive UP STEAM excursions when I get the chance....

( Hehe, I had to make this story interesting somehow....any guesses on who that was ??? )

PSS: For those of you who may have missed that post a month back,( and therefore have NO IDEA what I'm talking about & think I'm an idiot ) it was one of the funniest things you would have EVER read !!

[driverphil1]

My Dad works at a Railway Museaum so I lucky! I have been in a replica of 'The Rocket' a few times, also 'Iron Duke,' which runs on a larger scale track than today.

Phil

[bcdef]

I used to drive steam loco's in the 40's!
i know some will disagree with me ut oh well!




Union Pacific railorad is the the best railroad in the world!
if we want it to stay like that we better pay tribute!
Union Pacifc Railroad has ben around longer then any other MAJOR railroad. UP is the best MIX of all railroad stuff.

[CPR_Malice_96th]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-07-02 AT 02:48PM (EDT)[p]LMAO

now THAT was funny....there couldn't of have better timing on that !!

Tim Kent
http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3d00ffa21851cdba.jpg
"Power fot You"

[plainsman]

I used to get cab rides in Burlington steamers in the early 1950s. There was a water tower just down the road from the house, and then they would switch freight. In those less litigious times, it was no problem to ride while they switched. As I remember, (I was only 4 or 5), there was an extra seat in which I could sit and watch. It was fascinating. I also got a ride in a T&P GP18 a few years later, in my early teens, but that was about the last of the times of innocence, lawsuits and accidents spoiled the fun. I just remember how nice the crews were and how they enjoyed my interest. I think that may have changed a little as well. I think it is now just a job for most RRers. An occasional wave is about as good as it gets anymore.
Bob

[NG10]

>My Dad works at a Railway
>Museaum so I lucky! I
>have been in a replica
>of 'The Rocket' a few
>times, also 'Iron Duke,' which
>runs on a larger scale
>track than today.
>
>Phil

Hey Phil - your Dad work at NRM in York? Was he is the film of the Bullet train coming from Japan? I have been going to the NRM for years (went to dinner (think it was the Insurance Institute) on one of the platforms in the museum several years ago).

Going again shortly as it is about two years or more since our last visit.

As for going on locos I have driven on the RH&DR a couple of times, been on the footplate of the Severn Valley several years ago and went on a shunting jaunt in Stirling when I got chatting to the railway staff having arrived at Stirling far too early for the night motorail to London so he took me with him to make up the train from the sidings. Great fun.

[Stumbl]

Hey Malice , dint I hear you sayin once that you drove an sd90MAC straight up the Northeast Corrider in 1936?
hmmmm , maybe I have you mixed up with someone else?
(heh heh )

Make a Mess!!
I am :-)

[driverphil1]

Hey NG10, nice guess, he does. And yes he was on that program (his 2 seconds of fame!!) Did you see the bit where they were measuring up in the 'Great Hall'? Well the man in that shot was my Dad! :-) Anyone else see him?
Cheers,

Phil

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[ge44tonner]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-07-02 AT 08:44PM (EDT)[p]I was lucky enough that my Dad was a railfan in the 1950's when there was still some steam around. He and I got a ride in the cab of a UP 800 class around the engine terminal in Denver, rode the rear cab of a Burlington F-Unit set around the yards, and the high point was a ride in the cab of a Rio Grande 3600 class serving as Helper out of Minturn. It was the dirtiest place I have ever been, my mother washed my clothes repeatedly to get them clean again. Then shortly after that, a railfan on an unauthorized cab ride was killed in a boiler explosion south of Denver on the Joint Line. The railroad management decreed 'No More Cab Rides for Railfans', and that was the end of it.

Then, in my adult life got hooked up with several train museums, and was active in restoring several locomotives. There were a half-dozen GE centercabs, two different Whitcomb switchers, an ALCO S-1, and my employer has an SW-8 that I have run on a few occaisions. Maybe one of the local museums will get a steam resoration going, and I will have opportunity to get up in a Steam Cab again.

Those of you who want opportunity to run a locomotive might consider joining an active museum; Probably the easiest way to get at least a little bit of the experience.
Dan

[carlylet]

I was fortunate to ride in the cab of the N&W J611 on a ferry trip in 1983. Just the engineer, fireman and me! A very memorable experience even though I was 34 at the time.

I grew up next to a small yard, the Norfolk and Portsmouth Beltline RR, that had a fleet of SW 1200's. I had several rides around the engine house and yard when I was around 11.

My Grandfather worked for the Atlantic Coast Line RR. During the summer of 1959 he lived beside the main line in North Carolina and I was asked to ride the local switcher several times as they stopped to set off and pick up.

My very first ride was on a switcher when I was four. I was deathly afraid of the train. My grandfather grabbed me up and said, "Come on, no grandson of mine is going to be afraid of a train!" He took me up on the engine and dropped me in the engineer's lap. The rest is history!

Carlyle Thompson
Chesapeake, VA

[derekmorton]

I have driven an Australian flat top T class (gp7) and a Australian Y class (SW600).
I did a Trainee driver for a day program. Starting at 0900
The day started with some theory on signals, points and shunting.

I had to do the pre start checks on both loco's, start them, let them warm up, mu them, make up the train.

I then got to drive the T for 21 Km do some more shunting and then drive the Y back the other 21Km, park the wagons and locos.

We finished at 2030hrs.

I was running on a high.

Derek

[joffie]

i have been of a cab of a mtrain comeng. the driver was nice enough to let us in to take a photo
http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3d0160ff281ba81e.jpg

and here is the cab
http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3d016126285f734c.jpg

[whleighton]

Got a cab ride in a "Jersey Arrow" from Penn Station, NY to Elizabeth, NJ

[jm1941]

G'day Derek,

Good to see you finally got to do your drive, no high like it, is it.

http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3c1cf86d0c649e7c.gif

[TonyBzt]

In the early 60th I visited with a friend the Main Station in Darmstadt (in Germany) to take pictures of steam locos.
When we took pictures of a steam engines (BR 65) waiting the engineer called us whether we want to climb into the cab.

In the cab we had to "feed" the engine with coals :-).
This was an unbelievable event for us boys.
Whe must leave the cab just before the train got "highball".

Now my interest has changed from german railroad to USA railroads, it would be the the most exiting event, to have a ride in an USA or Canadian Diesel:-):-)


Tony

-----

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[Eagleknight]

I only wish could get in the cab of a loco. I doubt CSX would let me in one being that I am 18 even though I would pose no harm =/

[RAILDOG]

EagleKnight,

I know what you mean, I would just love to ride in a SD40-2 or a SD70MAC But I don't see the reason not ask,or just work up a chat.I talked to a BNSF Engineer who has been an Engineer since 1966,We just talked about diesel locomotives my favourite subject he told me all the stuff I had known about locomotives was like I had worked for the railroad for 20 years but I'm only 15!! Maybe someday that will come in handy......I hope!!

[jm1941]

G'day Tony,

>In the early 60th I visited with a friend the Main Station in Darmstadt (in Germany) to take pictures of steam locos. When we took pictures of a steam engines (BR 65) waiting the engineer called us whether we want to climb into the cab. In the cab we had to "feed" the engine with coals . This was an unbelievable event for us boys. Whe must leave the cab just before the train got "highball".

Hey does this bring back great memories and warms the heart. Over my years as a railwayman I saw this look on little kids and the big grown up kids faces many many times, and their reaction when they got off the footplate or out of the cab. It always "said it all". Us railway employees would have as near bigger grin of pleasure as the kids and Dad. They would always thank you, but the greatest delight was always "the look on their faces". A beautiful feeling. A bit missing these days.


Now my interest has changed from german railroad to USA railroads, it would be the the most exiting event, to have a ride in an USA or Canadian Diesel.

My father and I worked most of our working years in railways I never refused anyone and most Railwaymen I know if you approach them politely and show lot of keen interest, you will be surprised what doors may open to you. Does not matter what world railway it is, the lads are generally the same at heart. (Of course there is a time and place to ask as well)

This may help you to your dream, you never know.

Here is nice short story, if that is possible for me.
I'm an old(er) Auzzie who has a very nice 67 year old Japanese email friend of over 3 years who absolutely loves trains and travels the world twice a year travelling on trains wherever possible. (I do not envy anyone but I near envy him) He mentioned to me some 18 months ago as he has travelled most trains, and would dearly love to ride in the cab of an diesel engine. So I said to him have you ever asked, he said, "No, they don't allow you to do this". "Of course" I said, "it's company policy". But have you gone up and spoke to the engine crew nicely and asked or hinted. As all they can say is "No, sorry." What is lost,,,, nothing.

Anyway, he took a trip to Canada last year for Autumn train ride through a very scenic area with all the Autumn leaves in full colour. (he sent me the piccies, quite spectacular too) Apparently this is big thing with the tourists. When he got back to Japan he emailed me with heaps of thanks, thanks, thanks. YES, he got his ride in the Cab for quite some distance too and took heaps of pictures in cab and through front cab window while travelling along. Even the crew took one of him sitting in Conductor's seat and he was totally over the moon. No words were needed, just the look on his face,,, "said it all".

See you only have to "ask politely". Of course there is a time and place "to ask" as well. You will get knockbacks, but get a good conversation going with a railwayman and well one never, never knows where it will lead.

From one railwayman (though retired) my personal thanks to that Canadian crew who fulfilled an elderly man's greatest wish. Okay,, like I use to do as well, "Yes it was against company policy", BUT... there was, and is, a time and place for everything. To "ask politely" you have nothing to loose. You never know your time and chance, some people call it... Luck!.

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[jm1941]

G'day RAILDOG,

IT WILL!..... Your approach is good and on right track young lad, stick with it, be patient, and in time a door will open, you see. Yes times have changed, but just persevere with it. Remember, he can, who thinks he can.

See my post 18 to Tony.

http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3c1cf86d0c649e7c.gif

[RAILDOG]

THANKS! For the kind words john one of these days it will happen!!Cause you can count on it There is a door its locked, but just have to pick it a little and it will open!!!

[Adam3291]

I haven't rode down the line in a cab but I have been it a bunch of cabs from steam to diesel.

Here's the steam list!

N&W 611
N&W 1218
Southern 4501
Southern 722
Southern 630
TVRM 610
Spencer 604
Graham County Railroad 1925

Now the diesels!

Southern 2601
N&W 620
Southern 6133
Southern 6900
N&S 1616
N&S 4632
N&S 4610

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Adam Parsons
stparsons@lexcominc.net

[shoskins]

When I lived in the New York City area, I was fortunate enough to know an engineer on the New Haven, and rode almost every last one of the FL-9's from Grand Central Terminal to New Haven...as well as most of the EP-5 electrics. This was over a period of four years (1964-1968) when I was in high school. One needed sea legs tostand in FL-9's, between the light-duty front truck on them and NH's not-so-hot track maintenance.

I used to go out to Long Island to visit relatives regularly, and one weekend asked the engineer of one of the Century 420's at Jamaica if I could ride, he said he'd check. Just before we departed, he waved me from where I was sitting in the first coach up into the cab. And once I moved out to Long Island, this same engineer let me ride from Bay Shore (where I lived) to Speonk and back just about every Saturday. I also got to go all the way to Montauk once.

And a couple years later, moved again, out to California. It took a couple years to get a cab ride, but it was on Southern Pacific FP-7's on the Sunset Limited from Los Angeles to Pomona, its second stop. That engineer and I became good friends, and on a few occasions on Friday nights, I rode all the way to Yuma, Arizona; spent Saturday down there (doing nothing...) and then back very early Sunday morning (O'dark thirty...) One trip the FP-7's weren't there -- they had a pair of SDP-45's. That was like going from a Volkswagen to a Cadillac!! And in the months around the time Amtrak was born in 5/71, the SP started using a handful of Union Pacific E-8/9's. Quite a difference in ride from the FP-7's....nice and smooth, those six-wheel trucks made all the difference in the world.

Then there was an occasion where a friend and I asked a UP engineer (jokingly) at Colton Tower if we could ride the cab. He said "Sure, but it will be all the way to Barstow!" We took him up on it, rode a string of GP20's on a junk freight. Seems like it took forever to get to Barstow. The engineer walked us over to a westbound, and told the engineer there to give us a ride back to Colton -- on a DDA40X Centennial. So big, so smooth, so quiet.

On one other occasion, I got to ride from San Jose to San Francisco on Fairbanks Morse Train Master 3020, one of the original ex-demonstrator units. All I did was ask the engineer at San Jose station; it was on the last northbound run of the night. Quite a colorful pair, that engineer and fireman. The big FM was a rattletrap! But a FAST rattletrap at that! That was in 1971 or 1972.

No more cab rides after that until 1993....when Metrolink (the southern California commuter rail operation) started up. An old high school buddy who I used to go railfanning with back east turned out to be a high-ranking operations official, and we were discussing videotapes....and the subject of cab ride videos came up. He actually gave me written permission to ride the cabs on all the routes and videotape the entire routes from end to end. Got to ride in brand spanking new F59's. (One route had a cab car on the point, so it was videotaped that way.) And before I got all the Metrolink routes completed, my friend got transferred up to the bay area, to the Caltrain line. (Amtrak is his employer, they are the contract operator.) So I asked him if I could do that route too....got to do it in a gallery cab car. Never did ride the F40's on that route...but one engineer did offer though I didn't have time to do that trip.

And once word got around among some Amtrak engineers down here in southern California about the videos, they said they'd "sure like to have a video of THEIR route" so I figured, what the heck, I 'd help them out. Did the LA-Santa Barbara line and the LA-San Diego line. The videos were done in the ex-Metroliner cab cars...but got to ride F40's back to the starting point on both routes.

It's been interesting...to ride a cab here and there. But, I don't know if I could do that as an every-day job. It's not a comfortable environment....noisy, hot, loud in most cases. Trying to get a cab ride nowadays is difficult because of liability, the FRA, etc.

[HAC]

Cab-rides - F7, SD40-2F, SW1200, GP-9
In cabs of - Diesel - F7, Sd40, SD40-2F, SW1200, GP-9
Steam - 2816, Consolidation, 0-6-0, 4-4-0
Driven - SW1200 (shop track)

Working for an RR helps...

Cheers
Harold

http://members.shaw.ca/hac/GIFS/nalwlogo.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/hac/GIFS/2816.gif

[BigDave]

I've ridden in the cabs of a Wf 2-6-4T, a Dj Bo-Bo-Bo, and a "Silver Fern" railcar.

BigDave

[chucksc]

Lets see?

Rides?
NH Washboard EMU several times in the '50s! w/Grandfather
NH EP5 again Several Times in the '50s! w/Grandfather
NH FL9 once in the 60s!
PRR GG1 once in the 60s!
PRR MP54 Several Times!
PRR Silverliner Several times!
Metroliner EMU (the Original) between Philly and NYP!
NJT CabCar & Return in GP40p Between Philly and Atlantic City!

Cabtours?
NH Alco PA1 sometime in the 50s @ New Haven w/Grandfather
NH Alco DL9 sometime in the 50s @ New Haven w/Grandfather
VRE GP39/40p @ Wash Union Station
P42dc @ Wash Union Station
AEM7ac @ Wash Union Station and Ivy Yard
HHP8 @ Ivy Yard
HSEL6 (Acela Express) @ Union Station
note: all the Union Station and Ivy Yards "stuff"was pre 9/11

Driven?

None!


------Chuck Schneider---------
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-----"Power for You"-------
http://nalw.macfall.com

[jm1941]

G'day shoskins,

Not being from the U.S. a lot of the places and engines mentioned I do not know, but the thrust of this Cab story was excellent.

That certainly brings back the memories, but you being in a different country showed that same railway spirit is / was still there no matter what part of the world we are in. Reflecting back I'm glad I spent my life as part of the railways. Sure it was hard, that is what made it a great life. Yes it can be a very grotty un-romantic job, darn boring at times, getting frustrated with times of feeling like chucking it all in, cranky from bugger all sleep from the different shifts, but if railways gets into your blood, your a goner. But when you retire you will not regret it, I haven't.

> Trying to get a cab ride nowadays is difficult because of liability, the FRA, etc.

Yes very true, but still being in the right place at the right time speaking to the right person and asking the right questions would still apply, but of course a little harder. As young Raildog stated in this thread:- "There is a door it's locked, but just have to pick it a little and it will open!!!" Thought that was an interesting analogy well put through the eyes of a modern day youngster.

Granted, speaking here from Oz in those early railway days the freights were slow, and shunting (switching) done at every little tin pot station on the way, except for the odd through trains. Masses amount of flat out yard shunting (switching) as lot more trains in the earlier days, so was quite easy to hang around and get rides in the cabs at every opportune moment. Today's technologies the trains are bigger, faster, longer, and now go from point A to point B, so one's chances are of course dramatically reduced, mostly these days for the obvious reasons you stated.

Would be nice to see more lengthy experiences on other's cab ride experiences shared here, no matter how old the experience was. As a retired railway employee who helped a lot to enjoy that experience, as I can certainly relate to those days, I enjoyed this one. Thanks.

http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3c1cf86d0c649e7c.gif

[riograndedude]

D&SNGRR
42
476
482
493
498

C&TSRR
"The Pinnapple"-Running
483
487
489
494
495
497-UNDER STEAM!!!

SWEPCO (A small Car repair facility near Alliance Neb.)
1101 which is a switch Engine

Also I have ridden in the Alliance yards in numerous diesels including a SD40-2 during the BN years.
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Behold The POWER of Black and Gold: THE DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN
Salt River Railroad: Planing Stage

[Rutland]

Ten years ago I drove a Santa Fe GP-39 (3697) and GP-35 (2863) combo with 20 hopper cars and a real caboose. We had an engineer, conductor, and rear brakeman. It was great. I still have the Track Warrant issued for the run.

[West_Coast_Railroader]

It was about 20 years ago since I rode in a cab while the train was going through the yard,I was able to because my grandfather worked for CP Rail,he retired now after 50 years of service.

Funny thing about this day was my grandfather left me to go for the ride while he took his truck to where the train was gonna stop and when I was getting off I heard one of the worker say "Who the hell is this?"

IF my memory serves me right it was a GP-38.

I also rode in the caboose while on an actual run,the trains consist was all tankers.
I spent pretty well all the time up in the cupola,even waving to kids as they waved.

Anyways I enjoyed it all.

[werner001]

several years ago a friend of mine accompanied his father who went by train to Munich (from Stuttgart) to pick up his new BMW directly at the plant.
When they where back i asked him if they had the luck to ride on a (then new and still rare) ICE.
He answered "Yes, but it wasn't much fun"
I asked why and he said "we had to ride on the cab"
His father, a hardcore railroad fan, had asked the engineer and he gave them a ride on the ICE cab all the way from Stuttgart to Munich (about 200 km)!
And my non-fan friend just complained about "not being able to access the dining car"!!!

Werner

[HAC]

it would seem you disagree with yourself - witness your post in reply to the "Memorial Day" thread, in which you state:
<i was a baby when Pearl Harbor was attacked!>

UP's youngest hogger? Steam prodigy?

HAC

http://members.shaw.ca/hac/GIFS/nalwlogo.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/hac/GIFS/2816.gif

[Max_Power]

(Rode)
Amtrak Cab Car 9632, and i forgot the other one
(Just looked around in)
SP Dash-8
SP 3100 U25b
ATSF 3751
UP SD60M
SP GP38-2
SP 2353
(Driven)
CP rail GP-9, did some switching.

that's about all i can remember right now

[jm1941]

G'day Folks,

I know this thread started out saying, "how many of you guys have ridden in the cab of a train or drove a train."

WELL... how about not only putting how many different cabs one gets to ride in, how about also spending a short bit of time and putting finger to keyboard as well, and sharing with the rest of us your first experience in a cab or footplate. Put how you felt and how that paticular ride came about like a few have shared with us here, certainly does make great reading, instead of basic post.

If your first ride was not overly exciting, (fail to see how though) then surely one of the many rides must have a great impact and is worth writing about. Usually your first ride always has the biggest impact, and usually is a great memory.

Here's mine, maybe a little boring story to some, but it sure had a great impact on me even some 55 years later.

The very first ride in a cab (not because I wanted to) was when I was 6 years old (1947)
My father had been in the railways five years then and we were visiting my grandfather out bush (in the country) who was also in the Railways as a track maintenance Ganger, whose home was on railway property very near opposite the railway station.

This day dad and I got up early (just daylight) as we were heading off home. The Brill Railcar and trailer were sitting at the station ready to depart. Dad carried me quickly across the rail tracks to the offside of the railcar, put me and his kitbag down on the ground, opened the rear railcar door and then lifted me up into the Railcar. At that moment the Railcar took off. Dad bent quickly down to grab his kitbag and opps, too late the Railcar was quick of the mark and I was off down the tracks with me looking out the back leaving Dad waving and yelling in the distance.

I remember wandering up and down through the empty trailer. (no passengers) The next thing the Guard (conductor) must have seen me from the front power car (gearbox and clutch job) while collecting tickets and came into the trailer car and the astonished Guard yelled out "Where the hell did you come from young lad" I just pointed to the back of the trailer car door.

The Guard then picked me up, took me up front into the luggage compartment which was also the drivers compartment (all in one), and sat me down on the warm steel canopy that covered the engine alongside the motorman, where I had full view of track ahead with the driver alongside me smiling at me all the time shaking his head. (can still see it) The Guard and driver must both had been trying to figure out HOW on earth I got on board.
Strange thing is, I remember well what they said to me, but I cannot remember what or if I was saying to them, that is if I said anything at all. Probably didn't. Very shy those days.

As we got to the next station, the Station master told the guard what had happened, so we headed off again down the track to the next station. This time Dad was there waiting anxiously as we pulled up, as the station master where I was put on board had given Dad a quick ride to the second station and we were re-united for rest of the trip home, most still sitting up front next to driver while Dad yarned to the crew. I remember every detail of my first cab ride and I was only 6 years old. Not exactly the run of the mill cab rides though.

When I was old enough it was the hands on railways for me, where now I'm retired with heaps of great memories from steam to diesels and have gotten many a young lad and older young folk their first ride on the footplate and later in the cabs. Nice feeling. Certainly is..

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[McDeth]

I can't remember my FIRST cab ride, since it was so long ago, probably when I was 4-5 years old. But since my dad works for amtrak, i have ridden in most of the california car cabcars, 2000's (Don't know the specific type of loco) the engines that pull the california cars. I also got the chance to run a Caltrains f40 on some switching job. Boy was that fun! Heh. I have alot of time in some dinky little switchers on a hisorical railway society's trains. I've ridden in the cab of #4449 once, while it was under steam. Unfortunatly I dont remember the details because I was too young to realise what a special experience it was, rofl. Anyways, I've also ridden in the cab of the #2467 and the #1269. I actually helped restore a ALCO
Schenectady 2-6-2T when I was maybe 12 years old. I was the only person small enough to squeez under the onboard oiltank, so I got some props for helping restore that loco. One of the most beautiful loco's (that I can remember) riding in is the #5623. It is a black widow gp-9, such a nice loco! (of only someone would skin it. Basically, all of these loco's I have either ridden in or been inside of http://www.ncry.org/locos.htm

[Matt Vince]

Mainly BR local trains, class 156, 158s and the like, back in the days when BR was around. They occasionally let me and my brother into the cab, or at least look through the cab door (from the main compartment). Also on the Chemin de Fer de la Val d'Ouche, a 2ft gauge tourist line, I went on a small diesel and on the cab of an 0-4-0 tender locomotive, which I also helped coal and water before the trip. Ah, great memories.

http://members.aol.com/nutsvincey/logo.jpg

[cn_bayview]

I Rode in a CN GP9 7261. While Switching In Oakville yard.

[flarrfan]

http://overseasrailroad.railfan.net/flarrfan/cabride.htm

True story (believe it or not).

[jm1941]

G'day flarrfan,
Thanks for pointing me to that site, I easily related to that.

Excerpt from that site.
>In fact, there may be those of you reading this who won't believe it really happened. That's okay, because I know what happened to me that magic day, and--at least until I get the chance to run a steam locomotive, the only unrealized railfan experience still ahead for me--I know I'll never forget it.

It is not what he wrote, it's the way he wrote it, that's believable.
A great experience, and for those who may doubt this, it is very much believable I tell you. Over my own years of being a "hands on" Railwaymen myself and to the people who I got Footplate and Cab rides could easily relate to most of that story. It is believable to the word, and it does happen at odd times, even in the U.S.
As I been saying, you have to be in right place, at right time and approach in the whole thing the right way. It may then happen when you least expect it, as this chap's testimony shows.

Good to see he repected the crew for what they did for him by not giving any hints to who the crew were. This chap showed great respect, despite his overall excitement.

You note that this chap first chatted with the crew with hat in hand and showed much true interest. Note also he was not asked aboard at that crew change station (obvious reason as to why) and it was NOT until the train was out in the sticks (away from prying eyes) and had to stop for that crane, that was the chance the crew needed to give this fellow the ride of his life. The part I thought was most interesting was the Conductor driving this chap's car. Don't laugh or raise eyebrows, as I can easily see this happening from my own years in Railways. Just that sort of occasion never arose to do that, that's all. Also note where this all happened out in an area a blind man could have been okay as far as safety goes. There were risk variables of course, but the overall risk was quite low and was practically nil.

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[moose49]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-14-02 AT 08:20PM (EDT)[p]IN 1956 I took a cab ride eastbound across AZ. in and ALCO PA on the Super Chief also later in the summer westbound E-7'S on the EL-CAPITAN. The pa's hit 124mph in some of the better sections w
hile the E's could only muster 109mph. Both rides where arranged by my dad as we traveled to Ohio from L.A. and returned from Ohio to L.A. Iwas twelve at the time and it's still one of lifes greatest thrills.

[xgsft]

About four years ago while trainspotting in Huntville Al. ,near the space and rocket center, my dad and I were watching a fright that had just gone by and seen that another train had just stopped in the siding almost in front of us. We walked up to the engine (dash-9 if I remember right) and were looking at it when one of the guys in the cab offerd us some water. He tossed us down some small bottles of water then asked if we wanted to come up, Needless to say I was halfway up the steps before dad could reply :). We chatted with the crew until they had to go. It was awesome experience. ;)


Mike Suitts

[flarrfan]

Well, I never got around to changing the by-line from "Anonymous" but I have put up this link several times before and admitted that the author was me, so thought I would clarify that. Happened to me nine years ago, and have discreetly discussed it in public for the last six years or so that I have been active on the Internet. A most extraordinary day. Guess I can also admit now that it wasn't my car, it was my employer's car, which added a little bit of extra apprehension to the ride. Not my employer any more, so what the hey!

[jm1941]

G'day flarrfan,

I bet that crew got a great kick out of it. I could tell by the way you wrote it as I could well see that it was correct from my own experience from the crew's view. One cannot work on, or, with trains most of one's life, and not recognise whether one's crapping on or not. Glad you wrote about the experience, I enjoyed it, as I too saw many (over the moon) faces like yours myself and the Thanks!.. Thanks!.... Thanks!... Thanks!..... about a dozen times, I sure recognised that bit well. Also loved the "IF onlys".... you stated, well put.

I DO hope you do get the chance of a steam ride, but would be getting harder as each year goes by. But one NEVER knows what is just around the corner, does one. I was fortunate that my railway career started with steam, so now I've got the memories, but also the age as well these days. ;-)

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[Swarri1349]

Well, I have ridden in the Cab of SSW #819 several times, N&W's little 611, AMD 103's From Jackson MS to Chicago and Memphis. Texas State Railroad's #400 and of course a GE 45 tonner weekly when I am not riding in the caboose on my short line.

Stephen

KSRY Public Relations

[BNSF_Dash9]

When i was really little - like 5 - i got the honour of going in the cab of Westrail's DA1571 out of Albany Western Australia. I also been in the cab of CLP9 (645 engined E8A's) shunting the autoracks in East Perth and a NR Class (C40-9i) in Perth.

[tulloch]

Hello,

There are too many posts, so thought while there is a Australian post, I'll add on to it.
Firtsly, I'm only 13, and have clocked up 2 TANGARA cab rides (the GUARD let me in each time), once in a Comeng (this is as I remeber, and again the GUARD let me in) and, I've clocked up a visit to the cab of 4201 while in the RTM. Many other rides, such as at Zig Zag, and I've even been the GUARD at Zig Zag!!! I think I've clocked up a visit to the XPT cab, seen inside a Endeavour cab, and much more.

I'll post some pictures later.

[csx_freak]

ive ridden and drove a sw1500 a few times

[Claude350]

I work for the NS so I get to ride all the time:).

[jm1941]

G'day Claude,

Good one Claude!.... Had to smile at this one. ;)
Your like me, this does not count, as we did it the easy way by working in the railways. :-)

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[Transcon]

Does a Disneyworld Monorail count?

[heavymetal91]

I got to sit in the cab of a BN C30-7 when i was 5 years old, my grandfather worked for the BN this was back in 1975 at least i think it was a C30-7, but it may have been something else. But anyways i got to sound the horn and the feeling of the diesel engine rumbling behind the cab was awesome. I also have gotten to sit in an SP SD40T2,SP SD40-2 snoot nose, SP GP9, and few others but don't remember what they were hehe.



Joel

[CSX_CW60AC_GregMarck]

when I was little I got to go into a cab, what the unit was I forget, but it was a senic RR out in KY.

[beltontigers]

I'll top ya'lls...lol...i have ridden in like 2 diff steam engines..fired the 786 and ridden in the 3985 and 4 diff F-7's

[moose49]

Ok. but I have ridden in a PA cab at over 100mph!!!



can you dig it

moose :+

[chrispietruski]

Owing to the unhelpful fact that British Railways abandoned steam traction before I was able to appreciate it, I was forced to mis-spend much of my youth chasing steam locos in other parts of the world. Fortunately, I normally found foreign loco crews very friendly and happy to have guests on the footplate.

Best memories: A high-speed (well, it felt high-speed!) run on an Indian Railways broad gauge WP class pacific between Lucknow and Varanasi in 1979. The route was partly single track and it was fascinating to watch the primitive token-exchange apparatus in operation. Stand well clear of the cabside as the token slammed into it!

Another Indian experience - nearly suffocating on the footplate of a metre gauge YP pacific being thrashed up a 1 in 100 gradient in a tunnel on the Ahmedabad - Udaipur run. (On that occasion we were staying at the Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur - one of the poshest in India - and I remember the cinders falling out of my hair as I leant over to sign the register!)

And one from South America: sitting on the tender, holding on to the cab roof, of a vintage Baldwin mogul on the Guyaquil & Quito in Ecuador. A warm tropical night, running across the plain to Guyaquil, sparks flying out of the chimney [maybe my memory is playing tricks here, as the loco was an oil-burner]. I wanted it to go on for ever...:)

Chris.

[jm1941]

G'day Chris,

Good one, Good to see you got cab trips in other country railways.

> The route was partly single track and it was fascinating to watch the primitive token-exchange apparatus in operation. Stand well clear of the cabside as the token slammed into it!
Ah...the token exchange (electric staff) at high speed, now that's an experience in itself that I remember. At times these were a high speed flying missile if it missed the exchanger. Then, trying to stop the train without cups of tea going everywhere and hunting around looking for the staff. If not found, then getting a train order to proceed in place of missing electric staff. What a bummer of a trip if the exchanger missed the staff. Thankfully it did not happen too often.

Liked the bit > I remember the cinders falling out of my hair as I leant over to sign the register! it's worse when you open your tucker box, and next thing your crunching cinders in your sandwich.

Liked this bit and can relate to it well. > I wanted it to go on for ever... Yes it would be nice, but oh well, back to modern day reality. :'(

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