Saturday, Notes.

Well it’s finally Saturday and it looks like a cold cloudy day like yesterday, but that won’t make the train ride any less fun, Michelle came over at 12:00am and we headed into town for the Steamtown Station, We were both so excited, just the sounds and smells are enough to take you back in years.

              Our coach number 580 awaits us.

CN Steam engine is waiting to take us to Moscow PA.

             Michelle with the brave engineer.

 

                  Inside coach number 580.

At 01:00 pm sharp we left the Steamtown Station for the climb up the 1 1/2 % grade to Moscow. Boy that CN engine earned it’s pay and worked hard to pull  the 6 passenger cars in it’s train up the continuous hill, We went through Nay Aug tunnel and then passed Sam’s Grandmother’s house where his Cousin Sam Genett lives now.

                         Station Sign.

                         Sam’s Grandmother’s house.

    As the train climbed southeast out of Scranton the area is heavily wooded now but we passed the Elmhurst Reservoir which supplies water to the Scranton/ Dunmore area.

                         Elmhurst Reservoir.

The Roaring Brook creek runs along side of and crosses under the tracks the switches sides several times on the way to Moscow.

                       Roaring Brook Creek.

 Then we arrived in Moscow where the the engine runs around the train on a siding and couples to the rear to pull us back to Scranton.

             Old Moscow Freight House.

Blowing out the water from the cylinders at Moscow.

Engine prepares to run around the train at Moscow.

               Engine couples onto rear of train.

While we were at Moscow, they had a hot dog roast and sold souvenirs, Michelle got an engineers cap, and I bought myself a tee-shirt.

I noticed this plate riveted to the back wheel assembly of the Steam engine,  even though it was made in Canada for the CN. The rear truck cradle was made in St Louis MO. of all places. A little bit of home away from home.

                Rear engine truck.

Just to show it was a cold day here in Scranton I took this shot of the steam escaping from the steam heat pipe between the cars, That is how they used to heat passenger cars with steam radiators near the floor. Our car was toasty warm like Grandma’s old parlor used to be.

               Steam heat connections.

I will say this, Steamtown runs a class act, the equipment appears to be meticulously maintained even though the coaches were built for the Lackawanna Railroad as commuter coaches in the 1920-30’s they have been completely rebuilt including roller bearing axles and all the heaters and bathrooms were spotless and operational.The engine a CN Mikado 2-8-2 performed great pulling this heavy train uphill all the way and sounding like a true champion. This train is fairly heavy for that sixe of locomotive and the grade is tough but there were no slips or stalls.

We both thoroughly enjoyed our ride and would recommend it for anyone visiting the Scranton area between April and Nov.

After we got back I had an invitation to supper as Cousin Sam’s house, I had seen him watching the train go by and he and his wife Miriam provided a great Rigatoni Dinner after which we sat and enjoyed a couple of cocktails, and caught up on Grandkid’s and family. Cousin Sam is very handy in home building and has transformed my Grandmothers 40 era house into a showplace, it is really beautiful, but I forgot to bring my camera so I will have to use that as an excuse to get invited back again. I wish Donna would have been with me because I know she would have truly enjoyed the evening with family.

That’s about it I was late getting this posted due to my full day yesterday. so be safe out there. Sam & Donna.