I
got up shortly after
There
was a video on the museum which I watched for less than a minute. I wanted to
look around. I saw a model railroad layout and some models in display cases. I
photographed them and a poster of the GG-1 locomotive.
I
then went to the exhibit hall and took some photos.
I
then photographed GG-1 #4935 which is in the best condition of the 16 surviving
GG-1 locomotives.
While
16 of the 139 GG-1 locomotives survive, none can operate. They have all had
their transformers drained or removed because the coolant used had PCBs which
is a health/environmental risk. Plus the traction motors and other components
need work. So the odds of a GG-1 ever running again under its own power are as
good as winning the lottery.
The
RR Museum of PA has three GG-1 locomotives in their collection. However, one
unit is stored off site at the Harrisburg Amtrak station. I saw that unit when
I rode the Three Rivers in 2005.
I
then photographed PRR #7006 and E-7 #5901.
The
5901 is the only surviving E-7. When 5901 was retired, it was supposed to be
scrapped, but some employees who knew of its significance hid the unit for
three years A switcher was bought and numbered it 5901. They then sent that
switcher for scrap. The museum raised $20,000 which is equal to the units scrap
value and finally moved the E-7 to the museum site in 1976.
I
took a few more photos in the display building.
I
then asked how to access the collection outside. I was told and went outside
and photographed a
I
strained to get an interior shot of the Metroliner, but barely managed. It
wasn’t as easy as what I did on my 2006 Montreal Trip with
These are my limited successes of
photographing the interior of Metroliner #860.
I
then photographed Amtrak E-60 #603. The E-60s were built in the 1970s as a
replacement for the GG-1s. However, they were derailment prone and were
subsequently restricted to 90 MPH. I found out they were called “Flying
Bricks”. The last E-60s were retired when Amtrak’s HHP-8 electric locomotives
entered service. As far as I know, 603 is the only surviving E-60.
I
then photographed GG-1 #4800. 4800 was the prototype GG-1 and is nicknamed
“Rivets” because of its riveted carbody. All other GG-1s had welded carbodies.
4800 has been painted in black primer, but at one point after it arrived at the
museum, it was in the PRR livery. I also noticed someone had written in the
dust on the carbody “4800 deserves better.”
I
then photographed other equipment that was outside.
I
also took a couple more photos of Metroliner 860.
The
Metroliner MU cars were built in 1969 as Penn Central’s effort to recapture
ridership from the airlines. When they were new, they were the fastest trains
in
I
then went inside and bought a bottle of Coke from a vending machine.
I
then photographed an exhibit on steam locomotive boiler explosions.
I
then checked out an exhibit that simulated shoveling coal into a steam
locomotive boiler. Next I went up a walkway overlooking the indoor exhibits. I
then took some aerial photos.
I
then went to a simulator of a
I
then took a few more photos before I went into the gift shop.
I
looked in the gift shop before I bought a DVD and a postcard. I then left the
museum. I took some photos of the equipment outside.
I
then walked down to a plaza where there was a hobby store. I took some photos
along the way.
When I
arrived I went inside and after looked around, I bought a couple models. I then
ate lunch at a restaurant in the same plaza. I then went to another store that
sold railroad DVDs and other stuff and bought two more DVDs.
After
I was done, I walked a few blocks into town and used an ATM. I then walked back
to the Strasburg Railway which is a steam excursion. I bought a ticket for the
next train. When the previous trip returned, I filmed it pulling in.
The
steam locomotive uncoupled from the train and ran around on a siding. It then
coupled up with the nose to the first car which I was on.
The
train left. I filmed the maintenance barn as we passed and photographed other
locomotives in the back. Many were in serious need of restoration.
We
passed the Red Caboose Motel which is literally a motel made of a lot of
cabooses. I took some pictures.
The
line ran through the countryside. At one point, we slowed near a level
crossing. The crew told of a story of ghost train where an engine on another
line nearby that “got lost” and whenever they blew the whistle, it would blow
its whistle back. The engine then blew its whistle. Several seconds later, we
heard a whistle, though it most likely was an echo.
The
train continued to the end of the line which was an interchange with the line
that Amtrak’s Keystone service uses. I got my camera out in case an Amtrak
train passed however none did while we were there. The Strasburg Railway’s line
is how equipment is moved from the main line to the Railroad Museum of PA.
Meanwhile,
the locomotive on our train was uncoupled and ran around to the other end. When
it passed me, I filmed it. I then photographed it in the distance preparing to
couple back up to the train.
The
train soon departed. As we passed the Red Caboose Motel, I took some more
photos of it.
We
soon arrived back at the where we started. I then got something to drink from
the snack bar. I then paid $6 to go on a handcar just like what I did at Exporail
and at the Lake Shore Electric Railway in Cleveland. However this time, there
was a grade involved which I managed to overcome. I photographed the handcart
after I got off.
I
then called the taxi company to pick me up. I was told the cab would be there
in about 20 minutes. I crossed the street to the Railroad Museum of PA. While
waiting, I took two more pictures of the Strasburg Railway train.
The
cab soon arrived and we headed out. This time, the cab driver took the highway.
However, the fare turned out to be more than when I headed down to the museum.
When we got off the highway it started to rain. It’s a good thing it didn’t
rain while I was at the museum!
We
soon arrived back at the hotel and I paid the fare. I then went back to my room
to lie down. I then logged onto Facebook and chatted with Dan again. I went
back to my room a few minutes later.
After
resting again, I walked over to a nearby Burger King for dinner. After, I
walked back to my hotel where I watched some TV as well as Harry Potter and the
Half Blood Prince. I asked for a wake up call at 9:00 am, before calling it a
night.
Click
here for the end of my trip: Lancaster trip-end