Steam Engine Train Ride

Yesterday we got to ride on a 1929 (that’s the year a volunteer told us) Steam Engine Train pulled by a Vintage Steam Locomotive. Since most of us had never ridden on any type of a train at all, it was pretty cool.

It was in town for a fundraiser for our local fire department. They had 5 rides I believe and all but the early first one was completely full.

A storm crept up and passed through right at the time of our ride. Got a little nervous that it was going to ruin the whole ride.

We just boarded the train and found seats and the rain broke lose. A really good down pour. Just enough wind to make the umbrella’s flip and not be any help at all. Everyone boarding ended up pretty dry. The people getting off the train….didn’t end up so dry.

Grandpa and Grandma went with us.

This is basically what the inside looks like. Not bad for 90-some years old.

We were really happy to have window seats.

In between each car where they connect, you can stand and look out. There is a half door that comes up to about your wait or so, then the top half is all open. As this conductor was going from our car to the next, the window caught his hat, pulled it right off his head and out that open area between the cars !! POOF and gone. We heard on the way back that the hat retriever crew got it for him.

Enjoying the ride. Not sure if we were supposed to hang out windows or not, but we did a lot for some photo’s and video.

It was about an hour ride. They allowed 20 minutes to unload and reload people. They were efficient, nice and polite and ready to roll again. Very quick exchange, which meant very little waiting for people.

Getting ready for the next round of people.

This was the diesel engine on the opposite end. The steam engine brought us one way and this engine got us back to the starting point.

Apparently, people that work for the railroad highly dislike you taking picture’s of your children on the tracks. Hmm.

All in all, a pretty neat experience. I’d definitely do it again. But since I have never ridden a train in all my 40-something-ish years, there’s a good chance I won’t ride one again. Although I would love to travel by train sometime. Just sounds neat since I’ve never done it. Maybe that should go on my bucket list.

Just a quick video of our ride and a couple quick clips are from Ashlyn’s go pro.

Have you ever ridden on a train to travel?

Have you ever ridden on a train just for fun?