The Flickr Steamsteam Image Generatr

So it's 3:15 AM in the morning and my alarm goes off. I know it's 3:15 because I've already woken up about fifteen minutes prior to the alarm. My nerves are already on full throttle as I know what this day will bring. I am headed to the Strasburg Railroad in Lancaster County, PA to see the Reunion of Steam events well underway in the month of October. Norfolk & Western steam locomotive 611 has traveled from a couple states away to be here in Strasburg to reunite for a short time, with an ex-N&W steamer #475. Ever since i heard this was in the works, I set plans to head East to see this for myself.

Here in this shot, I'm standing across the street at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. The gates haven't quite opened yet at the Strasburg Railroad, but any minute now, that will change! The sky was packed full of color and the air would intermittently hit you with a whiff of coal smoke. Anticipation was building to a boil which would see me take a few more pictures from this spot, and then return to my car to go get my day officially started.

Here we see a closer view of the coal-loading operations of engine 611 at the Strasburg Railroad. Lancaster County has been host to an army of railfans who have descended upon the scenic railroad in September and October of 2019. Their "Reunion of Steam" has attracted piles of visitors, both young and old to see an icon in person. I can only imagine the number of kids who became fast and firm fans of this technology from the past. I was excited to see this in person for myself.....but I was also excited to see all the young faces that were fascinated by this graceful giant. I can only hope they "get the bug" and become railfans themselves!

Norfolk & Western Engine 611 sits on a side-track, being readied for the day's events. The Strasburg Railroad is graciously hosting this behemoth, and it definitely drew in the crowds! A Hostling Tour was already well underway when I took this shot, which although I was a bit bummed I wasn't able to get a ticket for that, it was still perfectly fine to be there seeing this engine in person.

My wife and I had traveled several hours to Roanoke, VA to see this engine cold at the Virginia Museum of Transportation several years back, and that trip turned into a great disappointment. It was raining on that day's visit in VA, and for whatever reason, the museum wouldn't let the public go out to where the engine was sitting. I was "upset" to put it lightly, and it was a bear of a ride back home to Pennsylvania.

The day I took this picture however, there was no rain. There was no "Closed" sign. The doors were open, the skies were perfect, and I finally got to fulfill a wish to see this streamlined beauty in person.

Norfolk & Western engine 611 has moved up to the coal ramp, and is receiving several buckets-full of coal in her tender. Although the engine wasn't put under heavy loads at the Strasburg Railroad, it still has an appetite that must be satisfied to keep the show running. Getting up at 3AM to drive east and see this in person was worth it's weight in gold for me personally.

Just outside of the frame to the left of this picture is the entrance to the engine house at the Strasburg Railroad. Shop tours would enter through this door to see behind the curtains and witness some of what it takes to prepare a steam locomotive for the day's work.

Here in the frame sits the cab of ex-CN steamer 7312, which has been converted into a covered seating area with benches inside. Sure, I'd love to see the cab on a running engine, but this is better than being fully scrapped I suppose.

If you look just beyond the cab roof, in the background you'll see the star of the show. Norfolk & Western steam locomotive #611 sits preparing for the day. Strasburg has become a real hub of activity for their own operations of both scenic and revenue freight. Add to that, the visit of such a famous steamer, and you have a powerhouse of an operation on your hands. On this day in October, 2019, I got to witness it all!

Aspinall Class 27 Steam Railway Engines from an album of pictures I bought in the late 1980s at a model railway fair. These engines would have been seen pulling goods trains around the North West. Probably built at Horwich Loco Works.

Aspinall Class 27 Steam Railway Engines from an album of pictures I bought in the late 1980s at a model railway fair. These engines would have been seen pulling goods trains around the North West. Probably built at Horwich Loco Works.

Aspinall Class 27 Steam Railway Engines from an album of pictures I bought in the late 1980s at a model railway fair. These engines would have been seen pulling goods trains around the North West. Probably built at Horwich Loco Works.

Aspinall Class 27 Steam Railway Engines from an album of pictures I bought in the late 1980s at a model railway fair. These engines would have been seen pulling goods trains around the North West. Probably built at Horwich Loco Works.

Aspinall Class 27 Steam Railway Engines from an album of pictures I bought in the late 1980s at a model railway fair. These engines would have been seen pulling goods trains around the North West. Probably built at Horwich Loco Works.

Aspinall Class 27 Steam Railway Engines from an album of pictures I bought in the late 1980s at a model railway fair. These engines would have been seen pulling goods trains around the North West. Probably built at Horwich Loco Works.

Aspinall Class 27 Steam Railway Engines from an album of pictures I bought in the late 1980s at a model railway fair. These engines would have been seen pulling goods trains around the North West. Probably built at Horwich Loco Works. I think that may be where this picture is taken, note the narrow gauge railway.

Aspinall Class 27 Steam Railway Engines from an album of pictures I bought in the late 1980s at a model railway fair. These engines would have been seen pulling goods trains around the North West. Probably built at Horwich Loco Works.

Aspinall Class 27 Steam Railway Engines from an album of pictures I bought in the late 1980s at a model railway fair. These engines would have been seen pulling goods trains around the North West. Probably built at Horwich Loco Works.

Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe 5000. Amarillo, Texas.

Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe 5000. Amarillo, Texas.

Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe 5000. Amarillo, Texas.

Saturday, 12 December 2015

LMS (NCC) WT Class 2-6-4T No. 4 passes through Glenageary DART station with the final steam hauled RPSI "Santa Express" of the day: 1310 Pearse-Graystones & return. 8634 can be seen in the background departing with the 1325hrs DART service from Bray to Howth through the smoke in the background.

The Wanderer caught the train passing through Lansdowne Road: thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2015photos/December-2015/i-...

Kieran Marshall caught the steam train passing through Bray: www.flickr.com/photos/hurricanemk1c/23638594241/in/photos...

© Finbarr O'Neill

Information for my younger viewers! K-9 was a robotic dog that appeared on early series of 'Doctor Who', a BBC TV sci-fi/adventure series. I saw this shadow (which was actually cast by the bell from the 'Dominion of Canada') & saw a fun likeness.