Comments on: Waiting For The Steam Train http://www.dogcaught.com/2007/06/13/waiting-for-the-steam-train/ Illustrations of Pacific Northwest Railroading Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: R. Cody Erben http://www.dogcaught.com/2007/06/13/waiting-for-the-steam-train/comment-page-1/#comment-22381 R. Cody Erben Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:31:09 +0000 http://www.dogcaught.com/2007/06/13/waiting-for-the-steam-train/#comment-22381 It is unfortunate that steam excursions seem to bring out those with questionable intelligence. Years back, I recall sitting along the UP a little east of the UP844 and UP3985 as they were servicing in Evanston, WY. There were numerous folks standing on both mains, oblivious to the fact it was a real railroad around them. The steam crew called into the dispatcher and had em hold up WB traffic for a bit until they departed due to this nonsense. When I hear things like that, it sends chills down my back thinking that it could be the last straw for mainline steam. Fast forward to 2007 and the UP844 returning back to Cheyenne across Idaho, and somewhat similar events. While camped near the tracks at Orchard, ID, a family drives up and several kids pour out, and immediately head up to the tracks to dance around. Sure, visibility is good, and nothing should sneak up on you there, but they surely were not paying attention, nor monitored closely. A westbound pulled up and into the siding several minutes before another EB and then the UP844, but if it had been making a rolling meet with the other EB or the UP844...I'm not so sure those folks would have been paying attention to what was behind them. It is unfortunate that steam excursions seem to bring out those with questionable intelligence. Years back, I recall sitting along the UP a little east of the UP844 and UP3985 as they were servicing in Evanston, WY. There were numerous folks standing on both mains, oblivious to the fact it was a real railroad around them. The steam crew called into the dispatcher and had em hold up WB traffic for a bit until they departed due to this nonsense. When I hear things like that, it sends chills down my back thinking that it could be the last straw for mainline steam.

Fast forward to 2007 and the UP844 returning back to Cheyenne across Idaho, and somewhat similar events. While camped near the tracks at Orchard, ID, a family drives up and several kids pour out, and immediately head up to the tracks to dance around. Sure, visibility is good, and nothing should sneak up on you there, but they surely were not paying attention, nor monitored closely. A westbound pulled up and into the siding several minutes before another EB and then the UP844, but if it had been making a rolling meet with the other EB or the UP844…I’m not so sure those folks would have been paying attention to what was behind them.

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