The Most Extravagant Extravaganza

This year's Transport Extravaganza seemed to me, and to several other unbiased observers, to be the biggest and best we've ever had.  Of course, I don't have access to the official numbers, but who ya gonna believe?

I didn't get a chance to see much of the antique vehicles, but I was told that there were cars parked in places they've never been before, there were so many.   And on the railroad, we were busier than ever.  There were six mainline trains in operation: a three-car CA&E wood train, a three-car North Shore train, a bilevel train, and a coach train were in regular rotation on the main line, plus  the Shay taking its usual short turns, and the 460 in Jefferson shuttle service.  Plus two streetcars.  Harold kept all of this going on schedule, and that's not easy.

Here's our CA&E train on the tail track before service started.  The 308 currently  has no motors, but it serves well as an unpowered trailer.  And we really needed three cars!  We had them all filled during the day until the very last trip, where two cars were enough.  That's unusual!

And you knew this was coming.  Frank was the motorman, Keith Letsche was the trainman, and I was the conductor.    

Of course, it's always great to have steam operating, as long as you're not downwind for too long.  

A couple of pictures of antique autos from the tail track.  Once we were in operation, I didn't have a chance to get any more.

It's always great to be able to be a part of an operation like this.  No other museum can come anywhere close to this!

Frank adds...

As my father mentioned, Sunday was a great day - the railroad kept moving like clockwork and we carried a lot of visitors. I didn't have time to take many photos but I did grab a couple.

Check out that nice new platform along the east berth of Station Track 1!

Nick Espevik took this photo of my father and I alongside the three-car North Shore train, with Chris C in the cab of the 714.

And here's a shot from the other end of the train. This is quite the lineup on Station 1! But whatever we threw into the stove on the 308, obviously we need to find something cleaner burning.