RIDING THE DURBIN ROCKET

I just returned from a tour bus trip to Elkins, West Virginia. I was disappointed that it was PAST autumn leaf season and most days were dreary, foggy, drizzly. Oh well, one can not control nature so you make the best of it.

One of the highlights was a ride on the Durbin Rocket train. I've had a lifelong love of trains... guess it goes back to growing up near a railroad track. But, I just love riding on a train. Here's the little station in Durbin, West Virginia.

And waiting, with steam puffing from it's smoke stack, was the Durbin Rocket pulled by Old # 3, one of only three operating Climax geared logging locomotives in the world. It was built in 1910 for the logging industry. That means that she's over 100 years old!!

Although the day was chilly with a fine mist of rain I chose the open car to ride in... what else would a blogger do? We gotta be able to take pictures, right?  Bye... we are pulling out of the station!!

Even though the leaves were mostly gone, there was still amazing sights all along the Greenbriar River for us to enjoy.  I'll bet those rhdodendron (on the far bank) are beautiful when in bloom. The guide said they bloom here high in the mountains in July, much later than at lower elevation.

The Monongahela National Forest is a hiker/hunter/fisherman's ideal location. We saw picnic tables along the river and someone had built a bridge to cross to the other side.

 

A little color.... whee!! And notice the outhouse in the middle background. Well, they sure don't have running water up here in these hills!

 

This is my favorite photograph!! I should have taken time to edit out that wee bit of the side on the train in the upper righthand corner.... I will. I was just in a hurry for you all to see where I have been.

 

The train came to a stop and all of us were joking about having to walk back to the station when the conductor announced that the engineer had to fill the boiler with water... And, if anyone was interested we could watch from the open flat car just behind the engine. I took off like a shot!!

the green hose is in a creek and he attaches it to the engine and it pumps in water. Too Cool!!

 

While we were stopped the co-engineer (I guess you could call him that) was busy shoveling coal into the hopper. Most of the crew were really young men.

Then we chugged our way back to the station. Of course, I had to have my picture taken by the engine. I have had for quite awhile on my bucket list that I wanted to ride in a steam engine cab. Well, if I had asked I could have done that very thing.... but I think I am okay... Gaining access to the cab would nearly be impossible for me at my age ( see those very narrow, steep steps and the very narrow doorway into the cab) The crew told me it was a very rough ride and I would have been covered in black soot. So, I mark that off my list!!

This ride on the Durbin Rocket was one of my favorite things we did on this trip.

In the days to come I will share more of my trip with you.

 

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Outdoor Wednesday