Monday, October 29, 2012

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
 

16 comments:

  1. Wow! That was quite a fun thing to do! Thanks for sharing this with us! Very nice pictures!

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  2. Hi Latane....You do the best things. Jim and I just seem to work on our home all the time. You really enjoy life. We need to be more like you. I am glad you had a fun trip. I wonder what will be next? Nice pictures and very interesting!

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  3. We passed Durbin --and saw that train... BUT--we chose to go to Cass, WVa and ride the train there to the top of the mountain instead... If you get back to that area, be sure and take the Cass train... It's awesome.

    Sorry the weather was so bad while you were there. But--I love your photos --since there's always something magical about photos in the rain/fog/mist...

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  4. Wow, what beautiful countryside!!! YOur pictures are fantastic..... each one would make a gorgeous picture to hang on the wall.

    I'm so glad your getting out and about and having a good time!!!
    Hugs,

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  5. I've never heard of that train. I have heard of the Cass Railroad but have never ridden it either. I'll have to remember that one for the future. My parents lived in Elkins in the 80s and 90s. It's a beautiful spot.

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  6. Wonderful Pics! Looked like a wonderful time !

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  7. Oh, dear - you and I sure travel the same path.... We did the Durbin ride last year in October - and drove through a snow storm to get there!
    Here's the link to my post:
    http://thesedaysofmine.com/2011/11/04/autumn-train/

    Thanks for sharing!

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  8. The train ride looks like so much fun. WV is getting slammed with snow from these wild storms.

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  9. What an awesome ride, beautiful despite being past color peak. I'd love to walk across that bridge!

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  10. Gosh you look like you had a ball!! I found your blog because i was image googling BARNS... lol

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  11. I am so jealous! What a wonderful trip ride! The photos you got were amazing! I hope you didn't get too cold sitting in that open car. I loved seeing them take on water. That was really interesting!

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  12. Excellent photography and love the train and the b/w photo is great ~ (A Creative Harbor) ^_^

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  13. Excellent photography and love the train and the b/w photo is great ~ (A Creative Harbor) ^_^

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  14. What a lovely trip you had and that train ride did make the trip. You are one amazing woman! Keep travelling.
    Joyce M

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  15. Latane, I loved this post! You made it such fun...even to read about.

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  16. Thanks for sharing your fun and picturesque train ride. Have not been on a train in years, but have ridden one many times years ago.
    Thanks for stopping by and nice comment.

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