Check out what I drove this weekend!!!

[Glenn]

Visiting a rail road museum in Miami and took the "Cab Ride" tour. The guy actually let me drive the f'in train! Only got to go about a mile and a half and only at 15mph, but it was AWESOME!!

My list of "Things I Need To Drive Before I Die" is getting shorter!

[Neuswede]

And I thought I've driven some cool stuff? That takes the prize for torque and horsepower! Pretty cool to actually take the controls, even at 15 mph.

Marc

[MXtras]

Very cool!

Scott

[Cebby]

That's awesome - who had more fun, you or your lad?

[Glenn]

I think I had more fun! He got to blow to the horn, but I was not going to trust him with the controls of a 240,000 lb train!

It was pretty cool. When we first headed out, the engineer drove out of the station, stopped so the track could be switched, then backed up about a half mile. That is when he let me take over. When I got to about 8 miles per hour, I was actually feeling a little uneasy as though we were going 100! LOL! It is different when you are in control.

I learned that this particular engine holds 200 US gallons of oil. It has not had an oil change in over 20 years. (They send oil samples off to the lab for analysis to see if it needs to be changed.) I was also told that locomotives have their front ends filled with concrete and steel plates for better traction. They actually want it to weigh enough to mushroom the rails a bit for better contact patch.

It was pretty awesome!

[Neuswede]

For anyone travelling in Pennsylvania and who love trains, check out Steamtown USA in Scranton and the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum in Strasburg (near Lancaster). Another good one is the B&O Museum in Baltimore. Steamtown has an operational yard, complete with turntable, and they run special excursion trails in the Fall. They also have a restoration shop where they repair the rolling stock and locos. Steamtown USA is part of the US National Parks System and worth a visit if you are ever in the area.

Marc

[Glenn]

I will definitely check those out when I am up there.

There was a nice museum out in Golden Colorado too. Can't remember the name, but I will find it and post it.

Train museums and aviation museums are always on my list.

[blaserman]

I agree with Marc on the B&O. I have been there several times since I was 8 and it still holds my attention when I go there. The main part is called the Round House and that is what it is. They have one of the first loco's that was used by the B&O there. If you ever get up this way let me know, i'm only about 30 minutes from it.

Art

[Neuswede]

Probably not as COOL as driving a locomotive, but I did have some fun with my vintage race car at The US Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen a few weeks ago. This was my first time at The Glen, and if you love vintage race cars, this is THE place to be for the entire weekend of festivities. For a long list of reasons, I had missed this event multiple times, but nothing was stopping me this year.

My highlights of the weekend, which began on Thursday, started meeting Brock Yates and chatting with him about his 1962 Kurtis/Novi replica racer. What a cool car. Friday, my car was 1 of 15 cars (from a field of more than 260) selected for the tech inspection re-enactment at Smalley's Garage in the village of Watkins Glen. Our group had a police escort for about 3 miles from the track into downtown, so driving a non-street legal race car on public streets is a rare treat. For Friday evening, I was also selected for the race re-enactment on the old street course, where you once again parade into downtown for a car show then having a chance to run the old street course through downtown. Speeds are fairly sane, but very spirited and it was quite a show.

On Saturday, I had a chance to meet Indy driver Lyn St. James who was introduced to me by a good friend. Lyn grew up in Ohio as I did, and when she asked which car was miine. I found out that her first car was a two-stroke SAAB, much like mine and was one of her all-time favorite cars growing up. Well, as it turned out, I was invited to bring my car back to the autograph session, and Lyn signed my dash. Her signature now joins those of Erik "on the roof" Carlson and Dr. Dick Thompson, both famous SAAB race drivers from the 60's. Lyn had a chance to sit in the car for a few minutes after signing the dash, and it was really a treat to have a few minutes to talk with her. Here are a couple pics of the autograph session.

Marc