Every so often I ask myself: are you crazy? This is all so difficult, so tiresome, so dirty, so annoying, so boring! Is it really worth it? Does anybody really care?A day like today provides the answer that keeps me going, and that goes for the rest of us too, I imagine. Everything went very well, we had a good-sized crowd of visitors, everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves, and we put on a good show.
The Leviathan was certainly the star of the production, and we can't thank Dave Kloke enough for all the effort and resources he put in over the years to make this experience possible. He puts the rest of us to shame, I would be the first to admit. It was great to be running alongside this stunning locomotive.
Dan and Chris Buck were my conductors today. As always, they did a great job. The 309 and 319 ran without problems, like a fine Elgin watch. Almost every trip was nearly full. And of course all of the steam trips were packed.
Speaking of watches, I brought along my GPS device today for the first time to use as a speedometer. I guess the cars aren't quite as fast as I had thought. It's very difficult to get over 30 MPH in series. Based on this, I'd say any claims that the cars could do 70 or even 80 are probably an exaggeration. 
But nobody had any modern technology back in the old days.
But nobody had any modern technology back in the old days.
But we can't all be railfanning. A large group of B&G guys and helpers were putting together Ray's playground. It's going to be a real asset for the Museum! Thanks, Ray!