Topics

1

Museum Discussion / Revenue producing idea

« on: March 24, 2021, 09:59:51 AM »

The Wilmington & Western Railroad in Delaware offers a pixies & pirates train for the younger ones.  They also had a princess special last year and my Goddaughter's daughter loved it.

https://www.wwrr.com/ride/events/pirates-and-pixies.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3z724DWIb1aoc8wR3KTBd-aAjvu_0tEUUwU7fXmNwGfmV_C7qP66gj5Ak

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General Discussion / If you've ever wanted a park train

« on: March 20, 2021, 04:59:19 PM »

A 114 year-old amusement park in Clementon, NJ is being sold at auction.

From the article "NJ.com reported that the park has almost 400 items on its inventory, including a 40-person arc swing, a 360-degree loop ride, a ferris wheel and a train system complete with cooled propane engine, rail system and three 18-foot long cars."

I don't know the gauge, but if you've always wanted a park train, here's your opportunity. They don't come up for sale very often.

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/new-jersey-theme-park-114-to-be-auctioned

3

Museum Discussion / Heavy duty 2-foot snowplow

« on: December 27, 2020, 08:40:44 PM »

I saw a post over on the Railway Preservation site by Rick Rowlands who has a heavy-duty plow available if it is something the WW&F could use or possibly the MNG.

http://forum.wwfry.org/index.php/topic,3877.0.html

4

General Discussion / Fluke Accident

« on: November 02, 2020, 11:58:57 AM »

One very lucky Dutch Metro engineer.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/11/02/whale-tail-sculpture-catches-metro-train-netherlands-no-injuries/6122936002/

5

US Two Footers / Camp Haluwasa Shoreline Railroad

« on: October 17, 2020, 02:41:31 PM »

There is a Christian Camp in Hammonton, NJ that has a 2-foot homebuilt railroad line that shuttles the campers from the parking lot to the actual camp site.  The goodbyes are said at the parking lot station and the train transports the campers to their cabins. I looked through this forum and couldn't find any mention of it.  I guess it would be more under the title of "amusement park" ride, but it has been an important part of the Camp for many years.  Here is a link to their web site as well as a link to a video showing the empty train on part of it's run through the swamp.  The Haluwasa web site has an 8:11 Vimeo video showing their activities and a few glimpses of the railroad carrying campers.

https://haluwasa.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgKr78rAxs0

6

Museum Discussion / Hayrides

« on: August 31, 2020, 08:32:30 PM »

The Wilmington & Western Railroad in Delaware has been offering fall hayrides for several years.  I don't know if this would be something the WW&F would be interested in doing.  I think last year you ran trains to a farm near TOM, but I don't remember having an open "hayride" car.  Sides could probably be added to one or more of your flatcars.  Of course, the W&W only uses a diesel on this train (for obvious reasons).

https://www.wwrr.com/ride/events/hayride.aspx?fbclid=IwAR1ULX9XkU3UBG9F2zel9UwdE16pnNgf3GeEAATkT4-ZtJzVyloB7QpvbA8

P.S.  Most hayrides I've been on used bales of straw, not hay

7

Other Narrow Gauge / Swanton Pacific miniature railroad

« on: August 22, 2020, 12:50:55 PM »

The Swanton Pacific miniature railroad near Santa Cruz, CA (19 inch gauge) has been devastated by a wildfire.  One of their engines was spared being at a contractor's facility in Cheyenne.  The Roaring Camp & Big Trees Railroad is also in danger from the wildfires.


http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44778

8

General Discussion / Railroad plant auction July 28-30, Milton, PA

« on: July 12, 2020, 07:08:46 PM »

A former ACF rail plant is being liquidated at the end of this month.  There is a WIDE variety of industrial rail-related tools and parts, some of which might be of interest to the WW&F Museum.  There are 3 GE 45-tonners (with side rods) that have been repowered with Cummings engines.  Don't know if it would be possible to re-gauge one from standard to 2-foot, but if nothing else, there would be a decent engine/generator, motors & trucks if the price was right.

http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44639

9

Museum Discussion / Outside the box idea for revenue

« on: July 09, 2020, 10:09:58 AM »

This probably would go against the authenticity aspect of the WW&F, but I'll toss it out there anyway.  How about outfitting a caboose with RV-type amenities and rent it out for nightly stays at TOM.  Instead of destroying the historic fabric of an old car, a new one could be built with modern conveniences.  I'm sure lots of people would like to spend a night and it could bring in a steady source of income when the railroad is running. 

Back in 2015, my wife and 2 adult children spent a night on the Castaway Caboose which operated on the Durbin Rocket line in Durbin, WV.  We had a great time and would love to do it again, but my health condition prevents that.  I'm including a link to the Castaway Caboose as well as a couple of photos from our adventure.

https://mountainrailwv.com/tour/castaway-caboose-overnights/

10

General Discussion / New South African luxury hotel

« on: July 07, 2020, 10:48:43 AM »

This one is a train permanently parked on a bridge.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/south-africa-kruger-shalati-train-on-the-bridge/index.html

11

General Discussion / Snowpiercer TV Show

« on: May 17, 2020, 02:07:25 PM »

I saw an ad for a new TV show which features a post-apocalyptic ark-like train.  I believe it is adapted from a movie a few years back.  The first episode is tonight (5/17) at 9:00 Eastern time on TNT.  Here's a link for the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lFMpmwn_hQ

12

General Discussion / Mr. Peabody's coal train has hauled it away

« on: April 08, 2020, 07:36:06 PM »

Just read that John Prine passed away on April 7th from coronavirus complications. I really like one song he did about the Appalachian coal-producing region.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEy6EuZp9IY&fbclid=IwAR2HwxF2XgWvMgCQ_OpvGbw41rrq4ElbhClfAgvz6drXcvK2JFwfYPRGWGA

13

Museum Discussion / Date/Time on discussion forum

« on: February 03, 2020, 08:59:12 PM »

I'm sure this question has been answered in the past but here goes.  Is your time based on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)?  If so, why?  I would imagine Eastern Standard Time since that is where the museum is located.

14

Museum Discussion / Standard gauge steam engine

« on: November 04, 2019, 01:45:30 PM »

After joining the WW&F officially (been lurking for years), I went on a reading binge through all of the back issues of your newsletter.  I remember there was a standard gauge steam engine (without cab I think) that was at Sheepscot for a while.  I don't remember reading about it's leaving, but from all the recent photos it's obviously not there anymore.  In a nutshell, what was the story with that engine and where did it end up?

15

Maine Narrow Gauge RR Co. & Museum / TRAINS magazine ad

« on: November 02, 2019, 05:16:37 PM »

I just received my December, 2019 copy of TRAINS magazine today.  Lo and behold on the rear cover of this month's issue was a full-page ad for the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum.