Victorian Christmas 2015

[Jason M Lamontagne]

1558 riders.  18 round trips; 6 trips per engine.

All of our crew performed absolutely fabulously- thank you everyone!!!

Jason

[Mike Fox]

58 volunteers in the book when I left at 5:45.

Nice planning by Jason. It made for a great day.

[Joe Fox]

Very smooth. Every thing ran like clock work. A friend of Bill Samples was very impressed with how well the two trains were dispatched all day.

[Brendan Barry]

10 from the back of the departing "A" train. 10 pulled the "A" train south bound was uncoupled and 52 was coupled onto the north end. 52 pulled the train north and backed into track two in the yard to clear up for the south bound "B" train.



10 has pulled into the passing siding to clear up for the "B" train coming south behind 9. After 52 departs north with the "A" train 10 will pull out on the main line and couple onto the "B" train and take the "B" train north. 9 will wait in the siding at Sheepscot waiting for the "A" train to come back south and swap out with 52.









10 with the "B" train passing the "A" train at Alna Center. 10 will back "B" train down to the station when "A" train leaves for Sheepscot.















"A" train coming into Sheepscot behind 10.



Eric's live steam setup next to the shop building.

[john d Stone]

Wow! Classic Forneys working side by side. Clever coordination of train moves. Truly a first class affair!     

[Terry W. Shirley]

Beautiful Shots!!!!!  Also glad to see that Edaville caboose in service.  Is it a real SR&RL caboose?

[Paul Uhland]

Excuse my criticism, but  those ugly puddles partially blocking pedestrian passage  between depot and shop really need draining.
Some Case-y Jones creative grading with more ballast spread over the area could eliminate the problem.

Great trip coverage, BTW. 

[Philip Marshall]

Is it a real SR&RL caboose?

Nope, not the original SR&RL 554 (that burned in 1926) but a pretty good replica. The surviving real SR&RL cabooses are 551, 553, 556, and 557 -- plus *possibly* the cupola end of 558 which was reported years ago to be in a private collection in New Jersey.

[Mike Fox]

Excuse my criticism, but  those ugly puddles partially blocking pedestrian passage  between depot and shop really need draining.
Some Case-y Jones creative grading with more ballast spread over the area could eliminate the problem.

Great trip coverage, BTW. 

For years I have wanted to build a catch basin and install a drain pipe under the track but have yet to get it done. There is no where for the water to go other than where it is, without building the area up significantly.

[Wayne Laepple]

Well done, all.

Merry Christmas, folks.

[Steve Zuppa]

Whew! Another Victorian Christmas under our belt and arguably the best one, yet. Our fifteenth year but notable for a number of firsts. A record 1558 passengers were carried. Three separate trains run. Two steam locomotives in operation.

Anyone involved in an event of this size knows that it doesn't just happen. A tremendous amount of preparation by a dedicated group of volunteers spent weeks ahead of time prepping and planning. Kudos are due Jason Lamontagne for an operating plan that worked perfectly and kept wait times to a minimum. Brendan Barry for caboose haulage and flatcar benches. Brian Fanslau for use of his caboose. Joe Fox and Stewart Rhine for publicity. Linda Verney for the last minute addition of another horse drawn wagon when we looked to have a high turnout.

Finally, thanks go to all the volunteers who turned out on the day, 60 at last count (Mrs. Claus and I didn't get to sign in until this morning.). It was truly an "all hands on deck" effort and it couldn't have been done without you. I'm proud to be associated with you all.

Merry Christmas

Steve Zuppa

[Stephen Hussar]

Phenomenal, just phenomenal. Pretty soon, when people across the country think of Maine, they'll think lobster rolls and narrow gauge railroads. Some moments captured along the way.

Merry Christmas!
Stephen

[Paul Uhland]

All outstanding!
And I love Santa's little shelter, obviously recently built.
Unending Bravos!

[Philip Marshall]

It looks like it was an amazing weekend, another great success for the railroad after a year of great successes. I wish I could have been there.

[Hansel Gordon]

Here's My Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDWVI-7pyZQ