Author Topic: Portable Platforms for Special Events  (Read 13913 times)

Keith Taylor

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Re: Portable Platforms for Special Events
« Reply #15 on: November 08, 2016, 04:03:50 PM »
Most locomotive engineers I've known had their own "markers" -- trees, poles, barns, houses, whatever -- where they would apply or release the brakes or where they'd close the throttle or where they would stop.
On the Lehigh Valley's Hazelton branch there were aluminum pie tins nailed to trees to mark braking spots on the approach to M&H Jct. At tourist railroads I have seen coffee can lids nailed to tie ends as a marker. You stop with the engineer's window in line with the tie that has the lid nailed to it and Bob's Your Uncle!
Keith

Kevin Madore

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Re: Portable Platforms for Special Events
« Reply #16 on: November 11, 2016, 09:21:23 AM »
Photographer trains have to deal with step boxes just like every other railroad.

That's correct.   The portable platforms idea is great for events with the public, when there are lots of passengers who are not used to getting on/off century-old equipment at relatively primitive (by today's standards) station locations.   Those passengers just want to get on and off safely and easily and really don't care what things look like.   On photo trains however, most of the photographers are pretty used to loading and unloading where there are next to no facilities at all.   Even some of the older folks amaze me with their ability to make the big steps.  Heck, I'm only 5ft. 6in. and I've yet to find a location where I can't get on without a step-box.   For photo trains, the regular step-boxes are generally fine.   It certainly helps to have a trainman on the ground to help the folks who are older, or perhaps carrying a lot of gear.   The key thing is that when the train pushes back, there should be nothing left on the ground that is not more or less historically accurate.   Equally, it is important to make sure there is nothing showing on the platforms that wouldn't have existed on a historic train.

A couple of years back, a new tourist line in south central PA decided to install permanent steps at a historic depot at which President Lincoln stopped on his way to Gettysburg in November of 1863.    While I suspect that these steps do enhance the efficiency and safety of the normal tourist operations, the railroad's inability to temporarily remove them for a 2014 Carl Franz Charter pretty much spoiled this historic site as a photo location.

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/524541/

The shot from the other side is even less appealing, as there are multiple yellow steps visible.

Here is the Brady shot allegedly depicting Lincoln at this location.

http://www.hanoverjunction.net/pages/lincoln.htm

No steps back in 1863.   :o

/Kevin

Joe Fox

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Re: Portable Platforms for Special Events
« Reply #17 on: November 28, 2016, 04:53:47 PM »
Temp platforms are finished, and loaded on my dads trailer ready for transport. I have an idea to measure platform spacings and lay them out at AC & Sheepscot with the measurements. There will be two at AC, and two at Sheepscot.

Bill Baskerville

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Re: Portable Platforms for Special Events
« Reply #18 on: November 28, 2016, 06:52:29 PM »
Great work Joe. 

I suspect when we get the saw and shingle mills running we will need some kind of platforms at TOM also.

Bill
~ B2 ~ Wascally Wabbit & Gofer ~

Joe Fox

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Re: Portable Platforms for Special Events
« Reply #19 on: November 28, 2016, 07:52:31 PM »
These could end up up there pretty easy for the normal season. The idea is they wont be needed at AC or Sheepscot other than on special events.