That was the memory that came to me as I toured the Colorado Railroad Museum and took photos of this engine. The wheels on this trail were about five feet in diameter and there were eight drive wheels for the monster. The cramped space of the museum didn't allow a different perspective of the engine. I was hoping for a small child to come by as I was taking this photo. No luck.
Perspective is tough. This would have been a good time for a self portrait standing in front of these monster drive wheels.
Sometimes the wheels of rail cars need to be replaced. The one time used wheels seem to gather in one particular location. Or perhaps this pile of wheels is the "spare tire" collection.
Many of the railway cars and locomotives at the museum were narrow gauge examples. There were a few standard gauge trains including the monster in the first photo. Wonder how they got it into the museum.
In keeping with the historical nature of railroading with steam locomotives, a water tank was on one railway track. Not visible is the sign that identifies location of the water tank as No Agua. Appears to have been moved from New Mexico. The sign indicated No Agua was 308 miles from Denver and 99 miles from Santa Fe. That would place No Agua north west of Taos across the Rio Grande River.
Have to wonder why a place called No Agua would have a water tank for the railway.
Just Wondering.... Does a railroad museum have any interest to the children born in these early years of the 21st century. Could this railway museum and its rustic examples of railway transportation may become nothing more than raw materials for recycling into a 21st century transportation vehicle.
I think your concern is very valid and likely to happen. If it is not electronic it doesn't count.
ReplyDeleteMy grandsons are 6 and 4 and 3. They love going to the train museum in Omaha. People didn't stop loving the wooden clipper ships when steam ships came along did they?
ReplyDeletesgsmith
sgsmith... My guess is that your grandsons are the exception. Pretty sure that most youngsters would rather go to an amusement park with thrill rides than walk around a railroad museum.
ReplyDeleteAs a High School teacher, I can tell you that kids still are awed by the old trains. I agree, on their own they probably wouldn't go to see them, but when we take them to a museum, they all are drawn to the locomotives. (I teach in an inner-city urban school)
ReplyDeleteWayne (from PA)
Wayne, Considering the number of comments you have posted at my blog, you must be reading the whole thing. Could this really be that interesting to hold your interest for more than a couple of Wandrin Lloyd's post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading. Better yet, thanks for commenting.