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From: roma@uiucuxc.CSO.UIUC.EDU
Newsgroups: net.railroad
Subject: Re: Not so much Steam...
Message-ID: <16900009@uiucuxc>
Date: Wed, 15-Jan-86 02:51:00 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucuxc.16900009
Posted: Wed Jan 15 02:51:00 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 17-Jan-86 07:06:12 EST
References: <1341@brl-tgr.ARPA>
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Nf-ID: #R:brl-tgr.ARPA:1341:uiucuxc:16900009:000:1479
Nf-From: uiucuxc.CSO.UIUC.EDU!roma    Jan 15 01:51:00 1986


>                                         ... The big problem I've had
> is the awesome, profound ignorance most `steam freaks' seem to exhibit
> when it comes to contemporary railroads. Oh well--let's not kick a
> dead horse...

I never thought I'd ever be the least bit interested in steam engines.
(After all, I thought, they all look so much alike and besides, they're
nothing more than dirty old tea kettles rendered obsolete by the
diesel.)  I spent much of my teen-age years chasing the colorful
first-generation diesels that were then still plentiful around Chicago.

Well, a lot has happened since those days.  For one thing, most
of the older diesels are gone -- replaced by F40PH's or Geeps -- neither
of which I find particularly attractive.  Secondly, the many mergers, service
cutbacks, and line abandonments mean fewer places to see trains, fewer trains,
and less variety.  Everything looks so ALIKE these days!  So, I found myself
hurting for stimulating railfan activities.  (Railfanning can be depressing
at times!)

At that time, the only steam I'd ever experienced was the little dinky
engines puffing around railroad museums.  To say the least, I was never
impressed.

One day, a friend called and asked me if I felt like going to Roanoke to
chase Norfolk & Western's 611 on one of her first trips.  (This was back
in 1983.)  I said I'd go -- why not, it would be something different.
I'm sure glad I did.  It was a very tiring but exhiliarating experience.