Hello all members

[johnH]

I was wandering about the site trying to find out how to say Hello. Decided to join Deltic. That's an eye-catching name! I have been a railfan for over 60 years, cannot get it out of the system. I am still volunteering on the Welsh Highland Railway (the longer railway of that name - I shall say no more about the two Welsh Highlands) but am not just a narrow-gauge enthusiast. I enjoy everything from narrow to broad (I have ridden on the West Coast Railway in Victoria, Australia, and have visited Russia many times). I went right off the UK standard-gauge scene when passenger trains became multiple-units but I am gradually getting more interested again. Present obsession is US railways. A friend and I have been on railfan trips to Illinois, Pennsylvania, California and Arizona. We are off to see the Colorado three-foot lines in September. Would like hints as to where to go to see decent numbers of loco-hauled freight trains, not too far from Birmingham (no, not Alabama, West Midlands). Cheers, JohnH

[Andy]

Hi John,
Welcome aboard. I have moved your post to a thread of it's own... just in case you couldn't see, there's a red button entitled 'new thread' in every forum, to the left side above and below the list of other threads in the forum. Clicking on that button enables you to create a thread.
best regards
Andy

[DSY011]

Hello JohnH and welcome to the Railway Forum. Did you ever visit any of the Southern African railways?

[6678bjm]

Hi John, welcome to the Railway Forum, hope you enjoy it. I often pop to Bescot and Trent Valley to see freight. Chasewater Railway put on industrial steam freight & coal trains during Gala weekends .

Regards

[locojoe]

Hello JohnH and welcome to the Railway Forum.

[John H-T]

Welcome to the Forum John. Look forward to your posts.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

[Bridgewater]

Hello JohnH,

You will enjoy riding the remnants of the narrow gauge lines in Colorado. I have been luck enough to ride both the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. In fact my brother and I spent a week as volunteers working on the C&T back in 2001. The C&T has a wonderful volunteer program and I hope to do it again in the future. Although the D&SNGRR is the more famous of the two railroads, make sure you experience the C&T. It has a more historic feel to it in my opinion.

Should you find yourself in my neck of the woods, I recommend you visit the Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia. It's a few hours drive north of my home in North Carolina. Cass isn't narrow gauge but if watching Shays battling up a 10% grade is your thing, it's not to be missed!

http://www.durangotrain.com/

http://www.cumbrestoltec.com/

http://www.cassrailroad.com/

[48111]

Johnh, good morning, a big welcome to the Forum.

48111

[johnH]

Never have been to South Africa although pictures of SA show how beautiful it is and I would like to go. Maybe one day! However, I have done a lot of work on SAS/SAR Garratt locomotives, B and DZ wagons and a brake van (remwa?) on the Welsh Highland. Thanks for reply! JohnH

[johnH]

Most months I buy the American TRAINS mag and I have seen adverts for the Cass Scenic. The nearest we ever got to West Virginia was Pennsylvania (where we saw a Shay but not at work) - but who knows where next after CO? Yes, we also got the feeling that the Cumbres and Toltec would have a slightly less commercial, more old-fashioned approach than the D&T. We also aim to see the Rio Grande Scenic. Many thanks, Bridgwater, for reply! Cheers, JohnH