National Train Day

National Train Day
click photo to enlarge	For National Train day San Bernardino held an event at the historic Santa Fe Depot. Part of the event was the Santa Fe Locomotive 3751. Working at the Route 66 museum in Barstow we get a lot of train buffs so I have come to realize just how many there are. There was a huge crowd turned out to see this steam locomotive. It is by far one of the largest locomotives I have ever seen. This locomotive, 3751, is a thing of beauty. It is obviously very well cared for. It was very clean and shiny. It burns fuel oil so it not dirty from coal.
click photo to enlarge	Part of the festivities included private passenger cars, Metro Link equipment, Amtrak Bus, model railroads and historic vehicles. We had been busy working around the house all weekend and when we finished up Sunday ran out to see the steam train leave.
click photo to enlarge	We were both surprised by the size of the crowd. We also learned that in order to have the steam train on the tracks it has to be accompanied by what they call a helper locomotive. The helper locomotive will supply power in case something happens to the steam train. They can not have a broken down locomotive blocking tracks that carry freight. In this case there was an Metro Link locomotive right behind it.
click photo to enlarge	click photo to enlarge