Omaha Zoo Railroad.

Greetings to you all. I didn't see that any had posted much on the OZRR lately so I thought I would put out an update. I have two pics to share the most important is the new 2 track siding built on the hillside just up track from the engine house. I cannot tell you how much that siding has made my life easier. It finally gives us room to put both trainsets away without having to uncouple/couple/move around this car and that car to fit the space. Its something Henry the Shop Foreman has wanted to do for a long time and finally the zoo let him do it. But, only because he had to move the siding he had installed at the beginning of 2016 somewhere else so the zoo could build there new Asian Highland area.

The track is down to about 1.6 miles of track due to a lose of track at the top of the steepest grade close to the zoo entrance to make room for the new Elephant exhibit. Sadly, it means our steepest grade is 4% instead of the old 6%. I tell you that 6% was a challenge but it at least made it entertaining. Now, there is never any really guessing as to if your gonna reach the top or not. Its much more routine anymore.

We are still running the 104-Austrian and the 119. Both engines are still steaming well and are in fine shape. Most of the time I tell people I run a 4-4-0 with 5 coaches up a 4% grade, ten times a day and they look at me like I am crazy but most of the time its just a job. Been running trains here for 6 years now and it never gets boring that is for sure.

Josh






Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/10/2017 08:32PM by trainman1912.