2 Weeks and Twenty Years Ago..

From the afar, a young boy on a class trip to the Crocker Art Museum gazed in awe as he watched a lone steam locomotive take a slow trip down the tracks opposite where he was standing. At the age of 11, this was the second time he'd seen mainline steam under operation in any form. The sight of that steam locomotive and discovery of the looming Railfair '91 prompted him to relentlessly pester his parents into taking him down somehow.

On May 15th, I was whisked away early in the morning to a "surprise" by my Father. My mother was quite ill and being cared for at home at the time, despite this my father managed to figure a way to get out of town and take me down there to experience the event. It was there, as a young boy, that I saw in front of the "Eureka" for the first time. I saw SP 2472 and 4449, UP 3985 (I'd seen 844 when I was younger) and so many other locomotives under steam that I've never forgotten that day.

Of that experience, my most cherished memory is was watching 2472 across I-5, a dumbfounding sight for a young railfan. One that will be etched in my memory forever.

Thank you for sharing the photos Russ.

Andrew Brandon
A fixture here since Y2k.
[www.pacificng.com]
[www.spnghs.org]

"An end to red domes in our lifetime!"