Re: 20 Years Ago Today - Final Train over Tennessee Pass

Jason as a 11 year old I had the pleasure of seeing steam on Tennessee Pass when we vacationed up there in 1951. Being from Texas and living on the T&P I was used to big engines---------I thought. But, when I saw those big 2-8-8-2 engines working on the pass and in the Salida engine terminal I could not believe what I was seeing. And, the noise, my gosh those things were thunderous going up the pass. Having doghouses n the tenders and elesco's hung on the smokebox, it was what I was used to except for their size. But, I also could not believe how dirty they were. Truly a sight I have never forgotten

I remember we spent the night in Salida and that there was a brown haze over the town.

A thought, when my generation passes, there will not be anyone alive that saw that.