Greg Scholl Wrote:
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> I always put off those trips. Partly because our
> family went there in 1960 and it was never that
> impressive as it crept along at 10 mph on flat rr
> and only went 3-5 miles. Probably a better
> subject for stills like yours than video.
> Greg
Hi Greg,
I would concur that from a video standpoint....and even from a still photography standpoint, EBT out on the line was not usually a very exciting subject. Since the tourist era began, they only had about 5 miles of usable track and the last 1/2 mile or so was all in the woods. Running speed was never very impressive. Occasionally, something like a snowstorm would happen and it could produce some really compelling stuff, like the images that Matthew Malkiewicz shot back on Halloween of 2011. But most of the time, the line was pretty boring. The attraction at EBT was always the yard and the equipment. The yard was full of interesting wooden structures and had a number of stub switches and other unique features that made for great photos. The roundhouse had 6 indigenous Mikados inside, 4 of which ran for most of the tourist era. It's no wonder why the two events that I attended there focused primarily on yard operations, and you can see that emphasis in album.
I visited again last October, while driving between venues for another one of Pete Lerro's events. I walked the grounds for a couple of hours in light rain showers. The place looks like someone turned off the lights and just walked away, although someone keeps the grass mowed. It still looks like an operational railroad yard, just waiting for the next train.....that will never arrive.
/Kevin Madore
