Re: Europe has flavor!

Greg:
I was stationed with the Air Force in Japan from 61 to 65. Our house was close to a JNR branch like that hauled limestone. The rock trains were powered by two JNR D51 2-8-2s and the local passenger was powered by a 4-6-2 (there were some rail cars too). All of this 42 inch gauge. It was possible to see 10 to 15 steam engines at a nearby major junction. I was an Air Force photographer, but didn't have a lot of $$$ for film and only shot b&w 35mm Tri-X film.
My wife was not impressed the first time she went to Chama because she is Japanese and grew up riding behind narrow gauge 2-8-2s, 4-6-2s. Once while going to see her aunt in Northern Japan, her train got stuck in a snow slide. After they were pulled out, the passenger train was couple onto a rotary train and the she rode all night behind a narrow gauge rotary. To her, she didn't understand what the big deal was to me about seeing Chama or Durango.