States driven?

[Curious Hound]

Well I found out some sad news about the Durango/Silverton narrow gauge coal/steam train tonight... Apparently the fire called the "416 fire" was somewhat vaguely indirectly hinted at having been caused by most likely a coal something... so the last coal fired run of that train was this last week. The owners converted the whole of all locomotives to oil.... so while you get the beautiful scenery and all that no more coal smoke in your face when it rounds the backswitch over the rivers and no more pretty coal black smoke puffin out as it roars into the station.

Still narrow gauge, still the same locomotives, just no coal.

On the plus note maybe folks can get better pictures now, all the ones my dad took when I was 6 years old trying to catch the engine and tender as it crossed the river back and forth were nothing but black clouds.

Watch incredible video of the last coal burner on the Durango & Silverton

A 143-year tradition came to an end a year ago this week as No. 481 marked the last of the Durango & Silverton's steam locomotives that the company converted from coal burning to oil.

www.yahoo.com

They stopped running coal early in 2014 2024, according to their site. I was aware of that. Disappointing, but understandable. It will still be a glorious day. I can still get my coal fix closer to home. Cass still runs coal and their narrow gauge locos are even more special.

 

[Brain75]

Well the 416 fire was in 2018, so if they stopped using coal in '14 then that is one time traveling spark..... and the railroad got a fine of 25 million they agreed to pay without even proof, just an accusation (federal accusation at that).... Fire started near the line, but there is also a road there....

Anyhow the news said they ran coal up until last week and had video of a bunch of photographers taking pictures and video of its "last ride".

 

[Curious Hound]

Well the 416 fire was in 2018, so if they stopped using coal in '14 then that is one time traveling spark..... and the railroad got a fine of 25 million they agreed to pay without even proof, just an accusation (federal accusation at that).... Fire started near the line, but there is also a road there....

Anyhow the news said they ran coal up until last week and had video of a bunch of photographers taking pictures and video of its "last ride".

Sorry. I meant to say 2024. I corrected it. I wasn’t fully awake.

i wonder if the last coal burning run last week was a freight run or maintenance train run. But various places in their website say “oil fired steam locomotives” and some places still mention coal-fired. So, i won’t argue. I’m going off faulty data.

 

[Brain75]

It was a pure publicity run, all photographers and media. FWIW, I don't think they have run freight in 50+ years, it is pure tourist attraction for all my life.

 

[pjtoledo]

seems to be a few states missing from the lists,,,,

state of confusion
state of disbelief
state of denial


and mental state

 

[ekrampitzjr]

So far just Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and North Carolina in my Ranger besides Virginia. It's probably going to remain that way because I'm getting older and have less desire to take really long road trips. Also, if something crazy comes up and I do need to drive 1,000+ miles, I would rent a newer vehicle for the trip.

I don't know where previous owners might have driven it, but after 10 years it had only 101,000 miles when I bought it in 2021. The Ranger had been sold new at a Ford dealer in eastern Virginia, and the Chrysler dealer I bought it from was in the same city.