Official Valley Railroad Thread (VRR) - 2009

kitn1mcc wrote:Thomas the Tanks Engine this week

ohhhhh joy

"Ice on 5"

The Santa Special and North Pole Express trains start the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 27. Santa Specials operate
that day, and every Saturday and Sunday at 1:00PM and 2:30PM until Dec. 20.

The North Pole Express trains begin that day, and daily except Monday at 5:00PM and 7:00PM thru Dec. 27,
except Dec. 24 & 25. The evening trains are now sold out, and due to heavy demand, on certain weekends,
a third train will be operating, departing Essex at 5:30PM. The first of these days is Saturday, Nov. 28.
So there will be 2 steam engines fired up these days for the third trip. Although they run in the dark,
there is some interesting night photography and videography that can be done. The 5:30 trips will run
first up to Deep River, back to Milepost 1.5 in Old Saybrook, then return to Essex. So some rare mileage
will be involved as well.

Come ride and photograph the daytime trains, then stick around for railfanning the multi-train evening departures.

I was thinking of trying to catch one of the early afternoon trains on the day after Thanksgiving. I'm not familiar at all with the Valley RR. Where do these trains start and run to? Thanks for the help.

All trains start and end at the Essex Station, located on Route 154 at Route 9 Exit 3. Christmas trains generally go to northern Chester, whether it be CMX or Parker's Point, but generally your last public viewing will be at the Ferry Road crossing (Route 148) in Chester. There are stations in Deep River and Chester in between, at Deep River is the passing track, so a train backs down from where it stops in Chester back to Deep River.

You can go to Google or Yahoo Maps and search the railroad, beginning at the intersection of Main St/Middlesex Tpke & Railroad Avenue, heading north. All crossings are at-grade except Dennison Road and Route 9, both in Essex/Centerbrook. Rattling Valley Road is kinda tight, but views from Essex St and from the town landing at the end of River St in Deep River are both possible.

Looks like departure times for the holidays, starting day after Thanksgiving, are 1pm and 2:30pm, and night departures are I think at 5:30 and 7:30, though are no longer listed since they are all sold out (for now). Info courtesy www.essexsteamtrain.com.

Enjoy!

Train departure times are as listed in the original posting in this thread.

This coming weekend, Dec. 5 & 6, trains depart 1:00, 2:30, 5:00, 5:30, 7:00, 7:30. The 5:30 and 7:30 are Saturday only.

Lee

the 5:30 and 7:30 go north to dr then south alll the way to the army siding in old saybrook with number 97

Sorry, they go south to MP 1.5, which is a half mile north of the Army siding.

Lee

Two VRR videos taken on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, before I went
on duty at Essex Station at 3:00 PM. I wish we had had some snow,
but December's not over yet, and trains run until the 27th!


http://www.flickr.com/photos/33786891@N02/4169289324

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33786891@N02/4168504035

Enjoy,
Lee

Nice videos as usual, Lee!

Now the big question is... if they're running two trains at once, what's the consist of the "southern" train? If the regular train is going with a 9-car consist, that only leaves the 2 Lamoille Valley coaches for seating, neither of which have heat, and the Wally and Meriden. So what equipment does #97 pull on these extra runs?

Both Lamoilles now have brand new oil fired furnaces baseboard heat and one has a new bathroom and freshly painted floors more work on them to come soon steel work painting.

PLUS the Wally and Meriden make a 4-car consist. Normally pulled by 97.

Lee

Wow... didn't know about 601 and 603 getting heat... thought just 602. That's good to hear. And so is painting in the future. Thanks!

it is a good looking train i stopped by last sat. and ran the crossing at the plains road crossing while rob made up the train. probally will this sat as well

Saturday was a Busy Day!

We had good crowds on all 6 trains this past Saturday, Dec. 12.
I estimate we had about 1800 passengers. Expecting the large
turnout, both 40 and 97 were used again this week, with 40 making
4 round trips and 97 two.

Here's a photo of the two engines being readied for service on
Saturday morning:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33786891@N ... 9/sizes/l/

Lee