Trains Line
Posted in Uncategorized on 01/07/2008 04:38 pm by admin
Trains Line
 |
![Northern Pacific 8006 40 OB Box Car Micro Trains Line MTL N Scale MY18T31]](http://www.melekbar.com/images/e/380440403838_0.jpg)
 Micro Trains MTL 20636 40’ Box Car ACL Atlantic Coast Line  US $7.99
|
Austin Steam Trains: History Comes to Life
Steam trains are an important part of Texas’s proud history. When war with Mexico ended, the government of the newly-formed Republic of Texas sought to encourage investment. Improving transportation by building a railroad system seemed a logical choice, and once Texas attained statehood, several railway companies began work on constructing a rail system to serve the needs of the growing Texas population.
In 1853, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos, and Colorado Railway began offering rail service between Harrisburg and Stafford, a distance of about twenty miles. This gave the company the distinction of being both the first railroad in Texas and the second railroad west of the Mississippi. As the rail system expanded, so did the risk to passengers; at the dangerous bridge crossing the Brazos river, for example, the conductor allowed travelers to disembark and take a ferry across rather than brave crossing the bridge on board the train.
The Southern Pacific Railroad agreed to begin construction on a line running from Caddo, near San Antonio, to Marshall, due east of Dallas, Texas. When this route was first completed in 1858, the steam locomotive intended to run the line had not yet arrived. However, in order to retain its state charter, the Southern Pacific Railroad was required by written agreement to provide rail service between these two cities. Rather than wait for the locomotive to arrive, the Southern Pacific Railroad opted to use ox-drawn rail carts to transport goods on the newly-laid rails.
In Austin, the train system was essential to move goods transported on the Colorado River to inland destinations. When Austin was named the capital city of Texas, the need for swift transportation increased substantially, and the first railroad into Austin was completed by the Houston and Texas Central Railroad company in 1871. This first steam train line was the beginning of the intricate system that connected Austin with the rest of Texas and the United States.
Today, steam trains no longer grace the old railroad lines. But you can still experience the history and adventure of riding the rails on an old fashioned steam train. The Austin Steam Train Association offers three-hour train rides every Saturday, recreating the historical experience of traveling through rural Texas by train. The original steam engine, the Southern Pacific 786, was manufactured in New York in August 1916. While it is currently being restored to working condition, the train association is using a diesel-powered Alco Diesel 442 locomotive to pull its vintage passenger cars.
The journey begins in Cedar Park, a suburb of Austin, Texas, and winds its way through historic Texas Hill Country, stopping along the way at the 1912 Bertram train depot. The train’s classic passenger cars offer three different levels of service, from Coach to First Class Pullman Lounge. The Coach service comes closest to the original rail experience, but lack the modern amenities of air conditioning and heating. Of course, the windows can be opened for better ventilation and natural cooling in summer. The Excursion Class and First Class Pullman Lounge cars offer air conditioning, heat, and other amenities for less adventurous travelers. If you are interested in chartering a car, the Boonesborough Lounge offers privacy and luxury for your special occasion.
Reservations are recommended, but tickets are usually available for purchase at the boarding area on the day of your journey as well. The Austin Steam Train Association offers riders the chance to travel back in time, making Texas history come to life for railway enthusiasts and tourists alike.
About the Author
Joe Cline writes articles for Austin real estate. Other articles written by the author related to Austin Texas Realtor and Lakeway real estate can be found on the net.
|
|
Trains Line the Casey Stengel Depot $24.99 Trains Line the Casey Stengel Depot - Photographic Print |
|
|
Abergele Wales, Collison of Trains on the Chester-Holyhead Line $49.99 Abergele Wales, Collison of Trains on the Chester-Holyhead Line - Giclee Print |
|
|
Liverpool-Manchester Railway Early Passenger Trains on the Line $49.99 H. Thiriat Liverpool-Manchester Railway Early Passenger Trains on the Line - Giclee Print |
|
|
Trains $13.28 Passenger trains and electric trains. Here come the trains. All aboard |
|
|
Two Diesel Motor Trains on the Assembly Line at the Breda Factory $79.99 Two Diesel Motor Trains on the Assembly Line at the Breda Factory - Premium Photographic Print |
|
|
Trains! $4.99 Cute illustrations bring trains to life for little ones. |
|
|
Circle Line Cruises - The Beast $24 Circle line sightseeing cruises the beast! |
|
|
During Their Mountainous Run Trains on the Darjeeling- Himalaya Line Must Negotiate Agony Point $49.99 During Their Mountainous Run Trains on the Darjeeling- Himalaya Line Must Negotiate Agony Point - Giclee Print |
|
|
Outbound Trains: In the Era Before the Mergers $14.64 "From the early 1960s through the 1970s." Outbound Trains features distinguished photographer, writer and rail magazine editor Jim Boyd's best images, with emphasis on the colorful first-generation diesel railroads. A lively text and scores of incomparable photographs take the reader coast to coast with most major American railroads and provide a sampling of interesting short lines and restored steam or main-line steam. There are spectacular photographs of aging roundhouses, country stations, busy interlocking towers and the great stations of Chicago; pre-Amtrak passenger trains, from the "Twentieth Century Limited" and the "Midnight Special" to lowly locals, mail trains and branch-line doodlebugs; N&W Geeps and SDs in the West Virginia coalfields, the "California Zephyr" threading through the Feather River canyon, and slant-nose, stainless-steel-paneled Burlington E5s racing across the Illinois prairie; Pennsylvania GG1 electrics, Milwaukee Road boxcabs and Little Joes; and the historic steam of Southern Pacific Daylight and Union Pacific Challenger 3985, the world's largest operating steam locomotive. Outbound Trains is an absolute must for every railfan's bookshelf. |
|
|
Circle Line Harbor Cruises - 75 Min $27 75min Harbor boat Cruise of NYC by Circle Line. |
|
|
The Gray Line New York Eat and Play Card $24.99 The Gray Line New York Eat and Play Card |
|
|
Circle Line Harbor Cruises - 2 Hours $31 2 hr Harbor Cruises of New York harbor by Circle Line. |
|
|
Circle Line Harbor Cruises - 3 Hours $36 Circle Line 3hr Harbor Cruises of New York City. |
|
|
Chicago & North Western Freight Trains and Equipment $27.63 Pat Dorin has compiled another nice C&NW book, this one dealing with a general overview of the line's freight trains and cars over the years, with concentration from the 1930s to modern times. This book is rich with great illustrations showing steam and diesel locomotives, cars of all types, and information about how the trains were operated, as well as excellent train photos. The book should be ideal for any C&NW fan or modeler interested in this road or in freight trains and equipment in general. |
|
|
Missouri Pacific Passenger Trains: The Postwar Years $24.78 Ideal for passenger train buffs, MoPac fans and modelers, this overview of Missouri Pacific passenger trains and service tells the complete story since the first streamlined trains to travel the line, to the arrival of Amtrak in 1971. Nicknamed the Route of the Eagles, it spanned from the Midwest all the way to Mexico and operated a diverse fleet of colorful passenger trains in the years between World War II and Amtrak. Photographs, car diagrams, drawings, maps, timetables and consists, and advertising material round out this colorful history. |
|
|
HD Moods: Trains - AC3 Dolby $12.99 Train enthusiasts can experience the Union Pacific #844, Nickel Plate #765, the Union Pacific Challenger, and a rare 1930s freight train built just for this film -- all in high-definition detail. Whether viewers opt for listening to a musical score or the sounds of trains, they will be treated to a cross-country journey with these top-of-the-line engines. ~ Kimber Myers, Rovi |
|
|
Named Electrical Trains in Saint Petersburg $73.28 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Elektrichka (Russian:, Ukrainian:, elektrychka is an informal word for elektropoyezd (Russian:, Ukrainian:,, a Soviet or postSoviet regional (mostly suburban) electrical multiple unit passenger train. Elektrichkas are widespread in Russia, Ukraine and some other countries of the former Soviet Union. In 2007, 4085 commuter trains a day (in each direction) were running on the Russian Railways network, most of them being electric trains. The first elektrichka ride occurred on July 6, 1926 along the line BakuSabunchi (Azerbaijan). Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 92 Publication Date: 2010/11/16 Language: English Dimensions: 9.02 x 5.98 x 0.22 inches |
|
|
Two Trains $12.49 Two Trains |
|
|
Fenland Trains $6.99 Fenland Trains |