Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Train Tuesdays
We went to Dollywood last Saturday in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. One of my favorite attractions there is the steam train ride. Unlike some theme park train rides, the Dollywood Express is pulled by a real steam locomotive with an interesting history. Built by Baldwin in 1943, 2-8-2 locomotive 192 served the narrow guage White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad in Alaska before becoming an excursion locomotive.
This time of year, they play Dolly Parton Christmas music on the train, but since the line is on a steep grade, you could hear excellent stack talk the whole way up. Additionally, I could hear the drivers slipping on the wet rails the morning we rode.
Even though the park has thrilling roller coasters, the steam train remains a very popular ride for people of all ages. Here are some pictures taken of our train and subsequent runs. My wife took the first two shots.
The Dollywood Express Prepares to Depart
Locomotive 192
Around the Loop at the Top
Another Excursion Returning
Across a Trestle Over Timber Canyon
A Mountain Woman in Tennessee
Music Mondays
We went to visit family in Tennessee for Thanksgiving this year. The trip made me think of some songs about Tennessee. Here are a few of my favorite Tennessee songs. Please feel free to add your own recommended songs about Tennessee in the comments!
Tennessee Songs
- Tennessee
– A great Jimmy Martin recording on one of my favorite albums
- Tennessee Waltz
– There are a lot of versions of this classic. This link is a recording by Roy Acuff.
- Tennessee Jed - A good Grateful Dead recording
- Rocky Top
– The Osborne Brothers’ classic and an official state song of Tennessee
See Also: Songs about North Carolina
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Train Tuesdays
The Fire Up 611 Campaign is a lot closer to their fundraising goal thanks to a generous donation from Norfolk Southern Corporation. The Roanoke Times reports:
The Virginia Museum of Transportation announced this morning that Norfolk Southern has given a $1.5 million gift to the “Fire Up 611!” campaign to get the museum’s classic steam engine working again.
According to the release, the railroad company sold a 1959 painting by American artist Mark Rothko through an auction in New York on Nov. 14, and is donating $1.5 million of the proceeds to the transportation museum’s fund raiser.
Let’s keep up the momentum! Visit Fire Up 611!
See Also:
What is so special about N&W #611?
N&W 611, my Favorite Steam Locomotive
Monday, November 25, 2013
A Cheese Grater
I try to help out some in the kitchen, although I’m sure my wife wishes I would do more. Anyway, here is a low-tech solution I didn’t know about until my wife told me.
When cleaning a cheese grater, use cold water at first. Hot water can melt the cheese to the grater making it harder to clean so instead use cold water as you scrub the grater clean and then finish cleaning with hot water once the cheese is removed.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Train Tuesdays
Just some odds and ends this week:
- The FireUp611 campaign continues to raise money. One way you can help is to check out the items for sale through the Virginia Museum of Transportation. I recently bought a 611 charm for my wife’s charm bracelet and I also picked up the Fire Up 611 DVD as a treat for myself. While some of the content is on youtube, it is nice to have a high quality DVD to watch anytime. Highly recommended!
- Strasburg Railroad is hosting a steampunk event that is very successful. Read more: Strasburg Rail Road’s Steampunk UnLimited draws more than 1,000 on its first day
- The Union Pacific Big Boy number 4014 has started the very beginning of its journey to Cheyenne for restoration!
