Many readers are probably already aware of the first Battle of Gettysburg, which was a turning point in the Civil War. General Meade denied the South a victory and afterward General Lee retreated back across the Potomac River; it was the beginning of the end of the Confederate States of America. As a youngster, I [...]
When gas prices were steeply rising in the early 1980s, businessman and steam proponent Ross Rowland started American Coal Enterprises (ACE). In 1985, his 1948 4-8-4 steam locomotive #614 was used on Chessie System coal trains in West Virginia for testing and collecting data. With the help of engineers, ACE developed plans for a next [...]
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is again open for the season. There’s nothing more exciting than a live steam engine. My wife took this picture of the engine number 734 turning on the turntable at Frostburg, MD a couple of years ago: We appreciated not only the historic preservation efforts, but also the nice scenery along [...]
The Low-Tech Times earlier reported that railroading is thriving and that National Train Day would be held May 10th. The event took place this past weekend and celebrated the 139th anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah. According to the National Association of Railroad Passengers, the event was a [...]
Now that we’re into the month of May, grilling season has officially begun. If you’re looking for a grill buying guide, you can count on the Low-Tech Times to steer you in the right direction. There are five good reasons to choose a simple, old-fashioned charcoal grill over a fancy gas grill: LOWER COST–You can [...]