Large Scale Central

UP844 - Wichita,KS - Great Plains Transportation Museum - 090807

Prototypes
#1

[b]UP844 at Great Plains Trans Museum - Wichita,KS - 090807 UP844 had a layover in Wichita from Friday, 9/7 to Sunday morning, 9/9. The Wichita Area Garden RR Society sponsored a small outdoor display during the event. [picture later] While waiting to pull on the mainline, Sunday morning, BNSF 7638 freight passed by, blowing the horn several times. UP844 replied with a blast of the whistle in greeting. Oldest grandson [this was his 8th birthday] said: “Papa, when that freight went by, the ground shaked!”

UP844 pulls out onto mainline on Sunday morning.

Some detail shots: 80" drivers

The tender: Wouldn’t want a tight radius with this one. Water capacity: 23,500gal. Fuel capacity & type: 6200gal-No.5oil

Boiler Car:

UP844 was pulling a bevy of headend, coach, dome, diner and observation cars. Sadly, the sidding at the museum was too short to hold all the cars for exibition. She was under steam all day Saturday.

More pulling out Sunday morning. 6yo grand daughter asked: “Is it alive?” I confirmed: “Yes, Kelsey, it is a living machine. Isn’t it wonderful?” All three grandkids agreed.

Waiting to leave

WAGRS small display:

Kids enjoyed the ground level layout. Most got down on their hands and knees for a railfan view.

Three additional pictures from rolling stock at the Museum. Switcher

Speeder # 1

Speeder #2

Other pictures of cabeese, switchers, coaches, MOWs, were taken but have not been reduced in size for posting. JimC.[/b]

#2

Sounds like Grandpa and the kids had a great time…:slight_smile: Thanks for sharing.

#3

#4

Wow, those are great pics! Thanks for sharing them!

I’d love to see a really large, operating steam loco up close like that someday.

#5

Had to chuckle at your grand-daughter’s question, “Is it alive?”, and your reply.

There’s a top-ranked TV ad in Australia at the moment where a youngster asks Dad why the Chinese built the Great Wall. After a moment’s thought, Dad responds, “To keep the rabbits out.”

A good reply - but yours was just as good!

If the children like steam, show them http://www.railography.co.uk/movies/china_steam_movies.htm, especially Hengshan Bank and Nanpiao Race from the industrial clips at the bottom of the page. You’ll definitely want sound!