Topic: ....chased old railroads today.

[techy5025]

I took off today to chase the tracks and engines of an old railroad that runs from Orlando northwest through Orange and Lake county. Mainly they service a few businesses and connect to the mainline here in Orlando.

Although I think most of the track is still used, judging by the bends in the rail the max speeds must be a few miles per hour.  Jumping on and off back roads, I was able to follow the tracks for 30 miles or so which is about as far as they go.

They still run a dinner train over parts of the track for 5 or 6 miles pulled by an odd looking engine (not the one in the pic) that was built in '42 and I am told was designed so that the rail wheels could be pulled off and road wheels (with tires) mounted. Quite neat!

Sorry...no CB pics. This was CBR day...and my back feels it! 

Jim

[333]

Just found the website.  Is the engine you saw yellow and black with the name "Herbie" on it?  Certainly big enough for the excursion rides they offer, but that engine is a "switcher", designed to move cars around the train yard.  It is the only engine they picture on the website.

[techy5025]

...yep...that's the one! One of the mechanics was changing the oil in the diesel while I was there. 

Jim

[Bob550four]

old railways are fun.  I used to be absolutely mystified by them, now they're just a casual interest on the side since I'm never really near one anymore. 

on a side note, for a second, I thought your bike was an RC51 from the back before I looked closer at it.   you know that bike will honestly live for 200k miles?

[techy5025]

...no, it's a 2003 600F4I with about 8k on the odometer. As I am a wimp on sport bikes, I'm sure it will outlast me! 

Jim

[gerhed]

...no, it's a 2003 600F4I with about 8k on the odometer. As I am a wimp on sport bikes, I'm sure it will outlast me! 

Jim

Tech,

I wasn't aware of this "chasing trains on a bike" concept.
Sounds interesting.
Let me know if you find any relatively unused stretches of track.
I'm available.

gerhed

[techy5025]

If you look on Google Earth, you will see a lot of twisty railroads between Winter Haven and Tampa that serve the phosphate industry....must be 50 or 60. Mostly they are dead ends to processing plants from a looping main line.

I think it would take a dirt bike to follow them if it were even possible as most I'm sure are on private property. The scenery near the one I followed here is great as it wraps around several lakes....made for a very pleasant ride. 

I surprised the oil changer by telling him the first passenger train I rode on was pulled by an Illinois Central steam locomotive...from Tenn. to Kansas.  Whoops...dating myself again! 

Jim