Finally, the Train! This is the Kettle Valley Railway, located in Summerland, BC. They were able to save ten miles of track, out of hundreds…
This is the 3716, a Montreal Locomotive Works 2-8-0.
Looking the other way, we see the cars attached to the front of the engine. Yes, we will be backing up to the end of the track, then they switch the engine to the other end and we go forwards back to the station…
Here is where we are going!
If you want to know how to drive a steam locomotive, it is easy! Just turn these valves…
…and watch these guages, and hope the whole thing doesn’t blow up!
They keep the engine pretty clean, too.
There are open air observation cars, and enclosed passenger coaches. Each surviving tourist railroad seems to make the open air cars a bit differently. Here they use the bottom half of cattle cars. Here is the top half.
There was some excitement while we were boarding the train. A rattlesnake slithered under the platform, and these guys were trying to get him out with flashlights and sticks. I guess the Mountie on the left was there because he had a gun to use…
They must have gotten their snake because it wasn’t roped off when we got back.
A few Kettle Valley Railway links:
http://www.kettlevalleyrail.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kettle_Valley_Railway
http://www.kettlevalleyrailway.ca/
~Curtis on the Kettle Valley Railway! {!-{>
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