Trip Report - Little River Railroad Birthday Celebration

Posted by: Yard Goat on Aug 11, 2011

Tagged in: yardgoatimages.com , yardgoatimages , Yard Goat Images , Viscose Company , Video , Trip Reports , trains , Tank , steam locomotive , Steam Engine , steam DVD , river , railroad , rail fanning , Quintuple , little river railroad birthday , Little River Railroad , Little River Railroad , Lehigh Valley Coal , lasting memory , Gramling Locomotive , Flagg Coal , DVD , Depot/Station , 2011 Railfanning , 110 , #126

I wrote earlier about the 100th birthday celebration for Little River #110 (http://yardgoatimages.com/birthday-bash-for-little-river-110). Now that the event is behind us, it might be good to tell you about it.

Being at the Little River Railroad Birthday Celebration

Of course I was there with our video cameras to record this one-time event that took place over three days between Coldwater and Hillsdale, MI. Little River Railroad normally operates between Coldwater and Quincy, but for this special occasion #110 pulled longer trips all the way to Hillsdale.

Besides #110, there were four other steam locomotives in operation, all tank engines. These included Little River #1, Viscose Company #6, Flagg Coal #75, and Lehigh Valley Coal #126. This was the first time #126 operated in revenue service since being rescued and restored by Gramling Locomotive.

The first two days had identical schedules, with four round-trips between Coldwater and Quincy, and one round trip Coldwater-Hillsdale. The tank engines took turns powering the Quincy trips. It was quite a scene at the Coldwater depot each morning as engines arrived from the shops located near the edge of town. Passenger cars were switched and deposited at the station platform for the first three trips, leaving at 15 minute intervals! Train watchers had a good vantage point at Quincy too, as the Hillsdale train passed through while the “local” was on the siding.

On the third day, there were just two Quincy trips, but the slim schedule was compensated by the sight, sound and smoke of FIVE steam locomotives leading the long train, which included the entire car fleet! The two trips were spectacular with a solid block of five black coal fired locomotives giving there all with tremendous plumes of smoke, and lots of steam whistles.

Each day, there was an afternoon singing of Happy Birthday and five “cakes” made from log circles and butter-creme icing. A cake was delivered to the crew of each locomotive, where it was promptly tossed into the firebox!

Some of my favorite moments were not available to the general public. I made it a point to be at the shop building well before the engines departed so I could record the early morning activities as the crews prepared for the day. The low sun angles lit the glorious scene of locomotives, smoke, and steam.

I really appreciate having been a part of this and I’m grateful to Travis Bloom and all of the Little River Railroad volunteers who made everything work in spite of the uncomfortable heat and humidity. The owners and crews of the visiting locomotives deserve big thanks as well.

Our program about this amazing event is finished! You can see it all on the Steamin' Summer Volume 1 DVD.

Thanks, Steve Mitchell, Yard Goat Images

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