JFskiDan

Train spotting expedition. Saturday afternoon, hiked (more like a walk in the woods) sand spring trail at Hickory run. i was focused on looking at the train, and just randomly taking pics without looking, so this is what you end up with doing that. but there is so much going on with this thing, now i need to go see the one that is sitting up at Steamtown to really have a close up, rather than a train moving past me at 15-20 mph. Both trains heading south on Sat, so they are really just coasting past us going down hill. No beer allowed in state parks, so that was kind of a bummer. but in reality, i think you are not on state park land, once you are there. Sunday i went to Drakes Creek Boat Ramp. This was a good spot for the plain and simple reason you could bring beer. at least i think so, and others did also. And a way more popular spot. And i knew when the trains were leaving Jim Thorpe, so i had much better timing. My legs still hurt from this walk though. about 1.3 miles down, and what felt like 10 miles up to leave. its pretty much mostly uphill on the way out. I thought about bringing my bike, it would have been great for the way down, although when i did get the bike out i this weekend i did learn the front brakes are very poor, and my rears are so-so. im not sure i could have pedaled my bike all the way out with how much uphill is involved. Trains were going north, so uphill, they were chooching quite a bit more. Good time, as its super unlikely to ever see 4014 again, let alone under power. 4014 should be coming back down the same line like July 1st or 2nd.

For those playing along at home, Saturday, Tunk Viaduct, 10 am. then supposedly stopping in Pittston from about noon to 2 pm, the pittston stop, isnt being reported on UP schedule, but it kinda make sense as it is supposed to be in Nesquehoning at 6pm.

According to the website, it is coming down just where i thought it would, running basically through Hickory Run. https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/track i have been spending some time locating some nice areas to see it, but they will require some travel by foot and/or bike. And of course figuring out what time it will be getting to my secret spots. will probably be less crowded than going near Jim Thorpe. Fun fact. 20 gallons of fuel, which basically appears to be used motor oil, and about 200 gallons of water to go........ 1 mile.

Time to start doing some math. we know it will be leaving Binghamton NY Sat Am at 7:30, and crossing the bridge in Tunk at 10. My guess is its average speed is around 30 mph. i think it can do 80, but i would say around PA its not gonna do half that. The train nerd here thinks he can help me nail down the time for my secret spot, and i think he said some guys are able to track it once they release the routes or something. July 2nd or something it goes through his back yard so thats really cool, and i will probably attend his watch party there too.

have you seen my bike? its like Trumps Phone. dont leave home without a spare.

i was wondering about that, but worst case scenario is i just drive up and down that road and just stop with no fucks given to see it. if you wanna go for a hike, let me know. Bring a Picnic Basket. i know a spot. im pretty sure. i was thinking that might be a less crowded alternative. would need some train nerds to try to pinpoint timing though.

if im reading the schedule right, its going from NY to Nesquehoning Saturday June 13th. Then from Nesquehoning to Pittston Sunday. so to me it seems like either sat or sunday you could see it. and i guess the glen onoko parking lot is in this area, that looks like a great place to see it. from what i can tell you would be really close to it.

if i have the correct line it would be coming down, which i think i do, there is a good spot to hike to from Hickory Run. i do think around Glen there would be quite a few good views around the D&L it looks like. i just wonder how much interest it will draw for parking. That would be a neat view to see right there......i would like to get up close too.

it looks like its on its way to Nesquehoning that day. just need to figure out the route for a better sighting closer to Jim Thorpe.

correct, but moot point. Blue kills Blues chances at making this happen.

Just like the tariffs.

And would gain far less interest. But being right next to slopeside would be good for business. but also having people skiing on Vista would i think be a problem for all of the other activities that Blue likes to move on to in April/May. Blue doing what Camelback did is not on their radar at all. And im ok with that. Moving to Camelback for the late season stuff was a nice change of pace.

Township would make bank if they got 10% from Blue. What a world we live in that all of a sudden the township wants some extra coin from someone, and can just impose some sort of tax. Whats the reasoning for the considered tax?

Jlaw and i were talking about that last Sat. didnt know how they were managing blowing a shit ton of snow on it, grooming it or not, closing it....etc. Seems like once the trail got thin and some dirt poked through, melting just took off rapidly. there is a river running down it now.

i went one year for May Day. And if i went, it was lift served. i dont know what year it was, but i remember @toast21602 being there as well as many from Blue. i know there were plenty of years were it was patch skiing, which i would not have participated in.