Today was uneventful. We drove from Milwaukee to
Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, which is a suburb of Toronto. There is
nothing to report other than it was a nice drive and the Canadian roads are
far better than the US roads.
If
the navigational system would do dishes, I think I’d marry it. It unfailingly
lead us to Newmarket, Ontario, this morning. There we visited with David Oram,
a railroad artist. David is self taught, and has a wonderful ability to
capture moments of time in his artwork. His work is primarily of Canadian
railroads, as would be expected, and there is a variety of steam, diesel, and
scenic locales in varying times of the year.
We took the subway down to Bloor
Street, and spent the late afternoon wandering around. Our impression of
Toronto is that of a clean, pretty city. It is large. We were told on the
subway that the area is about five million people, with Toronto proper holding
about half of that. I’d like to return and spend more time in the city.
HUCKLEBERRY RAILROAD - SEASON 7
June 12-14, 2007
Our trusty navigational system took us out
of town a slightly different way this morning, as the prescribed route was
closed due to a major fire. My impression of Canadian drivers is that they
are very polite, watch out for everyone else, and generally are safe on the
road. There are a few crazies, (as would be expected), but no one hugs the
left lane, they watch for merging and adjust, and will let other drivers into
their lanes. And they all drive between 75 and 80, and leave a decent
interval. It was a pleasant experience. And the roads were smooth and well
maintained. This was not the case in Michigan, as we crossed the toll bridge
to meet with a grumpy US Customs agent. Interstate 69 is bumpy and the
drivers are crazy. We got to Flint and visited the Huckleberry Railroad and
Crossroads Village to scope things out in advance. The park is part of the
Genesee County Parks system, and is a very lovely interpretive museum. They
have two narrow gauge steam locos, and tomorrow we will shoot that segment.
But tonight is an early night. I need it. I’m not used to life on the road,
and have to get back into shape.
Up and out early today
to get to the maintenance shops and the Crossroads Village before the park
opened. The parks director
gave us nice sound bites, and then it was off to the shops. The head of the
railroad program, Paul Dalleska, talked us through getting the 464 ready.
This is a K27 narrow gauge, gotten from the Denver & Rio Grande by way of
Knott’s Berry Farm. The railroad and the park have been associated for the
last 25 years or so, and provide a
nice, interpretive history museum of the Flint area in the 1800’s. So there
is a grist mill and sawmill, both steam powered, a hotel, doctor’s office,
café, mercantile store and other builds and exhibits that have been moved
here for preservation. The railroad un is only about 40 minutes or 8 miles, so we had
ample time to get multiple shots of the train passing today. Tomorrow we will
concentrate on the park itself. The
railroad has a nice maintenance facility, and the coach shop was really
outstanding. The pride and joy, #8, was a wooden
coach built back in the 1800’s and was used as a house. The railroad
purchased it and rebuilt it, complete with decorative trim, etched clerestory windows, and parquet floor. It was
hot today, though – 92, and we went through a lot of water. Somehow, you
don’t think of Michigan in June being this warm.
Today
was another hot day. We arrived at the CrossroadsVillage site and started in shooting
the park itself. The staff as very co-operative, and we visited the cider
mill, the grist mill, and other period businesses and houses. The carousel is
of interest, as it is one of two surviving Charles Parker carousels. Built in
1912 in Abilene, Kansas, it was acquired by the parks system in 1986 and
completed refurbished. The mechanical band that accompanies
the
ride is astounding. We did a bit with the Genesee Belle paddle wheel boat.
The captain was gracious enough to give us a short demonstration before his
scheduled run, and thus saved us an hour of standing around. Then it was off
to the grist mill, where water powered the grinding wheels and flour was
made. I did a bunch of interviews from TV to
print, but have yet to see anything on air. I did see that Flint has the
safest drivers in the nation, which is a bit bogus – at least according to my
experience here. This has been some of the worst driving I’ve seen in quite a
while. We found a wonderful Italian restaurant for dinner, so now it is off
to bed. I offer many thanks to the multitude of people from the Genesee
County Parks System and Crossroads Village, who helped us with our shoot. We
really appreciate all their efforts and understanding. This operation is well
worth the trip. Just imagine pristine narrow gauge in eastern Michigan.
You won't be disappointed. Tomorrow we are off for Owosso and our last
shoot of this trip.
STEAM RAILROAD INSTITUTE - SEASON 7
June 15-17, 2007
Today we headed for
the Steam Railroad Institute in Owosso, Michigan. This operation is perhaps
best known as the home of
the
Pere Marquette 1225, which is a restored 2-8-4 Berkshire, and model for the
Polar Express. The Chief Mechanical Officer, Barney Gramling, and his father
are among the people who maintain and operate this massive loco. The engine
was originally given to Michigan State University, where, after several years,
a student club undertook the job of getting it back in running order. This
job proved to be a little more than the students could handle, and when
asbestos was discovered in the boiler cladding, the University decided to
divest themselves of the engine. SRI became the proprietor, and got it back
into running order. So now this piece of history is available for charter and
fan trips. The Gramlings got into steam by buying their own tank loco, and
getting it running. The former Flagg Coal Company [now lettered] #75, is now
trucked around the US to various railroads
for
operations on a rental basis. The 1225 is not under steam, and we will have
to return to obtain some running footage. But for the moment there was plenty
to shoot, with the well
preserved Pullman coaches, chair cars, and cabooses the SRI has in their
collection. We obtained all the interviews and yard material today, and
tomorrow will concentrate on a short steam trip headed by the #75. So after
another evening of lively discussion, it is off to bed.
We arrived at the
Steam Railroad Institute mid morning, to find the #75 steaming out in the back
lot. There still weren’t many people around, so we sort of hung out waiting
for steam pressure to build. Unfortunately, pressure did not build up due to
a malfunction in the engine, so we had to make a decision to put off the
running footage until Sunday. Needless to say, this will make for a longer
day, as we will have to shoot, and then drive back to Milwaukee. But it is,
what it is, and here we are in Lansing, the closest hotel. Speaking of
hotels, I booked three rooms in Owosso in mid-December for a return to see the
1225. There were very few rooms available for that time period, so I figured
I had best grab them when I could.
We
left early for Owosso, and arrived shortly after 9 AM. We still had to wait
just a bit for the locomotive build up steam pressure, but all was well today,
and things started rolling around 10. We received permission to get out on
the main line, and off we went, with a special run of the #75. For such a
small engine, it certainly can make a lot of noise and commotion. We did
several run-bys, and then, close to Noon, packed up and headed home. The
staff
of the Steam Railroad Institute couldn’t have been more helpful, and I’d like
to offer my profuse thanks to all involved. It wasn’t to bad a drive until we
hit Chicago, and had the usual expressway gridlock. But we got through it in
pretty good time, and are back in Milwaukee. Now it’s time to plan for the
next trip.
December, 2007
We returned to the SRI for a day
to get running footage of the 1225. Needless to say, it was a little colder
this time around!
The
engine was heading up a very popular North Pole Express run, which (this
year) sold out in five days. The kids get the usual hot chocolate and Santa
bell, plus a stop at the North Pole Village at the end of the 18 mile run.
The engine is really impressive under steam. And the cold air just makes it
even better. The smoke and steam just billow and hang in the air. We got
some good material, and then, barring any snow problems will head back to
Milwaukee for the holidays. This was the last of the shoots for 2007. We
did a lot this year, and are glad that things are winding down for a bit.
Next stop - Germany.
If
the navigational system would do dishes, I think I’d marry it. It unfailingly
lead us to Newmarket, Ontario, this morning. There we visited with David Oram,
a railroad artist. David is self taught, and has a wonderful ability to
capture moments of time in his artwork. His work is primarily of Canadian
railroads, as would be expected, and there is a variety of steam, diesel, and
scenic locales in varying times of the year.
the
ride is astounding. We did a bit with the Genesee Belle paddle wheel boat.
The captain was gracious enough to give us a short demonstration before his
scheduled run, and thus saved us an hour of standing around. Then it was off
to the grist mill, where water powered the grinding wheels and flour was
made. I did a bunch of interviews from TV to
print, but have yet to see anything on air. I did see that Flint has the
safest drivers in the nation, which is a bit bogus – at least according to my
experience here. This has been some of the worst driving I’ve seen in quite a
while. We found a wonderful Italian restaurant for dinner, so now it is off
to bed. I offer many thanks to the multitude of people from the Genesee
County Parks System and Crossroads Village, who helped us with our shoot. We
really appreciate all their efforts and understanding. This operation is well
worth the trip. Just imagine pristine narrow gauge in eastern Michigan.
You won't be disappointed. Tomorrow we are off for Owosso and our last
shoot of this trip.
the
Pere Marquette 1225, which is a restored 2-8-4 Berkshire, and model for the
Polar Express. The Chief Mechanical Officer, Barney Gramling, and his father
are among the people who maintain and operate this massive loco. The engine
was originally given to Michigan State University, where, after several years,
a student club undertook the job of getting it back in running order. This
job proved to be a little more than the students could handle, and when
asbestos was discovered in the boiler cladding, the University decided to
divest themselves of the engine. SRI became the proprietor, and got it back
into running order. So now this piece of history is available for charter and
fan trips. The Gramlings got into steam by buying their own tank loco, and
getting it running. The former Flagg Coal Company [now lettered] #75, is now
trucked around the US to various railroads
for
operations on a rental basis. The 1225 is not under steam, and we will have
to return to obtain some running footage. But for the moment there was plenty
to shoot, with the well
preserved Pullman coaches, chair cars, and cabooses the SRI has in their
collection. We obtained all the interviews and yard material today, and
tomorrow will concentrate on a short steam trip headed by the #75. So after
another evening of lively discussion, it is off to bed.
We
left early for Owosso, and arrived shortly after 9 AM. We still had to wait
just a bit for the locomotive build up steam pressure, but all was well today,
and things started rolling around 10. We received permission to get out on
the main line, and off we went, with a special run of the #75. For such a
small engine, it certainly can make a lot of noise and commotion. We did
several run-bys, and then, close to Noon, packed up and headed home. The
staff
of the Steam Railroad Institute couldn’t have been more helpful, and I’d like
to offer my profuse thanks to all involved. It wasn’t to bad a drive until we
hit Chicago, and had the usual expressway gridlock. But we got through it in
pretty good time, and are back in Milwaukee. Now it’s time to plan for the
next trip.
The
engine was heading up a very popular North Pole Express run, which (this
year) sold out in five days. The kids get the usual hot chocolate and Santa
bell, plus a stop at the North Pole Village at the end of the 18 mile run.
The engine is really impressive under steam. And the cold air just makes it
even better. The smoke and steam just billow and hang in the air. We got
some good material, and then, barring any snow problems will head back to
Milwaukee for the holidays. This was the last of the shoots for 2007. We
did a lot this year, and are glad that things are winding down for a bit.
Next stop - Germany.
