But the festival, like nearly everything else last year, was cancelled for COVID-19.
Fortunately, the festival resumed on the first weekend of October 2021, and I was able to bump my overnight stay by a year.
But as the festival approached, it seemed as though I wouldn't be able to ride any of those trains—or any trains for that matter.
Because although the Norgrove Gardens Railway in Arroyo Grande was scheduled to host only an open house and no train rides, a train was there for riding upon my arrival!
This brand-new railroad isn't completed yet...
...and when it is, the narrow-gauge railway (with tracks spaced 600 mm apart) will wind through a vineyard...
...of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes...
...and an orchard of Lisbon lemons.
Even though the rides during the Central Coast Railroad Festival were a sneak preview of sorts...
...we still got to see a lot...
...and ride a lot...
...on some historic, restored rolling stock.
The other one was a World War I-era trench locomotive, powered by steam with an impressive plume of smoke.
These locomotives were used to deliver supplies during trench warfare—but this particular one, built as #1695 by Iowa's Davenport Locomotive Works, never made it to France. Also known as the "U.S. Army 5240," it sat in storage until Norgrove's Peter Nott bought it and relocated it to his property to get it ready to run the rails.
It was quite the sight to watch it climb the 3% grade, which won't even be the railroad's steepest upon completion. A 5% grade climb is also planned.
Even more impressive is that only three of these locomotives survive—and currently, Norgrove Railway has got the only one that runs.
Once the trench locomotive was on its way, and we were loaded up with passengers...
...and enough logs were thrown into the firebox to use as fuel...
...we set off on an incredible journey...
...heading up that same 3% grade.
Our rolling stock was the "Buckeye," built as #12708 in Berlin by Orenstein & Koppel Locomotive Works in 1935 and used in Africa for mining operations (and, in the 1980s, as a tourist train on the Gwelo & District Light Railway in Zimbabwe).
It sister train the "Popeye" remains in Africa—though this style of wood- and coal-burning locomotive was pretty commonly found serving industrial purposes throughout the world.
Nott brought this one to California's Central Coast in 2004 and had it completely rebuilt to mint condition.
It's a thrilling ride, not just because of the scenery or the history...
...but also because of the cascade of burning embers and flaming hot ash that comes from the engine and lands on the two cars full of passengers...
...burning tiny holes in clothing and blistering skin.
Among the operable (but seemingly not yet completed) features of the railway is a tunnel...
...with a hypnotizingly spiraled interior and good acoustics.
A trestle is also planned—and who knows what else?
At our turnaround point, I got a better look at the Davenport engine...
...and, for a few moments, considered switching seats so I could take a ride on that one, too.
But I was afraid I'd miss something exciting on the way back on the Buckeye...
...so I sat back in my seat and watched the unridden train roll away...
...as the conductor waved...
...and it disappeared back into the tunnel.
In the meantime, our little engine was navigating the tracks through a number of switches...
...to get out from what would be behind the passenger cars on the return trip...
...and out to the front, so it could pull us (granted, backwards) instead of push us.
After a couple of blowdowns and a ring of the bell...
...we were back on our way...
...and although I was now in the back of the train instead of directly behind the firebox...
...I was still in the crosshairs for showers of burning ash.
It was a beautiful day of unexpected delights...
...and I was so glad I showed up, despite having zero hope for a train ride...
...and being pleasantly surprised.
I can't wait to see its progress and hopefully ride different rolling stock!
In the meantime, enjoy this video of the WWI-era trench locomotive in action by Mike Massee:
Related Posts:
Fabulous railway locomotives are so well turned out whoever is looking after these locomotives should be very proud. I’m to old now to travel to the USA from England but if I was well enough it would be on my bucket list to travel too
ReplyDelete