cp1400 Wrote:
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> For me my favourite chase had to be October 2002
> in Montana. Nine days of glorious sun and a steam
> engine that looked like it belonged there. SP&S
> 700 and the Montana Rockies by Daylight train. The
> crew wasn't afraid to "see what she'll do" for all
> the major grades. Two of the most memorable
> moments were on the side of the hill just upgrade
> from the Greenhorn Trestle. As the engine came off
> the trestle straining with all its might and the
> throttle up to the roof, engineer Jim700 had the
> biggest smile I have ever seen as he went by. The
> other was in the trees slightly above the Marent
> Trestle west of Missoula. The CHUFF CHUFF chuf
> chuf, CHUFF CHUFF chuf chuf sound from that day is
> still burned into my brain. Sure wish they would
> do it again.

Maybe someday, Ken. Unfortunately the "do it again" scheduled for two months ago on the Amtrak Operation Lifesaver train ended up with an Amtrak diesel only. After almost eight years, we're still hearing the that westbound Skyfire video (which will contain the scenes you described) is still in the works. I've seen a portion of the unfinished westbound video and it looks to be every bit as good as the published eastbound one. To this day I still kick myself for not taking my video camera on that trip "because Skyfire will surely have at least one forward pointing camera mounted in the cab". That wrong assumption caused me to miss out on some great video opportunites from the cab on the trip that was the highlight of my 40-year railroad career. Martin Burwash's narrative at [www.mtnwestrail.com] certainly describes the sound that you were hearing at the Greenhorn Trestle.