The Everett Railroad is home to a 96-year-old steam engine in Blair County.
Sophia Vaughn, Manager at the station, said getting the opportunity to ride the locomotive is something quite special.
“As soon as that engine pulls up and that whistle is blown, they come, just like flock to it,” Vaughn said, “They don’t mass produce them anymore. The diesels took over many, many years ago and so they’re rare and they’re very expensive. The guys that run them, you see they are few and far between as well.”
It takes two people to keep everything on track and Stephen Lane, a Fireman for the engine, said it’s important to know every mechanical aspect.
“So how the steam engine works is that there’s a thing called a fire box and right now I have the fire banked off. There’s a bunch of coal in here keeping the fire box warm till we get to moving’,” Lane said, “So I basically shovel the coal in the fire box, and that is, the heat is transferred against the fire box and all in this area here…there’s a bunch of water. So that water is then created into steam.”
Vaughn said the train attracts “Rail Fans” from all over.
After a six hour drive, Michael Eggleston, a train enthusiast, said he’s excited to ride a car with so much history.
“This used to be on the Bath and Hammondsport Railroad up in Bath, New York. This thing is recently rebuilt. It’s historical and it’s, I’m very happy to see it’s been restored to service.Trains are part of our history and we should remember them,” Eggleston said.
For others, it’s a family event. Ed Myers brought his son, Parker, for the ride and said it’s a great time for family to spend time together. Ed and Parker Myers, Railroad Enthusiasts
“Brought Parker out to take a train ride today. He likes trains. He gets excited when he sees them,” Myers said.
