RAILROAD SIGNALS of the U.S.

LIVE DIESEL and
LIVE STEAM stuff

Playing with trains is fun, playing with bigger and bigger trains gets increasingly more fun.  Take the hobby of Live Steam and Live Diesels.  It doesn't get much better unless you own a real railroad. 

One of the best examples of the hobby is Russ Eldridge's White Creek Railroad just north of Grand Rapids Michigan, where he has approximately seven miles of track.  What makes Russ' track interesting is that he has track going all over the place, and it's not just a big loop, thereby providing engineers with multiple opportunities to maximize their fun..... Just watch out for those crossovers!..... :-)

One other railroad that stands out from the otherds is Train Mountain in Oregon, but I have not had the opportunity to visit the railroad.  I'm sure anyone who has the chance to go there will be most impressed.

Although I don't own any Live Diesel (or Live Steam) equipment, I sure do love the stuff.  I belong to the Chesapeake and Allegheny Steam Preservation Society in Baltimore, but I don't get there or get to participate as much as I would like (it used to be CALS, C&A Live Steamers).

Anyone have pictures to share?   Please send em on in!

Below are the places I have had a chance (so far) to visit and make do something with.

Note: The pages for Junction Valley and the Traverse Steam Train are part of my railfan guide series.  While the Junction Valley/Bridgeport page is 100% JV, the Traverse Steam Train part of that page is just a small part of the guide to the area.

Links and Additional Information

The Live Steam hobby is a great hobby, regardless of the scale you decide to involve yourself in.  Here are some more links of places you can go for more information and inspiration:

I don't know why, but it seems to me that guys in the UK have more "iron" or something in their blood, cause they sure do have some great railroading over there, and the Live Steam scene is no exception.  For a good place to start, check out Peter's website: http://www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk/

A page of links by the Friends of Train Mountain: http://www.friendstm.org/Clubs/AllClubsUSA.shtml

Good all around source of info, and great sales page: http://www.discoverlivesteam.com/

A page of links by RailServe, including manufacturers of supplies and equipment: http://www.railserve.com/Models/Live_Steam/Suppliers/

Train Mountain, undoubtedly the largest Live Steam Railroad in the U.S.: http://www.trainmountain.org/

NEW 09/24/2007
Last Modified:  22-Nov-2011