The "observation platform with a glass enclosed bubble top" is known as a dome car, or more conventionally, a vista dome. Those cars are not a virtual re-creation of a passenger train from the past, they ARE from the past. Original Union Pacific passenger cars, restored. And the car with the platform is actually an open vestibule. The locomotive is not known as "the Challenger" as in being named that, it is known as A challenger because of its wheel configuration of 4-6-6-4. meaning, four lead truck wheels, 6 front engine driver wheels, 6 rear engine driver wheels and four trailing truck wheels. This configuration is called Challenger. Similarlly, a 4-8-4, configuration is known as a Northern. a 4-8-8-4 is known as a Big Boy. etc. Not to pick at nits, but sometimes terminology is important, or at least helpful to some.
Minnesota has its own "big steam" residing in Minneapolis. Not as big as a Challenger type, it is a 4-8-4 that has operated several times per year for the past 15 years. Some day it might even show up in Albert Lea. Most of its operations are public excursions, were anyone can buy a ticket for a luxury train ride. Marco
Posted on September 29 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The "observation platform with a glass enclosed bubble top" is known as a dome car, or more conventionally, a vista dome.
Those cars are not a virtual re-creation of a passenger train from the past, they ARE from the past. Original Union Pacific passenger cars, restored.
And the car with the platform is actually an open vestibule.
The locomotive is not known as "the Challenger" as in being named that, it is known as A challenger because of its wheel configuration of 4-6-6-4. meaning, four lead truck wheels, 6 front engine driver wheels, 6 rear engine driver wheels and four trailing truck wheels. This configuration is called Challenger. Similarlly, a 4-8-4, configuration is known as a Northern. a 4-8-8-4 is known as a Big Boy. etc.
Not to pick at nits, but sometimes terminology is important, or at least helpful to some.
Minnesota has its own "big steam" residing in Minneapolis. Not as big as a Challenger type, it is a 4-8-4 that has operated several times per year for the past 15 years. Some day it might even show up in Albert Lea. Most of its operations are public excursions, were anyone can buy a ticket for a luxury train ride.
Marco
On Steam engine revives memories