It was Kelly’s “day off,” so the kids and I headed south to explore the New Hope Valley Railway’s “double-headed thunder” steam trains this weekend. For this weekend and next, the NHV has a sister steam engine to its familiar Number 17 on loan, the Flagg Coal Company Number 75. Together, they’ll be pulling the tourist trains in a double-header configuration (my kids would call it by its modern name, a “consist”).
The steam trains were wonderful, their whistles bellowing in a way that puts those upstart diesels to shame. Hearing those two steam engines puffing up the hill was something you just have to appreciate. A ride on a steam train is a whole new experience.
Its also an experience to drive double-headed, as the coordination between train drivers is crucial. Unlike modern consists where computerized locomotives are perfectly synced, pairing up ornery, seventy year old steam locomotives is far trickier. If the engines aren’t synched one can drive the other right off the rails. Fortunately, the train drivers did a superb job keeping things together today.
Check out the Double-Headed Thunder rides while you still can. And if you’re a photographer, check out NHV’s special railfan promotion to help you best capture these steam beasts in action.
All aboard!
Bonus: The BridgingRailsToTrails [warning: self-playing music]. website has an informative video on the history of the New Hope Valley Railway. Simply click through the entrance page of the site and click on New Hope Valley Railway at the bottom of the American Tobacco Trail map.