RailFair 1999

Danny and I drove to Sacramento to see a bunch of live steam trains with our uncle Lew. These are the pictures I took. Click here to jump to the new pictures.

Shot on Fuji Astia 100 color slide film.

Click on any picture to see a larger one.

Before I even got out of the car, I saw this pretty diesel on a curved bridge going over a highway. Although the main attraction was live steam, some diesels were also on display.

This is the control mechanism of a traditional steam locomotive, set to neutral.

The number 28, one of the many steam trains running that day.

A look at the feedback mechanism which actuates the valves as the piston goes through its stroke.

One of the prettier steam locomotives, painted in bright red, black, and gold.

A shay. You can see the 3 vertical pistons on the left and the big universal joints connecting the drive shaft to all the wheels on the right. The drive shaft also goes back to drive the wheels of the tender, again with u-joints and splines.

As you can see, this train will continue to work just fine into the next century ;-)

One of the many Westinghouse air compressors I saw that day.

As is common in Sacromento, it was really hot that day, especially around the steam locomotives. Lew was so happy to be surrounded by live steam that he barely noticed the heat :-)

Definitly the most carefully touched up full-sized steam locomotive I saw that day. This is a norrow gauge locomotive, and everything was in a state it looked impossible to maintain in an operating steam locomotive. In the evening, a real oil lamp was set up in the big light box up front. After having dinner with Lew and a friend of his, we spent a while enjoying the cool evening weather and warm light as the crowd whithered and the serious photographers came out.

The gang. Lew came with a friend of his. Of course I wasn't in the picture since I took it. Standing beside a big train, but you can't see much of it. Pictures from here down are new.

An operating steam crane lifted this smal switcher. Quite something to see!

Inside the cab of one of the big boys.

Gearing and drive shaft of a shay.

The same shay as above, but this is the 3 drive cylinders. Quite something to see underway.

Inside a big hangar, Lew takes a much needed break.

Out in front of the hangar there were several small steam locomotives, including this one.

One of the little guys. This one looks very similar to a full size but narrow guage locomotive. Cute.

Daylight, in all her glory.

One of the nicer looking deisels.

back

	Before I even got out of the car, I saw this pretty diesel on a curved bridge going over a highway. Although the main attraction was live steam, some diesels were also on display.
	This is the control mechanism of a traditional steam locomotive, set to neutral.
	The number 28, one of the many steam trains running that day.
	A look at the feedback mechanism which actuates the valves as the piston goes through its stroke.
	One of the prettier steam locomotives, painted in bright red, black, and gold.
	A shay. You can see the 3 vertical pistons on the left and the big universal joints connecting the drive shaft to all the wheels on the right. The drive shaft also goes back to drive the wheels of the tender, again with u-joints and splines.
	As you can see, this train will continue to work just fine into the next century ;-)
	One of the many Westinghouse air compressors I saw that day.
	As is common in Sacromento, it was really hot that day, especially around the steam locomotives. Lew was so happy to be surrounded by live steam that he barely noticed the heat :-)
	Definitly the most carefully touched up full-sized steam locomotive I saw that day. This is a norrow gauge locomotive, and everything was in a state it looked impossible to maintain in an operating steam locomotive. In the evening, a real oil lamp was set up in the big light box up front. After having dinner with Lew and a friend of his, we spent a while enjoying the cool evening weather and warm light as the crowd whithered and the serious photographers came out.
	The gang. Lew came with a friend of his. Of course I wasn't in the picture since I took it. Standing beside a big train, but you can't see much of it. Pictures from here down are new.
	An operating steam crane lifted this smal switcher. Quite something to see!
	Inside the cab of one of the big boys.
	Gearing and drive shaft of a shay.
	The same shay as above, but this is the 3 drive cylinders. Quite something to see underway.
	Inside a big hangar, Lew takes a much needed break.
	Out in front of the hangar there were several small steam locomotives, including this one.
	One of the little guys. This one looks very similar to a full size but narrow guage locomotive. Cute.
	Daylight, in all her glory.
	One of the nicer looking deisels.