L
lester perry
Yes I was on one of those trains. I knew they had a diesel some where close by but not sure where it was. That was one awesome ride. We reached speeds in excess of 75 MPH. Had a bearing go out on open side car that follows locomotive just before reaching Port Jervis. They repaired it in time for return trip. My uncle fired that locomotive in the tests on Chessie system in early 70s. He was telling me that winter had record cold the diesel fuel jelled up and shut them down. 614 kept on rolling right past stalled diesel's.Gary Pfeil said:On the local New York Susquehanna and Western, they have run the steam specails with a diesel (E8 or 9) at one end and the steamer at the other, lacking turning facilities. A nice combo, as you can take photos coming and going! Several years ago when Ross Weyland's (not sure I'm remembering his name correctly) ex C&O Greenbriar ran from Hobeken to Port Jervis, they ran diesel "protectors" ahead of the train, they served railfans as advance warning. Both these situations seem far prefarable to what you describe!
Les