Rio Grande Explorations

December 28, 2013

The final trip of the year started late. We left at 1130! Getting a last-minute reprieve from his wife, Everett was able to go. But, Blake had to back out due to a family emergency. Joining the crew for the first time was my long-time friend Mike. We�ve been friends for about 15 years and marched in three Drum & Bugle Corps together. Mike is one of the best Tuba players I�ve ever known, but I think he may be a closet railfan.

On the way up to Palestine, we stopped at Fastrill for a quick look around. Fastrill was the location of the Southern Pine Lumber Company mill and town. The SPL-owned Texas South-Eastern Railroad ran from a connection on the TSR (near the Neches River) through Fastrill to Diboll, Texas. There�s nothing left of this once vibrant town today, except for a historical marker.

After Fastrill, we stopped in Rusk so I could get some additional footage for the DVD, and then we drove over to Palestine to meet with Earl and get the GoPro camera set up. As we walked into the Engine House several railroaders recognized us and came over to shake hands. It�s still a bit surreal to be a (very small) part of the team. Mike�s face lit up like the Fourth of July at the sight at TSR #300 under steam. He�d never been that close to a live locomotive. As soon as 300 was moved out and tied to the train, Mike was up in the cab and having a blast!

Two runs were planned for the evening. For the first, I recorded the departure and then we highballed out to Jarvis� er� the North Pole. While Everett turned the truck around, Mike and I ran out to the wye to get the needed footage. After the train came and went, we returned to the truck to find it stuck in the mud! Not good. In Everett's defense though, the ground didn't look muddy. He merely found a soft spot.

One of the TSR guys (I didn�t get his name) gave us a hand in trying to push it out. No luck. The TSR guy needed to run back to Palestine to retrieve Santa and bring him back for the next train, and he offered to get a chain to pull us out. Since my opportunities for shots were rapidly evaporating, I encouraged Everett and Mike to keep trying. After 20 minutes of wedging sticks and branches under the rear tires, we were able to rock the truck out of the muck. I really only lost one shot: the 300 arriving in Palestine. It could�ve been worse.

Back in Palestine, I moved the GoPro from the running board to the cab and then we ran out to Dean Wright. Now, I�ve been to Dean Wright a dozen times, it�s my favorite spot on the railroad. However, it is radically different at night! It was very dark and very quiet. The air was cold, damp, and still� peaceful. Several times we heard a pack of coyotes off in the distance. And, it seemed we could see every star in the Heavens with amazing clarity. It was simply awesome.

The train materialized out of the darkness, the lights beaming through the fog giving an ethereal air to the scene. For the few moments while it passed, the area was lit up and the sound seemed deafening compared to the silence just before. In the coaches we could see hundreds of smiling kids with Santas while the wait staff danced in the aisles dressed in costumes from the Polar Express movie.

This was a terrific way to end 2013.

I volunteered to make a new souvenir DVD for the TSR after learning of the need for one. How it will turn out is to be seen, but I'm confident in my abilities to deliver a quality product. A detailed report of this little adventure will follow at a later date. Below are photos I've taken on the trips to East Texas for video footage for the DVD.
October 12, 2013 This trip set the pattern for subsequent trips of leaving at 0700 on Saturday morning and arriving about 0930. This was a solo trip to Palestine where I mounted the GoPro3 on the T&P #316 and chased her over to Rusk and back. I ate lunch in my truck in the Rusk parking lot during a thunderstorm while dumping the GoPro to my laptop and charging its batteries. I got back to Spring around 1900. Not a bad day.

316 in the Palestine Engine House		Mounting the GoPro

Mounting the GoPro		Engineer Earl Knoob

Waiting for a highball...	I was standing in the bed of my truck waiting for the train when these horses caught my attention	I love this shot. It just screams "East Texas"

October 26, 2013 Brian Jansky joined me on this run. Same game plan as October 12: we went to Palestine and mounted the GoPro on T&P #316, then chased to Rusk and back. We got "lunch" at Marlene's ice cream shack in the Rusk parking lot. With Brian driving, I got some pacing video of TSR #7 and T&P #316 in Maydelle.

T&P #316 emerges from her lair... err.. the Palestine Engine House

	Mounting the GoPro on the cab this time

	Earl oils around

More GoPro shots		On the return from Rusk, I mounted the GoPro on the Engineer's cab steps

Yes, this view is spectacular!	Bad Order car in Palestine. "Rusk & Palestine Pacific Railroad" is the official name of the TSR under IP onwership.

Backing 316 around the wye and into the Palestine Engine House for the night


November 2, 2013 Everett Lueck and Blake Bogs joined me for this run up to East Texas. Once again we chased T&P #316 from Palestine to Rusk and back. Everett helped me get some decent pacing video of T&P #316 from Highway 84 near Gibson Road.

GoPro

	GoPro

Earl and Robert wait for TSR 300 East at Mewshaw

Blake and Everett head back to Mewshaw from the overlook at MP 12

Magma Arizona #7 in the Rusk Engine House		TSR #300 will soon return to Tremont & Gulf #28

November 9, 2013 This was another solo trip. Instead of going to Palestine, I went to Rusk to mount the GoPro on TSR #300. I met up with Becky Whisenant and Kevin Gentry while they waited for a motor car ride on a NARCOA trip. Kevin was kind enough to get some photos of me mounting the GoPro on TSR #300.

These shots are from Kevin Gentry. That's me, mounting the GoPro3 on TSR #300

One more from Kevin: TSR 300 West departing Rusk

		Brakeman at the east switch of Mewshaw Siding

T&P #316 West at Mewshaw		GoPro on the cab of #300

Looking over the cab of #300 at Mewshaw Siding	The Conductor and Fireman used my truck as a makeshift office while in Mewshaw

GoPro facing into the cab. I banged the crap out of my head while mounting it here. It's been almost a week at the time of this writing and I still have a gnarly scab on my head.

December 28, 2013 The final trip of the year started late. We left at 1130! Getting a last-minute reprieve from his wife, Everett was able to go. But, Blake had to back out due to a family emergency. Joining the crew for the first time was my long-time friend Mike. We�ve been friends for about 15 years and marched in three Drum & Bugle Corps together. Mike is one of the best Tuba players I�ve ever known, but I think he may be a closet railfan. On the way up to Palestine, we stopped at Fastrill for a quick look around. Fastrill was the location of the Southern Pine Lumber Company mill and town. The SPL-owned Texas South-Eastern Railroad ran from a connection on the TSR (near the Neches River) through Fastrill to Diboll, Texas. There�s nothing left of this once vibrant town today, except for a historical marker. After Fastrill, we stopped in Rusk so I could get some additional footage for the DVD, and then we drove over to Palestine to meet with Earl and get the GoPro camera set up. As we walked into the Engine House several railroaders recognized us and came over to shake hands. It�s still a bit surreal to be a (very small) part of the team. Mike�s face lit up like the Fourth of July at the sight at TSR #300 under steam. He�d never been that close to a live locomotive. As soon as 300 was moved out and tied to the train, Mike was up in the cab and having a blast! Two runs were planned for the evening. For the first, I recorded the departure and then we highballed out to Jarvis� er� the North Pole. While Everett turned the truck around, Mike and I ran out to the wye to get the needed footage. After the train came and went, we returned to the truck to find it stuck in the mud! Not good. In Everett's defense though, the ground didn't look muddy. He merely found a soft spot. One of the TSR guys (I didn�t get his name) gave us a hand in trying to push it out. No luck. The TSR guy needed to run back to Palestine to retrieve Santa and bring him back for the next train, and he offered to get a chain to pull us out. Since my opportunities for shots were rapidly evaporating, I encouraged Everett and Mike to keep trying. After 20 minutes of wedging sticks and branches under the rear tires, we were able to rock the truck out of the muck. I really only lost one shot: the 300 arriving in Palestine. It could�ve been worse. Back in Palestine, I moved the GoPro from the running board to the cab and then we ran out to Dean Wright. Now, I�ve been to Dean Wright a dozen times, it�s my favorite spot on the railroad. However, it is radically different at night! It was very dark and very quiet. The air was cold, damp, and still� peaceful. Several times we heard a pack of coyotes off in the distance. And, it seemed we could see every star in the Heavens with amazing clarity. It was simply awesome. The train materialized out of the darkness, the lights beaming through the fog giving an ethereal air to the scene. For the few moments while it passed, the area was lit up and the sound seemed deafening compared to the silence just before. In the coaches we could see hundreds of smiling kids with Santas while the wait staff danced in the aisles dressed in costumes from the Polar Express movie. This was a terrific way to end 2013.

	Fastrill

	Fastrill: Looking west	Fastrill: Looking east

	TSR 300 in Palestine	Mike, Everett, and Scott

Earl and Scott	Scott and Mike	Mike and Everett

		Polar Express #300