This was an unexpected and fun trip! I love the smell of the redwoods, mixed with the other conifers growing there... The air is so fresh! This brought back memories of a place where I grew up, called Maple Canyon. I loved riding the Shay... There is just something so cool about a Shay locomotive! The 9% grade was no problem for this powerful loco... as I was reminded of a childhood story, "The Little Engine That Could". The history of Roaring Camp, really makes me smile! Sure wish we could have spent more time in this beautiful part of California!!
Weird factoid: When the trestle burned, the trees didn't!!! They are blackened a bit. Seems Redwoods are pretty darn fire resistant. Most of the trees here are thousands of year old, and while many, (most?) have burned totally down in the past, the roots survive and grow back. You can spot them, trees in a ring. the original tree was in the center of the ring, and when it burned and "died" small trees grew all around the stump from the same roots. And are now hundreds of feet tall. Growing in a ring around a tree that has been gone for hundreds of years. Some of these rings are 30 feet across.
My family found the RC & BT by chance in 1967. I went back to the railroad, by myself, in 1975. First ride was behind the Dixiana Shay ( the first Shay I ever saw ). In 1975 I rode behind the Tuolumne Heisler. The staff told me the Heisler was originally standard gauge and the RC & BT shop converted it to 3 ft. gauge. The tall curved trestle was still standing in '75. That was quite a thrill going across that thing. I heard about the fire in 1977. I was just sick. But, they bounced back with the swichback and life goes on. I sure would like to get back there someday. That was a fun video. Keep 'em coming.
I visited this beautiful railroad back in 1999 when I was on the Left Coast on a business trip. I rode behind Dixiana #1, their other Shay. She is a gorgeous engine and it was a fun trip. I have always loved narrow gauge railroads ever since I rode Tweetsie #12, and riding that train through the redwoods was something I'll never forget.
Mr & Mrs Toyman - so glad you two senior teenagers had a blast at the Roaring Camp Railroad in Felton! I've ridden that train many times when I lived in Los Gatos 1996-2003. The Beach Train to the Santa Cruz boardwalk is my favorite because the ride is 1 hr long each way & passes over the breathtaking San Lorenzo River gorge deep in the Redwoods! It really is a special experience to be in the Roaring Camp itself when they have their themed events: Mountain Man Days; Civil War reenactment camps; Ichabod Crane's haunted Halloween Train, etc! Thanks for bringing back so many memories! Next trip, take it to the Santa Cruz boardwalk! Choooo Chooooo baby! ;)
We sure enjoyed this trip! We wanted to take the train from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk... But they were only running one train.. and we really wanted to ride the steam train... Both would have been great... and having more time there would have been even better! Hopefully.. the next trip will include the Beach Train! Thanks for watching!
Us too!! We have so much fun doing this, and watching is like home movies. Well sort of.. I was offended in 1976 when a reviewer said my film looked like a home movie. Now I dig it!!!
I really enjoyed seeing this Shay locomotive with drive wheels on the tender. I didn't know about such a tender. Sure is beautiful country, with the redwood trees, and I can only imagine the fragrance among them. I have gone back to see some of your previous shows on trains. They're all well done.
Three truck Shay!! Bachmann makes one in 1/20 scale.... HUM........... Some point I want to bag one. They are not expensive either. Compared to other 1/20th scale. 279.00
I was fortunate enough to ride the #1 Dixiana last month. It was a fun ride but I noticed the adults enjoyed it more than the children. The novelty wears out for the little ones after a few minutes.
Pretty serendipitous that you made this video when you did, I'm going to college at the University of California Santa Cruz this fall, and was looking into this railroad.
Thank you for bringing back the memories. Even the smell of the Redwood trees came back to mind. I do remember going over the old wood trestle in the sixties, as a kid, it scared me. Great job as always.
Thanks for the ride on the RC&BTRR. I road over the now burned trestle years ago. That was a thrill. To bad they didn't rebuild it. Still a great ride! Thanks.
I have taken the Roaring Camp train and got lots of photos durning the mountain men show...this brings back really good memories. Some of my 11x14 black and white photos were in an art show from the Roaring Camp in Colorado. One of the 11x14 photo was one of the depot where a woman was sitting outside under the Roaring Camp sign above her. Was offered $500 dollars for it...did not sell it though. Looks like they have replaced the cars to open seated cars. In 1980's, we rode inside one of the inclosed cars. Thank you for bringing back some of good memories to me.☺️
Thanks for sharing the shay steam engine(s) on video. The first shey I saw in action was the one they use on the Georgetown Loop in Georgetown Colorado.
On a side note, while you guys are here in California, you might enjoy ghost-tracking the old Yosemite Valley Railroad. I just did so myself and the grade is almost entirely intact, including a few remaining bridges and stations along the way. The line, which was abandoned in 1945, ran between Merced and El Portal, in Mariposa County - right up to the historic boundary of Yosemite National Park. And don't even get me started on the up to 78% inclines and trestle-laden logging railroads used by the major industries along the way...
I need to make the trip out to see the RC&BT one day. I first became aware of it when I was a kid, and saw it in "Lots & Lots of Trains". Ever since, I've wanted to visit it. I have to say, my favourite locomotive there used to be Tuolumne, but man, Dixiana has recently taken the number 1 spot for me. What a gorgeous little Class B shay! And that 3 Chime she wears! What a great sound! Seriously, I definitely need to see it in action one day.
What a treat to be back in the Redwoods. Stomping grounds from my childhood. Taking the tourist train from Santa Cruz and up into the redwoods is neat, as well. (Neat, does that age me?) Well done adventure. When you make it up to Oregon work your way down the coast to the Skunk train. More like a rail bus but they do run a diesel and a live steam train, at least they did. Now, I think, don't quote me, they run a dinner train. Of course if you wanna eat make your way down to the Napa wine train. Not that long ago they had evening ride and served a dinner. I am sure you have considered all this. So much screwing around-so little time. Very well done. Greg and Jeanne. Oh heck, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our own tourist train leaving from the Sacramento/California Railroad Museum Old Town Sackoftomatoes. (come over our way if you are going on that.)
Wanna do the Skunk!! Looked at it years ago, but didn't ride. And the wine train!! And the wine.... I have ridden the train there at the museum. But when Karyn and I were there they were not running that day. At Rail Fair they were running a bunch of locos on that line. WOW. We want to get back up that way. We needed to get back to get an apartment on the market. Almost ready!! Posting it on Monday. BUT then we have another to do before we can go screw around. Well, a little, at all times..
Another excellent video. We are always watching and waiting for the next one. I don't comment much but just letting you know we really enjoy every video. Thanks for taking us along.
TheRedneckRailRoad thanks! We have some fun making them!!!! Still here next week at the boardwalk. Then on to Rat Fink and then back to Lee Nicholas ho layout.
Roaring Camp is such an amazing railroad! actually paid a visit there a few days ago and got the chance to ride the handcar. There is also another railroad (With Shays) in Yosemite called Sugar Pine Railroad, I personally think both of them are great!
You guys are awesome, this video was in my opinion, just as good or better than professionally made documentary. Although we been up to Roaring Camp several times, it was great to see somebody put out a video of this quality. LOVE IT!!
Love your videos! Keep it up. If you ever get a chance to come out to the Southeastern US, try to go to the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad in Bryson City, NC. Make sure you go in the fall when you can see the leaves changing color. It's mesmerizing.
What a beautiful line! Love the shays! So unique! Looks like it was a great time, and the sights and sounds must have been fantastic! The combination of the smell of the deep, old growth forest, the wood smoke coming out of the boiler, mixed with the steam, it truly must have been a great time! Very nice! Oh, lest I forget, you had the perfect mix for the music! :)
I just found out from a Cass video about the Misty Mountain Model Railroad Museum in Blairsville Georgia. They have a large Lionel/Mike's Train House layout complete with a lift bridge that's as tall as a grown man. I recommend going there, but I think they are temporarily closed.
Great time as usual you crazy kids! But seriously, just a beautiful backdrop and superb day trip for a couple of train fans looking for fun. Renee (my wife) and I want to be just like you when we grow up.
The key there is... NEVER grow up! I will never know who thought that was a good idea! The best part is: Enjoy life.. and all it's craziness! The backdrop was amazing, indeed... and the air was filled with the smell of all those redwoods!
Dale, another great video. I remember riding this railroad with my father about 5 years ago. We were there with a modular G scale group called the Diablo Pacific short line. We rode the narrow gauge then we rode the standard gauge down to the boardwalk. Great times.
Wow the heralded first comment lol. I can almost smell the timber & smoke. So much fun watching your videos and reliving history. New Hampshire was riddled with rail lines but about 95% of them were destroyed either by the railroads or the state which bought the old lines & tore them up for trails.
If it's not too late you should visit Redwood Valley Railway and Golden Gate Live Steamers. But you should visit on a Sunday because that is when Golden Gate Live Steamers is running their public train and that is also when the most members will be there. Also the both are located in the same place in Tilden Regional Park.
I also recommend the San Diego Railroad Museum in Campo. I was there my first trip to Roaring Camp after seeing it on "There Goes a Train." I saw Cass Shay #11 there (still not sure about that. We were there in April, Cass got it in September.) I also rode their "Ticket to Tecate" train.
Of course you do, but they just changed back to their original name (Pacific Southwest Railway Museum). I still type the old name in when I search for YT Videos of them.
Toy Man Television If you don't have anything going on July 15th, there's a train show taking place at Union Station in Los Angeles that day. You should consider coming out and doing an episode on it if you're not going to be busy that weekend.
Mr and mrs. Toyman next time you guys come down south you should visit cass scenic railroad here in West Virginia! Its beautiful any time of year. You can check out the old town plus tour the shops.
Another great vid guys. I love your commentary. I seems to be a great railway. Surprisingly I'm not a big fan of the Shay, too mechanical, haha. I look forward to your next post.
If you want some more history of railroads in that area look for the book South Pacific Coast, by Bruce Macgregor and Richard Truesdale. The SPC railroad was a narrow gauge railroad that ran between San Francisco and Santa Cruz, and was eventually absorbed by the Southern Pacific.
Speaking of narrow gauge railroads, have you ever been to the Sumpter Valley Railroad down hyway 7 from Baker City, Oregon? They have the only original wood burning Hysler in the country, also an oil fired Mikado that was originally a Sumpter Valley engine that went to the White Pass RR and then back to the SVRy.
Very enjoyable place to be. Have you gone up the coast from Roaring Railroads to the Skunk Train in Fort Bragg Ca? If not you’ll have to check them out too. Have been on that ride twice!!
glad you went to Roaring Camp, I've become quite a fan of your channel , and I live right by there. I can hear the steam whistle all summer. When are you going to Sugar Pine in Yosemite? I grew up listening to that whistle
SOON!!! We were planning a month long trip here, but we had to "remove" some kids who rented the house at Garagemahal, and after removing 2 tons of bongs, meth pipes, palettes, and stuff I don't even want to think about, we almost canceled the whole trip. But we had been planning the Antique Equipment Show for over a year, so we just got in the car and headed out. But missed almost everything else. SO we need to get back!! As soon as we get the apartment rented!
#7 is large for a narrow gauge Shay but about normal for a standard gauge one. The largest NG Shays being 70 ton locos. When dealing with standard gauge 3 truck Shays they go all the way up to 160 ton locos as built. Or about 200 ton for the four truck version that was rebuilt at Cass. Think of Western Maryland #6 currently at Cass with a second truck under the water tank to get an idea of how big G,C,&E RR #12 was.
Bob and Pam Australia great show brought back memories from a trip years ago,I love your background music can you list the disc titles please so as we can try and purchase them
The music comes from Smart Sound. As it includes the rights, it's a bit expensive. AND the CDs they sell don't play on a player. You need their edit software. BUT it's great stuff!!! www.smartsound.com/royalty-free-music/
Just a little FYI. The wood Car bodies on the R.C. & B.T.Railroad were manufactured by the late Harry Pulaski who had a cabinet manufacturing co. in Irwindale, CA. He and I were friends for many years. He invited my to his narrow gauge 3" to the foot 9" ga. live steam railroad near Pearbloom, Ca. and I was hook. The railroad still exist and is called "Mesa Grande Western" if you out in So. Calif. you should visit it sometime. BTW, I have been watch Toy Man since you visited the Slim Gauge Guild in Pasadena, CA. In you video I am the one in the photo inside with the dark beard.
HI!!!!!!!! Wow, no, drove through Pearblossom every 4 weeks for years!! Bought a wind sock at the one roadside attraction, Someone's kites? ANYWAY, no idea there is a railroad!! Googled. COOL!!!!!!!! PS Slim gauge is one of my favorite clubs. We want to shoot Pasadena RR club at some time, down there all the time, love to come out to Slim Gauge with MORE TIME!!! One of only 2 basements in Southern Cal as near as I can tell. Should be on the historic register just for that reason!!
Another live steam narrow 2 1/2" to the foot 7 1/2" gauge is in Joshua Tree & Southern in Joshua Tree bordering the N.P. They have website that has more info.
Ok a few things you have wrong in your description. The Shay locomotive's are three cylinder not 6, the connecting shafts are called cardan shafts. And the are not equipped with gearboxes, they have exposed straight cut gears on the rand of each axle that are lubricated each time the engineer oils around. Each three cylinder engine has two cylinders facing forward and one facing towards the cab. Willamette shays have all three cylinders facing forward. Willamette built shays in Oregon. A three truck Shay is commonly referred to as a Pacific Coast Type Shay and were the most popular type of Shay built by Lima Locomotive Works as it extended its operation by keeping the frame of the locomotive short and added tractive effort to the locomotive by adding two powered axles. Just an FYI as I don't expect you to know all the names of the locomotive parts. Nice video. Cheers!
By 6 "cylinders" I mean to say 6 stroke. Tried to make that clear. Oops. All steam locomotives are double acting, pushing both ways. So 6 power strokes on a shay, 4 on a rod engine, hence the CHUG chug ChuG chUG sound. Six of those on a Shay. And therefore 6 cocks.
You guys should check out the Cass Scenic Railroad during your travels. They have the largest collection of running shay locomotives around. I think it would be more than worth the drive!
Cass Scenic RR is a WV state park of the old Mower Lumber Co. railroad to bring logs in to the saw mill at Cass, WV on a C&O branch. In 1972 we rode in front of three Shays to get to the top of Bald Knob which has an 11% grade. We got to see the old shops as the shop building had a fire and burned down about two or three weeks after we were there. Additional track has been relaid to extend to the old Spruce camp. Mower Lumber Co. added a truck to a three truck Shay to make a 170 ton or so four truck Shay but sadly it was scrapped. They do have and use Western Maryland No. 6 which is the largest and last Shay built by Lima Locomotive Works. Ii is a 162 ton 3 truck Shay.
Awesome video! Thanks for the info found it very interesting. Did you also get to ride the Santa Cruz Beach Train? I was wondering about that Train to. Thank You!
Love to! We have a railroad at our mount pleasant too! In Utah. But it’s a 1:2 scale 15 inch gauge live steam in a guys yard. But a part is laid on the old grade of the railroad he’s modeled. The Sanpete valley railroad
If not planing on getting the Climax running, there is one up in New Hampshire on the White Mountain Central Railroad. I think you would like it and there are you tube videos of it if you want to look at first.
One of my three friends from Cass was there when they had "Red" McMillion's oil-burning "Mount Emily" Shay #3. It was originally from LeGrande, Oregon and was later moved to Prineville. Cass leased her for 22 years from 1972-1994. She was returned to Prineville in 1994 and has remained there ever since. Toy Man, when you were at Railfair '99, I'm sure you saw this Shay racing against ant eventually losing to Graham County #1925 which I saw at NCTM a month ago.
There i9s another railroad in West Virginia besides Cass that I recommend. Have you ever heard of the Potomac Eagle in Romney? I've ridden on that twice.
I rode Roaring Camp Shay #7 “Sonora” at roaring camp railroads, on going, and I film there from roaring camp to bear mountain, and then came back to roaring camp, and then it end.
I’m not sure what that piece is. I use it a lot. I buy all of the music from a company called smart sound. And then I can re-edit it and sometimes even remix it into what I want. Some of the music doesn’t have names some of it has sort of arbitrary names given to it but it’s all stuff that they’ve written and recorded just for people to use in videos
NOt sure. The first two were in Ventura Cal owned by a collector. Both movie locos. Not sure how they ended up in Ventura! The running one is one of those two. The red one, not shown, is new to the line. And not running, so they have it inside. The other green movie loco from Ventura is just outside the tent as we go past. There is another one in the shadows in the tent. No idea what that is!!!!
+ToyManTelevision *I once rode this line.* The Roaring Camp & Big Trees RxR, headquartered at Felton, Santa Cruz County, CA, USA, keeps two 3'-0" Lima Shays (#1, a B-B Class B4, and #7, a B-B-B Class C3) fit for a train of seven; their #2 Heisler is already scheduled down pending a suitable enginehouse for her overhaul (an overhead gantry would help with dismounting the boiler and cylinders for frame work). Time 2:38 I wonder if Roaring Camp engineering found the #5 Climax damaged beyond repair? She's right beneath an open-air gantry and all out of angles, which leads me to suspect a scrapping in progress. The dismounted boiler in clean condition could be #2's, and there's a dismounted cab in good condition. Time 7:00 I remember this switchback; the Shays have no trouble at all pushing the cars - incidentally, SOP on all 7-1/2 miles of the Mt. Tamalpais & Muir Woods Ry. for most of that line's existence, 1896-1930 - through the dogleg. Would some sponsors came forward so a new steel spiral bridge can be built on the burnt wooden trestle's footings, for the descents.
Hello again! Yes, much talk about needing a better 2nd shop. Like everyone, they would like to have MORE of everything, and can't properly take care of the 4 locomotives they have now. I'm betting they find a way to build a better shop, and rebuild two or more locomotives expanding to 5. Which seems to be their goal. At this time... The first time #1 tried the 9.5 % if failed. Took about 20 tries to find a way to get it up the grade. Now it's easy as they know the way... Interestingly one of the major issues is the amount of water in the tender. As for the bridges, they seem to like things as they are. But this too may change.
yo toyman for your next travel vid series you should go to the badger steam & gas show or the edgerton thresheree . they are both in south central wisconsin the badger one has a steam tractor driven sawmill and the edgerton one has a narrow gauge railway if i remember correctly
A fun side trip on your way to a REAL RAILROAD. Worth checking out, even now. The do have a GOOSE! And they run it. But never in Telluride. THey need some track!!!!
Hope so!!!!!! They have a working Hystler! And a 2 truck Shay, and a little rod engine that the shays can pull up the hill! Or it can just stay close to home.... They use it to shuttle people from the parking lot - standard gauge to the narrow gauge station!!
There is some work being done presently by a couple of their shop workers, how extensive I do not know. Problem is their current shop houses four locomotives and will not fit more. They need an extension to the complex in order to take on overhauling another locomotive. They are also limited by funding. Four operating steam locomotives and only enough funding to keep them all running costs a lot already, and rebuilding a steam locomotive from the ground up is not cheap.
Sure! We have that at the Nevada State Railroad Museum. And an old one in Idaho, still running with 3985 going by!. One on Ralph's HO railroad that works, and one at the Nevada Northern also featured on Rick's Restorations on the History Channel.
gotta Visit the Sam shortline in Cordell ga totally worth it there you'll visit the boyhood home of president jimmy carter and his hometown of plains ga
I had a shitty old movie when I was a kid about the shey and one of the diesels here, if anyone can tell me the name I would love to watch it again for nostalgia's sake.
the only thing I could remember is that the diesel's name was Nicolas, and that his dad was the shey. There was a weird moment were Nicolas was in the mountains and there was a bunch of fog, and every now and then it would cut back to stock footage of the shey.
No... It sure doesn't. This Shay has 3, dual action cylinders... which push and pull.. making it as powerful as having 6. I made the comparison to the 6 cylinder gasoline engine, found in cars and trucks, as also being powerful.
This was an unexpected and fun trip! I love the smell of the redwoods, mixed with the other conifers growing there... The air is so fresh! This brought back memories of a place where I grew up, called Maple Canyon. I loved riding the Shay... There is just something so cool about a Shay locomotive! The 9% grade was no problem for this powerful loco... as I was reminded of a childhood story, "The Little Engine That Could". The history of Roaring Camp, really makes me smile! Sure wish we could have spent more time in this beautiful part of California!!
Karyn Felix-Angell I just love your videos!
Weird factoid: When the trestle burned, the trees didn't!!! They are blackened a bit. Seems Redwoods are pretty darn fire resistant. Most of the trees here are thousands of year old, and while many, (most?) have burned totally down in the past, the roots survive and grow back. You can spot them, trees in a ring. the original tree was in the center of the ring, and when it burned and "died" small trees grew all around the stump from the same roots. And are now hundreds of feet tall. Growing in a ring around a tree that has been gone for hundreds of years. Some of these rings are 30 feet across.
My family found the RC & BT by chance in 1967. I went back to the railroad, by myself, in 1975. First ride was behind the Dixiana Shay ( the first Shay I ever saw ). In 1975 I rode behind the Tuolumne Heisler. The staff told me the Heisler was originally standard gauge and the RC & BT shop converted it to 3 ft. gauge. The tall curved trestle was still standing in '75. That was quite a thrill going across that thing. I heard about the fire in 1977. I was just sick. But, they bounced back with the swichback and life goes on. I sure would like to get back there someday. That was a fun video. Keep 'em coming.
It is one of the funnest railroads! And what a beautiful place
I visited this beautiful railroad back in 1999 when I was on the Left Coast on a business trip. I rode behind Dixiana #1, their other Shay. She is a gorgeous engine and it was a fun trip. I have always loved narrow gauge railroads ever since I rode Tweetsie #12, and riding that train through the redwoods was something I'll never forget.
It's amazing!!! check out Sundays show. A bit more on Santa Cruz
I rode Shay #1 in 1998 on my first trip.
One is the great one. I think....
I came back in 2010 and saw Shay #7 running.
Mr & Mrs Toyman - so glad you two senior teenagers had a blast at the Roaring Camp Railroad in Felton! I've ridden that train many times when I lived in Los Gatos 1996-2003. The Beach Train to the Santa Cruz boardwalk is my favorite because the ride is 1 hr long each way & passes over the breathtaking San Lorenzo River gorge deep in the Redwoods! It really is a special experience to be in the Roaring Camp itself when they have their themed events: Mountain Man Days; Civil War reenactment camps; Ichabod Crane's haunted Halloween Train, etc! Thanks for bringing back so many memories! Next trip, take it to the Santa Cruz boardwalk! Choooo Chooooo baby! ;)
We sure enjoyed this trip! We wanted to take the train from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk... But they were only running one train.. and we really wanted to ride the steam train... Both would have been great... and having more time there would have been even better! Hopefully.. the next trip will include the Beach Train! Thanks for watching!
I love logging railroads. It looks like paradise on that giant model railroad.
What I love is this is essentially a huge model railroad built by a person who loved lugging railroads as a screwing around hobby.
This is 100% my favorite RUclips channel. Possibly my favorite place on the internet.
Us too!! We have so much fun doing this, and watching is like home movies. Well sort of.. I was offended in 1976 when a reviewer said my film looked like a home movie. Now I dig it!!!
I love roaring camp. They have a steam fair in October where they have all four engines in full steam on display, that was pretty fun!
I really enjoyed seeing this Shay locomotive with drive wheels on the tender. I didn't know about such a tender. Sure is beautiful country, with the redwood trees, and I can only imagine the fragrance among them. I have gone back to see some of your previous shows on trains. They're all well done.
Three truck Shay!! Bachmann makes one in 1/20 scale.... HUM........... Some point I want to bag one. They are not expensive either. Compared to other 1/20th scale. 279.00
Thanks! Good to know as I have a model railroad setup at my place in Florida.
Took a trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco and did a day trip to the Roaring Camp. It truly is beautiful.
What a place. We are heading back SOON.
Be sure to take the day trip to the coast and post a video of it. We wanted to do this but didn't have the time.
Check back Sunday! Not really a ride on it as it was not running yet. BUT......
I was fortunate enough to ride the #1 Dixiana last month. It was a fun ride but I noticed the adults enjoyed it more than the children. The novelty wears out for the little ones after a few minutes.
Pretty serendipitous that you made this video when you did, I'm going to college at the University of California Santa Cruz this fall, and was looking into this railroad.
Great place. AND several more in the area. Sort of.
Thank you for bringing back the memories. Even the smell of the Redwood trees came back to mind. I do remember going over the old wood trestle in the sixties, as a kid, it scared me. Great job as always.
Shame the trestle is gone. Or not used, still there, but.... AND two trestles really, one goes through the other. talk about a model railroad!!
One trestle that was kind of scary to me was the one on the Georgetown Loop.
Thanks for the ride on the RC&BTRR. I road over the now burned trestle years ago. That was a thrill. To bad they didn't rebuild it. Still a great ride! Thanks.
Great memory! I'll bet riding over that trestle was a bit more thrilling that a 9% grade!!
Well I'll tell you, riding up that 9% grade and seeing the locomotive way below or above you at the other end of the train is kind of scary.😬
I have taken the Roaring Camp train and got lots of photos durning the mountain men show...this brings back really good memories. Some of my 11x14 black and white photos were in an art show from the Roaring Camp in Colorado. One of the 11x14 photo was one of the depot where a woman was sitting outside under the Roaring Camp sign above her. Was offered $500 dollars for it...did not sell it though. Looks like they have replaced the cars to open seated cars. In 1980's, we rode inside one of the inclosed cars. Thank you for bringing back some of good memories to me.☺️
Yes, and cars look newish. Don't know. But 4 trains per day in the summer, they must need aa BUNCH of cars....
Great times and it isn't too far from me...just a few hours. Gotta get up there! Thanks!
Do it!!! FUN PLACE.
Thanks for sharing the shay steam engine(s) on video. The first shey I saw in action was the one they use on the Georgetown Loop in Georgetown Colorado.
The firs one I saw was on the Heber Creeper back in the 70's. HUGE. Don't know where it ended up....
On a side note, while you guys are here in California, you might enjoy ghost-tracking the old Yosemite Valley Railroad. I just did so myself and the grade is almost entirely intact, including a few remaining bridges and stations along the way. The line, which was abandoned in 1945, ran between Merced and El Portal, in Mariposa County - right up to the historic boundary of Yosemite National Park. And don't even get me started on the up to 78% inclines and trestle-laden logging railroads used by the major industries along the way...
I need to make the trip out to see the RC&BT one day. I first became aware of it when I was a kid, and saw it in "Lots & Lots of Trains". Ever since, I've wanted to visit it. I have to say, my favourite locomotive there used to be Tuolumne, but man, Dixiana has recently taken the number 1 spot for me. What a gorgeous little Class B shay! And that 3 Chime she wears! What a great sound! Seriously, I definitely need to see it in action one day.
What a treat to be back in the Redwoods. Stomping grounds from my childhood. Taking the tourist train from Santa Cruz and up into the redwoods is neat, as well. (Neat, does that age me?) Well done adventure. When you make it up to Oregon work your way down the coast to the Skunk train. More like a rail bus but they do run a diesel and a live steam train, at least they did. Now, I think, don't quote me, they run a dinner train. Of course if you wanna eat make your way down to the Napa wine train. Not that long ago they had evening ride and served a dinner. I am sure you have considered all this. So much screwing around-so little time. Very well done. Greg and Jeanne. Oh heck, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our own tourist train leaving from the Sacramento/California Railroad Museum Old Town Sackoftomatoes. (come over our way if you are going on that.)
Wanna do the Skunk!! Looked at it years ago, but didn't ride. And the wine train!! And the wine.... I have ridden the train there at the museum. But when Karyn and I were there they were not running that day. At Rail Fair they were running a bunch of locos on that line. WOW. We want to get back up that way. We needed to get back to get an apartment on the market. Almost ready!! Posting it on Monday. BUT then we have another to do before we can go screw around. Well, a little, at all times..
What an awesome railroad this is! I love the history about it! Sounds familiar to Walt Disney.
Hobby railroad. Wow. Some hobby!
My favorite locomotive at Roaring Camp is Shay #7 “Sonora”. Which is the locomotive in this video.
Another excellent video. We are always watching and waiting for the next one. I don't comment much but just letting you know we really enjoy every video. Thanks for taking us along.
TheRedneckRailRoad thanks! We have some fun making them!!!! Still here next week at the boardwalk. Then on to Rat Fink and then back to Lee Nicholas ho layout.
Roaring Camp is such an amazing railroad! actually paid a visit there a few days ago and got the chance to ride the handcar. There is also another railroad (With Shays) in Yosemite called Sugar Pine Railroad, I personally think both of them are great!
We gotta get to Sugar Pine!
Don't forget Cass Scenic!
You guys are awesome, this video was in my opinion, just as good or better than professionally made documentary. Although we been up to Roaring Camp several times, it was great to see somebody put out a video of this quality. LOVE IT!!
Thanks!!!!
Love your videos! Keep it up. If you ever get a chance to come out to the Southeastern US, try to go to the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad in Bryson City, NC. Make sure you go in the fall when you can see the leaves changing color. It's mesmerizing.
What a beautiful line! Love the shays! So unique! Looks like it was a great time, and the sights and sounds must have been fantastic! The combination of the smell of the deep, old growth forest, the wood smoke coming out of the boiler, mixed with the steam, it truly must have been a great time! Very nice! Oh, lest I forget, you had the perfect mix for the music! :)
Great place!!!! We are heading back SOON!!!!
I just found out from a Cass video about the Misty Mountain Model Railroad Museum in Blairsville Georgia. They have a large Lionel/Mike's Train House layout complete with a lift bridge that's as tall as a grown man. I recommend going there, but I think they are temporarily closed.
Great time as usual you crazy kids! But seriously, just a beautiful backdrop and superb day trip for a couple of train fans looking for fun. Renee (my wife) and I want to be just like you when we grow up.
The key there is... NEVER grow up! I will never know who thought that was a good idea! The best part is: Enjoy life.. and all it's craziness! The backdrop was amazing, indeed... and the air was filled with the smell of all those redwoods!
Dale, another great video. I remember riding this railroad with my father about 5 years ago. We were there with a modular G scale group called the Diablo Pacific short line. We rode the narrow gauge then we rode the standard gauge down to the boardwalk. Great times.
We need to get back. And ride BOTH lines.
Wow the heralded first comment lol. I can almost smell the timber & smoke. So much fun watching your videos and reliving history. New Hampshire was riddled with rail lines but about 95% of them were destroyed either by the railroads or the state which bought the old lines & tore them up for trails.
Love to see the trails, hate to see the track go away.
Man, all of the nice woods and interesting engines where spectacular!
What a fun place. Shame they got rid of the whiskey steel.
OUTSTANDING once again, gotta make that run. 🚂🇺🇸🚂🇺🇸🚂🇺🇸
TRUE!!!!
If it's not too late you should visit Redwood Valley Railway and Golden Gate Live Steamers. But you should visit on a Sunday because that is when Golden Gate Live Steamers is running their public train and that is also when the most members will be there. Also the both are located in the same place in Tilden Regional Park.
Ahhh... It's never too late! It just means that we will have to return... and we definitely have plans for that!! Sunday? Perfect!
Grand video, shays are just dan cool
I also recommend the San Diego Railroad Museum in Campo. I was there my first trip to Roaring Camp after seeing it on "There Goes a Train." I saw Cass Shay #11 there (still not sure about that. We were there in April, Cass got it in September.) I also rode their "Ticket to Tecate" train.
Wanna go there!!
Of course you do, but they just changed back to their original name (Pacific Southwest Railway Museum). I still type the old name in when I search for YT Videos of them.
I just know them as Campo. BUT never been. Weird. Been out that way many times.
I still know them as SDRM as well.
Great episode, I have been looking forward this one all week! It looks like you both had a good time up there.
It was great!!! Want to see all 4 engines running, and ride the beach train.
Toy Man Television If you don't have anything going on July 15th, there's a train show taking place at Union Station in Los Angeles that day. You should consider coming out and doing an episode on it if you're not going to be busy that weekend.
WOW Love to. May not be able to, other stuff going on. BUT....
Mr and mrs. Toyman next time you guys come down south you should visit cass scenic railroad here in West Virginia! Its beautiful any time of year. You can check out the old town plus tour the shops.
It’s on our plans!!!!
That was awesome! I agree, yall gotta go back again!
Soon too.
Another great vid guys. I love your commentary. I seems to be a great railway. Surprisingly I'm not a big fan of the Shay, too mechanical, haha. I look forward to your next post.
Love the shay, but not as much as a classic 4-4-0. To each their own.
i have been going to roaring camp since i was 2 and i still go
:)
If you want some more history of railroads in that area look for the book South Pacific Coast, by Bruce Macgregor and Richard Truesdale. The SPC railroad was a narrow gauge railroad that ran between San Francisco and Santa Cruz, and was eventually absorbed by the Southern Pacific.
Next week we look at, but not ride dang it, the beach train on the old SPC tracks. Need to get back out there!!!!!
Speaking of narrow gauge railroads, have you ever been to the Sumpter Valley Railroad down hyway 7 from Baker City, Oregon? They have the only original wood burning Hysler in the country, also an oil fired Mikado that was originally a Sumpter Valley engine that went to the White Pass RR and then back to the SVRy.
Long time ago! WOW. the Unita 50 and 51 ended up there before being sent to Central America to die.....
Aloha and just simply Beautiful!!!
Thanks!!!!
Very enjoyable place to be. Have you gone up the coast from Roaring Railroads to the Skunk Train in Fort Bragg Ca? If not you’ll have to check them out too. Have been on that ride twice!!
Been there but no Tim to ride. Sad. Need to go back!!
glad you went to Roaring Camp, I've become quite a fan of your channel , and I live right by there. I can hear the steam whistle all summer. When are you going to Sugar Pine in Yosemite? I grew up listening to that whistle
SOON!!! We were planning a month long trip here, but we had to "remove" some kids who rented the house at Garagemahal, and after removing 2 tons of bongs, meth pipes, palettes, and stuff I don't even want to think about, we almost canceled the whole trip. But we had been planning the Antique Equipment Show for over a year, so we just got in the car and headed out. But missed almost everything else. SO we need to get back!! As soon as we get the apartment rented!
You should go to the Cass Scenic in West Virginia. I've ridden all five of those Shays.
years ago I got a cab ride in former Westside Heisler no 3. great little ride.
Today that costs 150 bucks. But we are ready to pay it....
Excellent, such train in the middle of the woods is wonderful. And a 9.5% grade!
And what was that little things with a vertical boiler?
pbyfr some fun home made loco. Built from a marine steam launch boiler and engine I think. Just goofy fun.
#7 is large for a narrow gauge Shay but about normal for a standard gauge one. The largest NG Shays being 70 ton locos. When dealing with standard gauge 3 truck Shays they go all the way up to 160 ton locos as built. Or about 200 ton for the four truck version that was rebuilt at Cass. Think of Western Maryland #6 currently at Cass with a second truck under the water tank to get an idea of how big G,C,&E RR #12 was.
Yup. They had a standard 2 trunk on the Heber Valley for years. BIG. Yet small as these things go.
I've been to Roaring Camp many times and the standard gauge tracks is a old SP branch line
Before that, a South Pacific Coast line. 3 foot gauge!
More fun than humans should be allowed.
Just the right amount. Any more and you get brain freeze.
Bob and Pam Australia great show brought back memories from a trip years ago,I love your background music can you list the disc titles please so as we can try and purchase them
The music comes from Smart Sound. As it includes the rights, it's a bit expensive. AND the CDs they sell don't play on a player. You need their edit software. BUT it's great stuff!!! www.smartsound.com/royalty-free-music/
I have thought about putting some "finished tracks" up, but may not be legal to sell them. Or post them. Not sure.
Just a little FYI. The wood Car bodies on the R.C. & B.T.Railroad were manufactured by the late Harry Pulaski who had a cabinet manufacturing co. in Irwindale, CA. He and I were friends for many years. He invited my to his narrow gauge 3" to the foot 9" ga. live steam railroad near Pearbloom, Ca. and I was hook. The railroad still exist and is called "Mesa Grande Western" if you out in So. Calif. you should visit it sometime. BTW, I have been watch Toy Man since you visited the Slim Gauge Guild in Pasadena, CA. In you video I am the one in the photo inside with the dark beard.
HI!!!!!!!! Wow, no, drove through Pearblossom every 4 weeks for years!! Bought a wind sock at the one roadside attraction, Someone's kites? ANYWAY, no idea there is a railroad!! Googled. COOL!!!!!!!! PS Slim gauge is one of my favorite clubs. We want to shoot Pasadena RR club at some time, down there all the time, love to come out to Slim Gauge with MORE TIME!!! One of only 2 basements in Southern Cal as near as I can tell. Should be on the historic register just for that reason!!
Another live steam narrow 2 1/2" to the foot 7 1/2" gauge is in Joshua Tree & Southern in Joshua Tree bordering the N.P. They have website that has more info.
Next in like two weeks you should go to Lake Winnipausaukee because there is a railroad right by the beach and I might see you there!
Wow! I keep telling Dale.... We really need to get a real rocket ship!! We will check it out!
Ok a few things you have wrong in your description.
The Shay locomotive's are three cylinder not 6, the connecting shafts are called cardan shafts. And the are not equipped with gearboxes, they have exposed straight cut gears on the rand of each axle that are lubricated each time the engineer oils around. Each three cylinder engine has two cylinders facing forward and one facing towards the cab. Willamette shays have all three cylinders facing forward. Willamette built shays in Oregon. A three truck Shay is commonly referred to as a Pacific Coast Type Shay and were the most popular type of Shay built by Lima Locomotive Works as it extended its operation by keeping the frame of the locomotive short and added tractive effort to the locomotive by adding two powered axles.
Just an FYI as I don't expect you to know all the names of the locomotive parts.
Nice video.
Cheers!
By 6 "cylinders" I mean to say 6 stroke. Tried to make that clear. Oops. All steam locomotives are double acting, pushing both ways. So 6 power strokes on a shay, 4 on a rod engine, hence the CHUG chug ChuG chUG sound. Six of those on a Shay. And therefore 6 cocks.
You guys should check out the Cass Scenic Railroad during your travels. They have the largest collection of running shay locomotives around. I think it would be more than worth the drive!
Want to!!!!!!!!!!
Cass Scenic RR is a WV state park of the old Mower Lumber Co. railroad to bring logs in to the saw mill at Cass, WV on a C&O branch. In 1972 we rode in front of three Shays to get to the top of Bald Knob which has an 11% grade. We got to see the old shops as the shop building had a fire and burned down about two or three weeks after we were there. Additional track has been relaid to extend to the old Spruce camp. Mower Lumber Co. added a truck to a three truck Shay to make a 170 ton or so four truck Shay but sadly it was scrapped. They do have and use Western Maryland No. 6 which is the largest and last Shay built by Lima Locomotive Works. Ii is a 162 ton 3 truck Shay.
Sounds like WV is not a hard sell. WOW would we like to see that!!!!
Awesome video! Thanks for the info found it very interesting. Did you also get to ride the Santa Cruz Beach Train? I was wondering about that Train to. Thank You!
Sadly, no. NOt running yet. So we are heading back. BUT net weeks show is on that and the boardwalk.
Oh OK. Thank You for the reply. Looking forward to the Show.
Working on it right now!!!!!! Turning out great. Or so I think...
Midwest central railroad mt pleasant first week of September last week of August you gotta go!! You'll love it! I wanna see u make a video
Love to! We have a railroad at our mount pleasant too! In Utah. But it’s a 1:2 scale 15 inch gauge live steam in a guys yard. But a part is laid on the old grade of the railroad he’s modeled. The Sanpete valley railroad
If not planing on getting the Climax running, there is one up in New Hampshire on the White Mountain Central Railroad. I think you would like it and there are you tube videos of it if you want to look at first.
One of my three friends from Cass was there when they had "Red" McMillion's oil-burning "Mount Emily" Shay #3. It was originally from LeGrande, Oregon and was later moved to Prineville. Cass leased her for 22 years from 1972-1994. She was returned to Prineville in 1994 and has remained there ever since. Toy Man, when you were at Railfair '99, I'm sure you saw this Shay racing against ant eventually losing to Graham County #1925 which I saw at NCTM a month ago.
That is truly a beautiful shay! I was thrilled to see four different geared locomotives at railfair. Amazing!
There were two Shays and two Heislers. They had a Climax at '91. That's something I didn't talk about with my friend.
I was at the 91 show. One of everything. A shay, a climax, a hystler and a gypsy! Never mind the other 30 locomotives!!!
There was no Shay at '91. As a matter of fact, Railfair '91 was the only time that Climax operated.
As I recall the Mount Emily Lumber Shay was there and running.
The Heisler !
i there just a week ago!!! best railroad ever
We might have been nearby!! It is a great railroad!!
Another funderful video!
Thanks!!!!!! FUN times...
There i9s another railroad in West Virginia besides Cass that I recommend. Have you ever heard of the Potomac Eagle in Romney? I've ridden on that twice.
I rode Roaring Camp Shay #7 “Sonora” at roaring camp railroads, on going, and I film there from roaring camp to bear mountain, and then came back to roaring camp, and then it end.
Is that cool or what??
@@ToyManTelevision It was amazing.
I rode behind that climax at 2:44 in the early seventies. Thanks
Awesome!
Still running too. We plan to ride it. SOON!!!!!!!
Excellent video as usual. I was wondering what song that is at 3:30? I’ve heard you use it in many of your videos and I think it sounds nice.
I’m not sure what that piece is. I use it a lot. I buy all of the music from a company called smart sound. And then I can re-edit it and sometimes even remix it into what I want. Some of the music doesn’t have names some of it has sort of arbitrary names given to it but it’s all stuff that they’ve written and recorded just for people to use in videos
Ok, Thank you
the green one on the ranch from the last show is from cedar point in Sandusky Ohio if I remember correctly
NOt sure. The first two were in Ventura Cal owned by a collector. Both movie locos. Not sure how they ended up in Ventura! The running one is one of those two. The red one, not shown, is new to the line. And not running, so they have it inside. The other green movie loco from Ventura is just outside the tent as we go past. There is another one in the shadows in the tent. No idea what that is!!!!
+ToyManTelevision *I once rode this line.* The Roaring Camp & Big Trees RxR, headquartered at Felton, Santa Cruz County, CA, USA, keeps two 3'-0" Lima Shays (#1, a B-B Class B4, and #7, a B-B-B Class C3) fit for a train of seven; their #2 Heisler is already scheduled down pending a suitable enginehouse for her overhaul (an overhead gantry would help with dismounting the boiler and cylinders for frame work).
Time 2:38 I wonder if Roaring Camp engineering found the #5 Climax damaged beyond repair? She's right beneath an open-air gantry and all out of angles, which leads me to suspect a scrapping in progress. The dismounted boiler in clean condition could be #2's, and there's a dismounted cab in good condition.
Time 7:00 I remember this switchback; the Shays have no trouble at all pushing the cars - incidentally, SOP on all 7-1/2 miles of the Mt. Tamalpais & Muir Woods Ry. for most of that line's existence, 1896-1930 - through the dogleg. Would some sponsors came forward so a new steel spiral bridge can be built on the burnt wooden trestle's footings, for the descents.
Hello again! Yes, much talk about needing a better 2nd shop. Like everyone, they would like to have MORE of everything, and can't properly take care of the 4 locomotives they have now. I'm betting they find a way to build a better shop, and rebuild two or more locomotives expanding to 5. Which seems to be their goal. At this time... The first time #1 tried the 9.5 % if failed. Took about 20 tries to find a way to get it up the grade. Now it's easy as they know the way... Interestingly one of the major issues is the amount of water in the tender.
As for the bridges, they seem to like things as they are. But this too may change.
yo toyman for your next travel vid series you should go to the badger steam & gas show or the edgerton thresheree . they are both in south central wisconsin the badger one has a steam tractor driven sawmill and the edgerton one has a narrow gauge railway if i remember correctly
Go to New Hampshire at that lake winnipausaukee place!
maybe you'll get to visit the redwood valley railroad
We will!
Did you know that on the White Mountain Central railroad you can ride in the cab of any of there locomotives for FREE.
I like To-Hell-You-Ride, Colorado. At least before it became touristie...
A fun side trip on your way to a REAL RAILROAD. Worth checking out, even now. The do have a GOOSE! And they run it. But never in Telluride. THey need some track!!!!
I rode the railroad before when I was little
I saw a Climax in there junk yard during the show, are they planing on getting it running?
Hope so!!!!!! They have a working Hystler! And a 2 truck Shay, and a little rod engine that the shays can pull up the hill! Or it can just stay close to home.... They use it to shuttle people from the parking lot - standard gauge to the narrow gauge station!!
There is some work being done presently by a couple of their shop workers, how extensive I do not know. Problem is their current shop houses four locomotives and will not fit more. They need an extension to the complex in order to take on overhauling another locomotive. They are also limited by funding. Four operating steam locomotives and only enough funding to keep them all running costs a lot already, and rebuilding a steam locomotive from the ground up is not cheap.
But worth it. Someday I bet they do. I hope. We need to get back out there SOON. So many trains in the area!!!!!!
have you guys ever heard of the reader railroad in Arkansas
Yes! We never seem to get down that way. We should just GO. A friend mover to Georgia, sort of in the same basic area,
I thought I saw a photo of you and your wife standing in front of Santa Fe 2926.
Zachary says you weren't in the photo, but I'm still curious.
-Jake
Nope, never been there. Planning it!! but soon, and not yet! (what a loco!!!!!)
Will they restore those rusting engines they have? It's not right to leave them like that.
Have you toyman television ever video wigwag crossings ?
Sure! We have that at the Nevada State Railroad Museum. And an old one in Idaho, still running with 3985 going by!. One on Ralph's HO railroad that works, and one at the Nevada Northern also featured on Rick's Restorations on the History Channel.
Hay toyman there was one more geared locomotive you missed A Shay, a clymax, a hysler and the one you missed a wallamit
And a Gypsy engine
Try the Case Scenic Railroad
Class? Want to. So many great railroads.
I mean Cass
2:45 RIP climax locomotive
Sad state.
gotta Visit the Sam shortline in Cordell ga totally worth it there you'll visit the boyhood home of president jimmy carter and his hometown of plains ga
HAve a good friend nearby. Sorta near by. Near Atlanta. Closer that we are now anyway.
If I go there I'll have to ride the train
Indeed. One of the best rides
I had a shitty old movie when I was a kid about the shey and one of the diesels here, if anyone can tell me the name I would love to watch it again for nostalgia's sake.
Don't know. Anyone???? Jump in...
the only thing I could remember is that the diesel's name was Nicolas, and that his dad was the shey. There was a weird moment were Nicolas was in the mountains and there was a bunch of fog, and every now and then it would cut back to stock footage of the shey.
www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dmovies-tv&field-keywords=Nicholas+the+super+train+at+roaring+camp I FOUND IT!!!!
That was the Heisler
i thought it was the shey but i was wrong
Come see the Hesston Steam Museum in Hesston, Indiana to see another another 3-truck Shay #7, only this one burns wood! www.hesston.org/
Want to!!!!!! WOW. Tried to get there last year. So little time, so many trains!!!!! (and other stuff)
A Shay does not have 6 cylinders.
No... It sure doesn't. This Shay has 3, dual action cylinders... which push and pull.. making it as powerful as having 6. I made the comparison to the 6 cylinder gasoline engine, found in cars and trucks, as also being powerful.