Williams Grove - Engineer Classes with #643

The Williams Grove Historic Steam Engine Association gives you a chance at being the engineer of a steam locomotive - and I took advantage of this oppurtunity!

Watch the last operating Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) steam locomotive in operation today, #643 (Built in 1901 in Altoona - yes, she's over 100 years old!) steam up and down the short stretch of track winding through Williams Grove - with yours truly at the throttle.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Williams
• Grove
• Steam
• Engine
• Locomotive
• 0-6-0
• PRR
• 643
• WGHSEA
• Pennsylvania
• Railroad
• Steamer
• Train
• Engineer
• Program

[derail14]

This is not a prr engine, IE no belpaier firebox tells me that, Also pennsy did not use chime whistles on yard goats.....

[JoMiFu]

It is a pennsy engine, but the boiler was rebuilt without the belpair firebox later on.

[Strasburg1991]

is there a dead end on this rr?

[JoMiFu]

Is there a dead end? Heh.... that's too funny.

Go to 4:08 in the video and tell me what you think. lol.

[JoMiFu]

Listen guys, MandavoshkaMajafaja and Rusty Metal Boxes do have a point, I'm sorry to say. I wouldn't bash them so much. It makes you seem like even bigger foamers.

I was the engineer, and I am saying these people are correct (primarily MandavoshkaMajafaja, RustyMetalBoxes was just a bit harsh, but wasn't totally innacurate.)

It was my very first time running a steam locomotive, and I paid $75.. I wanted to have some fun in the time period that I had.

That's all.

[Chessie2101]

I would Just like to say, that you non of you guys have any right to bash Joe what so ever. He paid to be an engineer on that locomotive for a half hour so he was the engineer for a half hour. He can run the steam engine how ever he wants and blow the whistle how ever much he wants. Engineer is the boss of that Locomotive. Joe ran the 643 very well, and you all need to stop bashing him. You go pay the 75 bucks and run it how you want, Joe ran it how he wanted.

[pagreb]

I rode cab on the Lumberjack Special in Laona, Wi. Last fall I got a free ride after amking a wall map of Connor Lumber Co. rail lines. (1903-1941). I like how you responded to the "Gas house tune" with the whistle!

[dearbornerik]

RWP

[dan1945001]

Question, are they still offering the engineer experience? If so when and how do I contact them for information/ I lived about 1 mile from the Grove back in 1968-9. Loved to hear the whistle when they ran. Do they still host the traction steam farm tractors like they did then?

[PereMarquette1223]

@derail14 For all we know, the original whistle could've been lost. I can tell this is a lunkenheimer 3 chime whistle on it.

[bradmann85]

at 4:09 is where marty has left the western time and returned to 1985!

[zdrewbie]

how old were you when you did this?

[BUICK925]

@derail14

100% agreed

im from the west coast but i still agree

[Stussmeister]

Out of curiosity, is the Williams Grove to which you are referring anywhere close to Harrisburg, PA? Because I used to go to Messiah College, which was very close to the Williams Grove Speedway....

[cber8860]

@JoMiFu how is the lite powered batteries and does this loco have a radio for communication purposes

[PRL2204]

@Chessie2101 ha, more like $110 for a half hour now.. :P

[pennyf9]

@JoMiFu how come they rebuilt it without the belpair firebox?

[Conrail6370]

derail14, This locomotive was built in 1901 by the Juniata Locomotive Shop, Altoona,PA. by the Pennsylvania Railroad. It worked most of it's life shifting locomotives in and out of the shop complex. until it was sold to the Harrisburg Steel Company , where it was, until it was donated to Williams Grove Historic Steam Engine Association in the 1960's. The Boiler was rebuilt in the early 2000's . And BTW you can put any whistle on top as you want. if your the owner of the locomotive. Len.

[1998ChevroletS10]

@JoMiFu and yea it is cause live here in pennsylvania and have seen this engine

[guitboxchicken]

@Gunny761 Yeah, you're right. 353 also has the stack talk of a road locomotive! Gotta love the yard goats!

[pennyf9]

@JoMiFu how come they rebuilt it without the belpair firebox?

[Gunny761]

@guitboxchicken That seems to be a common thing with these yard goats. Look up Soo 353, it has some good stack talk for a switcher as well.

[Gunny761]

@Bassfanatic94 It's just about the best price you can get for driving a steamer. Most of them nowadays are a lot more expensive. Nevada Northern charges $695 to drive one of their engines for an hour and a half, and a lot of places are even more

[pennyf9]

Is this locomotive missing it's belpair firebox? I don't want to start an argument

[modeltrainman12345]

do they still offer this program at the railroad.

[tropicalfishswim]

You did get a little whistle happy, but I can tell you wanted to make the most of your expirience. You'll know better next time. Very nice video.

[trainlover479]

I stand corrected, she is the last one runnin, I plan to do this someday, long live the PRR!

[Bassfanatic94]

Hey nice video! I live really close to this place and want to do their engineer thing so badly. They raised the prices to 100 bucks do you think it is worth it for a 30 minute slot?

[guitboxchicken]

@WildGuy00000 Check out Steamtown National Historic Site's Bullard Company locomotive! It's not running, but it is SMALL!!! Especially when compared to UP 4012 Big Boy behind it!

[guitboxchicken]

That locomotive has the stack talk of a locomotive twice its size!

[myrryxmas]

@trainmaster844 ... that makes it quite the bargain... Essex RR up in Connecticut charges $500 for an hour.

next spring, i am DEFINITELY signing up to do this! it looks like a real blast!

a childhood dream come true at a very modest price ***sigh***

thanks for posting this, Joe!