Strasburg Rail Road and the "Overkill" Charter

There are very few railroads in the United States that have the availability to run steam locomotives triple-headed. The Strasburg Rail Road in eastern Pennsylvania is one of those few lucky places. Other places that could offer it have similar locomotive heritages, wheel arrangements, and enough restored freight cars to recreate an authentic scene from a railroad's heyday. At Strasburg, not so much. This particular Carl Franz "stealth photo charter" was advertised to have triple-headers - one of the main reasons I attended. I knew that combining a 2-6-0, 4-8-0 and 2-10-0 with the railroad's normal photo freight consist would look odd - but this was something I didn't want to miss. There were other double-header shots and solo shots during the day that could be considered more authentic. But the triple-header - that was fun. If not a bit overkill...

[@dennislivesey8282]

I am for historical preservation. I want accuracy recorded so that this and succeeding generations understand what life was like before they were born. After all is said and done, however, there is utterly no reason not to have some fun. Remember when you played with your trains as a kid and how you mixed and matched because it was fun? Nothing wrong with that was there? :-)

[@Bigjimvideo]

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with this charter - and I agree, the tripleheader was fun. For a photographer, from the right angles, you can capture it to make it look like it could be a long freight train around the bend. I'm also for a "fun" runby photo charter. I just could not stop thinking to myself - wow, this is a bit overkill. Fun, but overkill. :)

[@kaylagingles6362]

Love this video thanks for sharing 👍👍💝🔥☺😀

[@Bigjimvideo]

Thank you!

[@Superb_0wl]

89 is the best locomotive & m glad its leading 475 & 90 well until the end

[@chesapeakerailphotography]

Awesome video

[@Bigjimvideo]

Thank you very much!

[@chendersonrailproductions704]

Great video man! Was good running into you again that day.

[@Bigjimvideo]

Absolutely, you too!

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

Awesome video of a very rare event indeed

[@MrSonicthehedgehog31]

Eastern PA Railfan Productions this wasn’t the only time they tripleheaded. They also tripleheaded back in 2017 when 89 was back in service

[@Bigjimvideo]

Indeed, this was the first "advertised" stealth event. The prior one was a stealth event as well but the tripleheader was not advertised as such at that time.

[@Bigjimvideo]

Thank you!

[@54macdog]

Spectacular!

[@Bigjimvideo]

Thank you!

[@AgentSpockAgentSpock]

Actually you might be talked about this but they do that to transfer some locomotive to our places on trains

[@Bigjimvideo]

You're right, now that I think about it...

[@mylesspear]

I’m almost certain that the guys at Strasburg were bored one day and one guys just said “what if we did a triple header?”. 😅 lol! Not shaming Strasbourg or anything. Just a funny theory.

[@Bigjimvideo]

This was actually a paid event. They have done double-headers before with steam if freight warranted it... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnOnaYqbmLyYbJY

[@Thatguybob5]

There's nothing wrong with having a little fun, the Union Pacific does this type of stuff too, that's why they have a hole round house of steam locomotives, for history and for fun, and plus this video looks really cool.

[@Bigjimvideo]

Thanks!

[@Island_Line_Rail_Productions]

*had

[@sherrydunbar2041]

Back in 2017 the order was 89 first then 90 second and 475 last

[@blackpanther1013]

yep looks like Strasburg needs to learn to count from least to greatest 89, 90, 475,

[@dannydorito9815]

Black panther 101 or you need to learn that they put them in size order. 89, a 2-6-0 mogul, was the smallest. 475, a 4-8-0 mastodon, was the second largest, while at 90, a 2-10-0 decapod, was the largest. Just because you know how to use your numbers like a big boy who doesn’t need diapers, doesn’t mean that everything needs to be in number order.

[@brook8523]

Sometimes overkill is a good thing photography wise!

[@Bigjimvideo]

I agree! It could be...

[@sherrydunbar2041]

@@Bigjimvideo back in 2017 the order was 90 first then 89 second and 475 last

[@thekaibacorpexpress4043]

Three large tender engines pulling 8 freight cars and 2 coaches? Yep, I think it's pretty safe to say that's overkill

[@Bigjimvideo]

Yup!!! But still awesome regardless.

[@thekaibacorpexpress4043]

@@Bigjimvideo No argument there :D

[@TheBestTrainsAreReal]

Just a thought, would you rather have a overkill/fun charters, or none at all? Great video!

[@Bigjimvideo]

Sorry for the delay in responding - I'd rather have overkill/fun for sure!!

[@Band__geek]

3:28 ooooo siren

[@leonduminiak4964]

How can you complain about a steam triple header?

[@Bigjimvideo]

Easy. I did. It was a lot of fun to see, no doubt. But that many engines pulling that few cars...maybe if one thinks of it as a ferry move as well for two of the other engines in the consist - that maybe I could see...

[@steamgent4592]

SRC is trying to regain its heritage of fun it once had it seems this year. However with Pampers running like they usually do and whimpy whistling it wont do much good. It's still gonna be Pampersburg. RIP John Bowman you knew how to give us a show!

[@the_retag]

What does a steam railroad have to do with a baby product company?

[@SteamZRailfan]

Awesome! How did you get to be a part of this charter?

[@Bigjimvideo]

I was on the organizer's email list from prior events.

[@danehill9346]

Good video nonetheless Jim!

[@Bigjimvideo]

Thank you very much!

[@onionhat9141]

just a bunch of guys closed down strasburg so they can play with the locomotives its basically a railroad haven I would totally be an engineer if that would mean I could do this lol

[@JamesHunterPhotos]

👋Hello! I was wondering if you could tell me the name of your tripod and camera that you use please!

[@Bigjimvideo]

I use a Manfrotto Tripod and Sony Handycam

[@usstiger_cd4165]

I bet they used all the cars they had for freight without asking NS, but I can see why you can call it overkill, (even thought it is a charter).

[@Bigjimvideo]

They didn't use any "revenue" freight cars, only the "restored/period" freight cars. Great behind one engine, plausible for two, all three, not quite enough.

[@BigUnitBeef]

Lol....needs a pusher

[@Bigjimvideo]

Uhhhhhh no. LOL!!