Yessiree, only four others running anywhere in the whole big wide world. The old side-winder shufflin' Shays are still pretty common, at least, by comparison, the high-steppin' and hoppity Climaxes less so, but the Heisler, the product of half-brain, half-genius and half sheer cussedness, well, there's only five left running in the entire universe to remind us what it was all about. The clonking-clanking of the double crankshaft, and metallic knocking sound of the enormous knuckle joints, the whining of the gears and the rhythmic glongglong of the out-of-sync side-rods - all these noises come together in a blend that can only say 'Heisler' to those who love old trains.Earlier this week we were in Oregon, the day was blustery and drizzly - nothing new for July, then. We were driving along Highway 101 when even my deef old ears caught the sound of the whistle in the distance, as the former Curtiss Lumber Company #2 of the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad clanked its way along the single line from Garibaldi to Rockaway Beach. A couple of brave souls risked being blowed away or drownded - either was possible - in the open observation car as the train, backed up by a fine old green caboose, swayed and clanked its way west and north in the gloomy day.I stopped first near the Three Graces - a trio of offshore rock formations in Tillamook Bay - catching it as it steamed by. Then not far from Hidden Lake on a straight stretch, and finally as it pulled in to its half-hour sojourn in Rockaway Beach, where I was invited up into the cab to get warm.Here are the short movies recording an experience that most of us will never ever have as long as we have belly-buttons - a much-loved and near pristine Heisler in action.Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P7er844yV8Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEdu-p8TC2kPart 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsH5_Q1qxLkEnjoy, and turn up the volume.tac
http://www.ovgrs.org/
http://www.ovgrs.org/
