Steam Engine Photo Tours (Page 2): If you are in the Northeast, visit the Connecticut Antique Machinery Museum. http://www.ctamachinery.com/ Albeit the virus has screwed up their...

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Tony Hayman wrote:

I have always been fascinated by Steam Engines and on rare occasions I have been able to take a few pictures. I know that there are several “Photo Tours” where people are able to take staged and other photos of Steam Engines and other trains. However I have never found a website which has an active list of upcoming tours. Does anyone know of a website, or Facebook site that has this information?

If you are in the Northeast, visit the Connecticut Antique Machinery Museum. http://www.ctamachinery.com/

Albeit the virus has screwed up their bi-annual power up events where they fire up steam engines of all types and last time having aout 7500 visitors from all over, I believe you can still go there for a self guided tour for a donation (I usually give $20). They not only have trains, but every type of steam engine imaginable. I go there to learn my camera and the attached pics were taken as test shots when I bought my EOS-R in 2019 all with natural light (all unprocessed except the liberty I took with the train that sits on the side of the road) just to give you a flavor of what's there (there's a ton more).

(Download)

JohnD3 Loc: Raleigh, NC

It includes all types of transportation; but, you might wish to check out the NC Transportation Museum; link https://www.nctrans.org/.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

If you can make the trip, this is a great event in Oregon.
https://www.antiquepowerland.com/steam-up

WarpedWeaver

I agree that the B&O Museum in Baltimore is worth a visit. My husband and I went there in 1978 on our way to DC to see the newly finished display of the Southern Crescent engine in the Smithsonian. When I was back in Baltimore in 2019 with my son, I went back and revisited the museum. Neither time disappointed me.

alliebess Loc: suburban Philadelphia

JBRIII wrote:

There is one in Cumberland, MD that runs in fall and maybe spring thru the mountains to Frostburg. They have just finished refurb, or about to, what will be the largest running locomotive in the country they say. Unfortunately, they have just determined all the ties must be replaced on the tracks at several million they don't have, so do not know when it may run again.

That's the Western Maryland Railroad which runs out of the old station. We took that trip many years ago and it was fun.

dave.speeking Loc: Brooklyn OH

Drbobcameraguy wrote:

The roundhouse of steam in ohio I believe it is called. A major great place to visit. Up around Canton

It is: The Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum

in Sugarcreek Ohio. They have tours scheduled $$.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

My grandad, dad, and three uncles all worked for Missouri Pacific in Texas, 1930-2003. I think I have been everywhere in the U.S. related to trains. My favorite place to visit is Fillmore, California. The whole city revolves 24/7/365 around the Fillmore & Western Railway. Lots of opportunity for pictures, including many photo run-bys. Also lots of opportunities to ride in the cabs of steam and diesel locomotives, in cabooses, and in vintage passenger cars. Covid-19, of course, put a crimp in public activities last year and so far this year.
https://www.fwry.com/

Stephan G

Tony Hayman wrote:

I have always been fascinated by Steam Engines and on rare occasions I have been able to take a few pictures. I know that there are several “Photo Tours” where people are able to take staged and other photos of Steam Engines and other trains. However I have never found a website which has an active list of upcoming tours. Does anyone know of a website, or Facebook site that has this information?

The several Railroad Magazines do list the various groups within their pages. They also include "oddball" events, i.e., the rebuild of Texas (Civil War engine located in Atlanta, Ga) at the North Carolina Transportation museum in Spencer, N.C.

If you are near a museum with railroad machinery, the people, many who are volunteers, who work on the stock are a good source of information regarding such events. Short Lines give great opportunities (in the wild) for photographs with their equipment being in use.

Keep in mind that the Covid-19 issues do affect the events.

Another potential source of information are the model railroaders in the areas.

Dossile

Probably shouldn’t forget the National Historic Site of Promontory Point in Northern Utah where East met West for the first time and United the nation. They have special events throughout the year when COVID isn’t an issue.

Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

Tony Hayman wrote:

I have always been fascinated by Steam Engines and on rare occasions I have been able to take a few pictures. I know that there are several “Photo Tours” where people are able to take staged and other photos of Steam Engines and other trains. However I have never found a website which has an active list of upcoming tours. Does anyone know of a website, or Facebook site that has this information?

UHH user Mac listed the NPS website for Steamtown in Scranton, PA. I listed it again for you. https://www.nps.gov/stea/index.htm

Below is a YouTube video of Steamtown, PA. They do give short "Yard" rides at Steamtown, but all of their fall foliage trips, and the Thanksgiving and Christmas trips were cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8hgJlnrkGg

I have not seen any schedule of rides for 2021 at Steamtown as of yet.

The following YouTube video is from Labor Day weekend 2015. It seems they ran a couple of special trips from Steamtown to the Delaware Water Gap in the Pocono's. I am not sure how often trips like this take place and originate from Steamtown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg0lDLMdYps

Not sure where you are from, but here are some links in the upstate NY area.
https://durr.org/
https://www.adirondackrr.com/
https://www.aarailroad.com/
https://catskillmountainrailroad.com/

Some links to scenic rides in New England
Vermont - https://www.rails-vt.com/
Connecticut - https://essexsteamtrain.com/train-boat/
Maine - https://www.downeastscenicrail.org/
New Hampshire - https://hoborr.com/
Rhode Island - http://trainsri.com/
Massachusetts - https://www.capetrain.com/ and https://www.berkshiretrains.org/

Tony Hayman

Thank you for all this information, it seems that although there are several Train rides (Steam & Other) there is only one company (Lerro Photography) that organizes photo shoots... I had hoped that there was one site with the schedules for all these trains or several "photo shoot tours" but I am probably asking too much.

Chrishants Loc: England

Tony Hayman wrote:

I have always been fascinated by Steam Engines and on rare occasions I have been able to take a few pictures. I know that there are several “Photo Tours” where people are able to take staged and other photos of Steam Engines and other trains. However I have never found a website which has an active list of upcoming tours. Does anyone know of a website, or Facebook site that has this information?

Shame you are not in the UK there are events like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=149Nl8Wa4Bc
Sadly though I cant see anything like that being allowed PC19 (post C19), and I suppose the 2019 event was almost certainly the very last one?

The show goes on over several days and as well as all things steam has all sorts of vintage cars, bikes, trucks and military vehicles. Lots of the steam engines are driven on the road to the show in some cases this taking several weeks.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

Tony Hayman wrote:

I have always been fascinated by Steam Engines and on rare occasions I have been able to take a few pictures. I know that there are several “Photo Tours” where people are able to take staged and other photos of Steam Engines and other trains. However I have never found a website which has an active list of upcoming tours. Does anyone know of a website, or Facebook site that has this information?

I don't know where you live, but the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is located in Scottsdale, AZ. https://www.therailroadpark.com/ Also, The Little River Railroad Museum is in Tremont, TN. https://littleriverrailroad.org/. I don't know if either features live action opportunities, though.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

There are several you can ride within a few hour drive of where I live near Boise. UP brought a restored big one through Boise a few years ago. I have a number of images of it. Big hit.

I don't know where they took it to rest...probably Ogden UT.

https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/844/

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Tony Hayman wrote:

Thank you for all this information, it seems that although there are several Train rides (Steam & Other) there is only one company (Lerro Photography) that organizes photo shoots... I had hoped that there was one site with the schedules for all these trains or several "photo shoot tours" but I am probably asking too much.

Sometimes, The Durango to Silverton and the Cumbres & Toltec offer a photographer's photo shoot train ride with steam locomotives. It May not be announced until later in the year.

For an unofficial capturing many wonderful action shots in different locations, Cumbres & Toltec from Chama, New Mexico can work for you. The train will be climbing a 4% grade so there will be hard working action coming out of the smokestack. The train will be with passenger cars and without modern buildings, telephone poles and cars. The Chama yard is a museum and is open to the public (no fences). You can check out my topics for Cumbres & Toltec. I can help you with the details if you are interested. This is all subject to any covid restrictions.

Found this for later this year in Ely, Nevada.
https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2021/02/01-trains-magazine-nevada-northern-announce-81-for-81-steam-event

Pat