DATE:   Sun Sept 18, noon to 4 pm

WHAT:  Operating session on the 2 ft narrow gauge Bucksgahuda and Western Railroad.

COST:  None.  Donations requested to defray operating expenses.

LOCATION:  St Mary's

DISTANCE:    about 100 mi west of Williamsport -- figure about 2 hours+ driving time

FOOD:   There is no food at the railroad property, but if you go about a mile past the railroad, you reach the town of St Marys, with the usual MacDonalds, Wendys, etc.

(graphic should follow here)

DETAILS:

This private railroad is open to "invited guests" on it's 2 annual operating days, once in August, and once in September.  I got permission from one of the owners, Bill Bauer, to announce this event on this email list.

You can ride on the train pulled by an 0-4-0 live steam engine ("Otto") which runs on a big loop with a 7% downgrade and a 5% upgrade.  There are no air brakes, so it requires a brakeman to ride on each of the 3 cars.  They also run an alternate point-to-point route.

There was also a SHAY in operation when I was there in August, although it was giving them some problems that day, might hopefully be fixed by September.

You can get complete details on the   Bucksgahuda and Western website .

( http://home.alltel.net/bandw )  Note they have a DIRECTIONS page with an explicit map showing you how to get there.

VIDEO:   There's a video on the B&W home page, link in the lower left corner, "Otto - Septmember 2003" that shows the 0-4-0 coming up the 5% upgrade.

2nd VIDEO:  If you have a broadband connection, there is a  18 MB MPEG in the Track2 mpegs directory ( http://track2.com/mpegs/rail )  titled "otto+shay.mpg" that shows you both the 0-4-0 and the Shay in operation (if you look close, you can see Tom Martino working as brakeman in the gondola in front of the caboose, and Tony Ferraro and Frank Ulman riding on the Shay).

--