Lake Shore Live Steamers.com

Located at

Penitentiary Glen
8668 Kirtland-Chardon Rd
Kirtland, Ohio 44094

The first group of attendees for the Tremendous Trains Program that we hold each year has arrived and assembled at the steaming bays. Skip Frank has set up his steamer "Lynn" on blocks to run the engine on air so he can describe the working parts of the engine.

When the presentation of the engines was over the attendees moved around the steaming bay where Judson Elliott did a description of the different type of railroad cars and what their intended use was for. Judson asks the kids what a particular car might haul.

We had an assortment of cars set out on a siding track to have a "show and tell" session on the different types of cars. Judson discribed to the gathering the different compartments inside the riding coaches used for eating, sleeping or business as passengers rode the rails.

After the presentation the much awaited train ride was next on the agenda and Greg Guy with the club's GP38 and Steve Zaken as conductor get ready to depart the station. Paul Emch gives riding instructions as John Koontz prepares to depart the staion with his passengers.

Greg having passed through Zip Junction is near the end of this trip. John came along shortly with the Park engine with a full load of passengers as they make their way back to the station.

John, after unloading his passengers, picked up another trainload of riders and heads out down the mainline. Greg having just passed through High Creek is headed for Horrendous as he passes under the signal bridge.

John powers by with the WE&LE engine with Paul as conductor riding on the rear as they head towards Filmor. The 1pm attendees gather at the steaming bays as Skip gets ready to start his presentation on engines as he did with the 10am group.

Skip explaining why some steam engines had straight exhaust stacks and why some had stacks like "Lynns" due to the fuel they burned. This group assembled in front of Judson then and he described the various cars and what they could possibly haul.

In this picture Judson is showing how some of the railroads mounted snow blades to gondolas to take care of snow removal in the winter time. When Judson finished his prensation it was time for the attendees to move down to the loading area for a ride on the trains.

Paul confers with Greg just before the start of his run, hauling a full load of passengers with Steve as conductor. John engages the engine and the train starts moving and that's Judson as conductor on the rear as these riders settle in for the ride.

I caught up with Greg as he passed through Zip Junction and rumbled over the grade crossing as he headed towards Horrendous. John gives a wave as he passes under the signal bridge which has American flags flying from it as it is a work in progress.

Greg with his passengers as he passes over the track crossing at High Creek. John coasting down the grade from Filmor will soon be rumbling over Patty's Rock Bridge.

Today was still a work session day so some of the crew, Tom Reder, Frank Foti, Dick Clark(behind) Ron Trenhaile do limited work on leveling track so as to keep our trains with the program running. Back at the station the crew relaxes while waiting for the 3pm group.

The 3pm group assembled for a program the Park had for the attendees under this tent before they came down to our area. The next group has arrived and Skip is already part way through his presentation about steam and diesel engines.

Skip explaining parts on the front of a engine, in this case the cow catcher used to move cows off the tracks by nudging them. After Skip warned the kids that this may be loud , they covered their ears, he blew the whistle showing them the crossing and signal blasts used.

Judson is showing what a train truck set of wheels looks like to the youngsters. Judson explaining the various type of cars behind him and asking the kids if they had any ideas of what they would haul.

With the program of trains over it was again time for the rides and John is at the controls of the engine as Judson rides at the rear as conductor. Greg passes by the coaling tower after having just departed the station on his next run.

Having just arrived back at the station, Pam Znidar assists with the unloading as Greg answers a question. With the ride over and the pictures taken the attendees head for the exit area.

Frank Foti loaded the last trainload of riders for John as he advances the throttle and gains speed leaving the station. Greg waits to see if there any more riders to board his train.

John with his passengers is about to go into the Covered Bridge with Judson as conductor on the rear of the train. Greg after just emerging from the Covered Bridge with the last of the Tremendous Trains participents.