The Bamboo Train

 The bamboo train, called the "norry" by locals, is one of Cambodia's most adventurous tourist attractions - rated by the Lonely Planet travel guide as one of the Top Ten Things to Do in Cambodia.

Located in the northwestern provincial capital of Battambang, the bamboo train began after the Khmer Rouge left Cambodia in tatters.  With the railroad mostly broken and abandoned, villagers took tank and truck parts leftover from the war and cut them to fit the railroad.  They then placed a bamboo platform on top - held in place only by gravity - and added a small motor to the back, often taken from small cars, motos, or boats.  The result was the bamboo train - a small railroad cart capable of traveling up to 40km per hour down the warped and bumpy tracks, which can be taken apart and reassembled in under two minutes.

Watch what happens when two of them meet going opposite directions.

There are even chickens riding on the train. Just for Chickenmom.

Another that shows more detail.

The Bamboo Train is Closed but Will Reopen (Currently Scheduled January 2018)

Peak Tram - Hong Kong

The Peak Tramway is a  funicular railway that goes to the top of Victoria Peak on Hong Kong island. I was lucky enough to ride it once in the early 1990's while there on a business trip. I was reminded of it by Chickenmom's post about the cog railway on Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. 

The Peak Tram was opened for public service on 28 May 1888 by the then governor Sir George William des Voeux.^[4] As built, the line used a static steam engine to power the haulage cable. In 1926, the steam engine was replaced by an electric motor. It has a maximum grade of 48% and is .87 miles long.

On 11 December 1941, during the Battle of Hong Kong, the engine room was damaged in an attack. Service was not resumed until 25 December 1945, after the end of the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong.
More information here. 
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope, the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalancing each other. Funiculars of one sort or another have existed for hundreds of years and continue to be used for moving both passengers and goods. Its name derives from the latin, funiculus, diminutive of funis, meaning "rope". More information, history and pictures of numerous examples of funiculars can be found here. 

The only old video I could find didn't show the steam power but is pretty cool anyway. 

Here is a YouTube video by Luis Costa from December 2010 that includes the tram ride and spectacular views and a tour of Victoria Peak. (almost 15 minutes)

 From Luis' descripition:
 "Hong Kong skyline is nothing short of amazing, and it's best admired at Victoria Peak.
The city has more buildings above 100m and 150m than any other city in the world.
Hong Kong also holds the title for the world's biggest skyline with a total of 7,681 skyscrapers, placing it ahead of New York City, even though New York is larger in area."

The population of Hong Kong in mid 2015 was 7.3 million in an area of 427 sq. miles. (includes Hong Kong island, the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories. See the Wikipedia entry for more information.

Sweet Tooth

For the railfan with a sweet tooth.

 H/T Donna

Speaking of FEC #253

Here are a group of pictures of the move of #253 and several other pieces of equipment from Dade County to Ft. Pierce on June 13, 2009. Taken in Palm Beach and Martin Counties.

The next four photos were taken just south of Hobe Sound (the town) from the side of Dixie Highway. The road is quite a bit higher that the tracks in this area. (for Florida anyway) Approximately milepost 275.

Ft. Pierce April 18

A visit to the Steam Locomotive Association FEC #253. Also a photo of the Ft. Pierce FEC yard and a video of FEC 3377 found on YouTube.

 FEC # 253 Alco 0-8-9  Road Switcher. Manufactured in 1924 in Richmond.

Oil Fired

 Steam Crane FEC #3377

 Nameplate on crane: 

Industrial Works Builders; Bay City, Mich. U.S.A.

Mach. No. 4703 1925

Capacity With Jackbeams; 300000 Lbs. at 17 Ft. Radius; 100000 at 30 ft.

Note the old style axle bearing boxes. Hence the term "Hot Box" when it overheats.

 Boxcar converted to Caboose 

FEC Ft. Pierce yard from Citrus Ave. Overpass

It appears this video was made when the crane was parked on the siding of the K line just west of US 1.

Folkston Railwatch 2015

Railwatch was held Saturday, April 11. Lots of folks there and lots of pictures. Check out YouTube for some great videos taken by others. We arrived Friday and left Sunday.

Sat, 11 April 2015  08:39 AM

Amtrak 91 Silver Meteor southbound in Folkston

GE Dash 8-32BWH #514 behind GE P42DC #186
Read that the Dash 8 isn't used in scheduled service often.

*If you zoom in you can see a crew member waving at the crowd.*
I enlarged the picture so you don't have to copy it to your editor.

Amtrak 91 Silver Star about 1:45 late southbound in Folkston
Sat. 4/4 7:56 AM

 Pancake breakfast next to the mainline on Saturday.

Double header with Tropicana

 Well attended. The viewing platform is in the distance.

 The only non CSX locomotive seen.

 A nice looking Tropicana car with no graffiti. :)

 Amtrak 97 Silver Meteor with 205 and 160 Sunday morning.

CSX Special Folkston April 16, 2015

Caught this one locomotive two car special on the web-cam at 10:49 AM. Southbound and caught the defect detector at mile 610.6 announcement. No defects, Track 1, length 209 ft., 74 mph, 12 axles. Only caught the end of the locomotive. :(

Coal Train

Cleaning the windshield near Spruce Pine, NC before heading south down "The Loops" from Alta Pass down the mountain to Marion, NC.

September 24, 2008 10:51 AM Canon PowerShot A430
Walnut Straight Road and Altapass Highway