Pumpkin Patch

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 23:59:59 -800

Dad and I went to the Western Railway Museum's annual Pumpkin Patch at Gum
Grove. The grove is not particularly car-accessible, so the only way to get
there is via train. This draws a sufficiently large crowd that they pull the
big Key articulated units out of the car barn for service. They go a bit
faster than the streetcars, which means they can get down to Gum Grove in about
15 minutes, but makes for a bit of a jarring ride. Unlike the streetcars, the
horns in the Units are loud and car-like. For interurban train cars that are
pushing 75, they're in relatively good condition, though I suspect that the
pantograph in 187 is starting to collapse the roof. During this visit they
seemed a little swamped, so I wasn't able to venture into the other car barns
for tours. That, I suspect, requires a visit on a quiet weekend. Pictures
are mixed in with the August trip
pictures.