After Laying over @ LaSalle St. Station in Wobegon, the Special pulled out on-time and was soon passing through Grand Junction crossing over to the Mountain Division.
>
Once cleared onto the Division, it was a quick blink of an eye and the boys at Acme Industries took a break from their work (packing up another order for Wile E. Coyote Industires) as Hidden Valley greeted the morning Express
>
Pulling into Armstrong with a Pennsy head end car in the siding.
>
Continuing on right outside of Armstrong, the snowcovered peaks up North can be seen and a Canadian Pacific truck waits patiently to make a delivery
>
>
Nearing the base of the climb, the double headed Bluebirds pass the local Caterpillar Dealer and begin to earn their keep as they assault the first of 5 grades on the legendary run. The initial pull is only a quarter of a mile and is merely a warm up for what is to come throughout the day but the smell of fresh barley and malt always makes the engineers smile as the lean out the cab.
>
>
Passing though Sunnyside at the Harold Avenue freight house, the entire consist can be seen.
>
The Sunnyside commissary is hard at work receiving staples and stocking rolling kitchens as the Boiler house keeps things powered and the Store House is a stone throw away. Local PRR traffic has been sidelined as the Special has the line all the way to Virginia City
>
You've heard of the fly over, well here is a duck under. In any case, the Broadway sits idle as the Special begins the 2nd grade. The hobo's under the bridge can tell stories all day about ambitious engineers attempting the #2 grade without enough sand in the domes and help on the rear. In this case, the consist has plenty of power.
>
After successfully pulling grades #3 and #4 on the approach to Tucker Gorge the train slows to a mandatory 15mph on the centenarian wooden structure.
>
Pulling into Thomas includes a photo op at the Laurel Valley interchange
>
That's the LV's conductor Weldon waving hello and directing things from the back of the switching job.
>
Exiting Thomas and starting to pull the 5th hill is no small feat. A trestle and winding S curve make things interesting.
>
Finally done with the grade, and through Rocky River, the Special is caught rounding the bend at a country gas station. The billboard advertising shows that this is Blue Coal country and Glen Alden must be near by.
>
Burma Shave signs can always be seen along the right of way
>
Grutzmacher Orchard is a fine place to source your local fruit. In fact, the railroad has been doing it for years.
>
With the Special pulling into Glen Alden, we get a chance to grab a nose shot. This small mining town proudly serves Blue Coal and has a large amount of rail traffic.
>
>
Finally pulling into Virginia City, the Special ties down for the evening at the Maryland and Ohio Interchange. A few of the escort crew jump off and head to the local hardware store
>
Tomorrow the Special is handed off to the M&O
>
