Real STEAM! Operational locomotives in California

[Alexander Watt Babbage]

I just came across this very comprehensive list of real steam
locomotives in California - stored, displayed and operational! It
includes historic engines and also live steam models.

I think it would be fantastic to have a Steampunk excursion event on
one of these trains. Imagine a large group of Victorian ladies and
gentlemen (and some riff-raff) boarding a beautiful railcar for an
excursion trip together.

Who wants to be on-board?

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/lists/CA.shtml

[Alexander Watt Babbage]

I'm jazzed about the idea of a steampunk rail trip.

I actually checked on what it would cost to hire a private railcar
(Two Rivers) from Sacramento to Emeryville and back the weekend of the
Nova Albion convention. Unfortunately it would be about $175 per
person, and we would need to find 20 people (the max capacity of the
car). I don't think I personally would be willing to pay that amount
for that short of a trip. A longer trip (say to Seattle) might seem
more cost effective, particularly since the car is a pullman that
makes up into sleeping suites.

More in keeping with steampunk would be a rail excursion behind a real
steam train, preferably with some antique cars. Sierra Railway
operates several trains/routes that might serve. The one down by
Yosemite sounds pretty interesting - they have dinner trains and
special events and the cost per person is affordable.

The "Spring scenic lunch" sounds pretty good. http://www.sierrarailroad.com/dinnertrain/

Here is a review of one of their trips:
http://www.trainweb.org/carl/Sierra/

[Beatrix Travers-Braithwaite]

Indeed! An affordable railway trip would be a wonderful excursion, and
perhaps an ideal time to take some more formal pictures of our group.

[Alexander Watt Babbage]

Here is another option for a real steam excursion - the Virginia and
Truckee from Carson City to Virginia City (with time for lunch and
touristing in Virginia City) and back.

http://virginiatruckee.com/

[Alexander Watt Babbage]

I have been researching the possibilities for a really major steam
train excursion this year. In coordination with the Great Basin
Costume Society I am tentatively planning an outing in mid September
to ride the Virginia City and Truckee railroad on a round trip from
Carson City to Virginia City. The train ride uses 1915 pullman cars
and a real steam engine. It is over an hour each way and three and a
half hours are allowed for lunch and touristing in Virginia City (a
very old west town).

This would be a great steampunk/wild wild west/victorian costume and
photo opportunity.

The plan would be to tour the Carson City railway museum on Saturday
morning. Board the Train at 10 AM. Socialize during the ride.
Tourist and lunch for the afternoon, and return via train by early
evening. It may be possible to arrange a banquet or other special
evening if people are interested. Carson City has a lot of motels
(including budget types) but they haven't been researched yet. Those
of us coming a fair distance will probably need to overnite in Carson
City at least one, if not two nights.

I have contacted the railroad and we can get a group discount. I will
post the details soon.

Please respond to this topic to expess interest. We could make
Saturday evening into a mini-convention if people are willing to
commit in advance in sufficient numbers.

[Dack Patrick O'Connor, Esq.]

I'm very interested in the idea!

I don't think I could go without bringing the Darling Children as
well. Hmm, how about Steampunk fashions for children and infants?

[Diana]

If people are up to a drive before the rail excursion there is also
the Skunk Train between Fort Bragg on the coast and Willits. I
believe when I looked into it last year the cost was about $40 for a
1/2 trip, to the midway point in the redwoods and back. I took this
train in the 90's and it was beautiful. It winds through Redwoods and
Pine forest on the coast heading out of Fort Bragg.

[Alexander Watt Babbage]

Children make very cute steampunks. There were several at Steamcon in
October. Or you can go straight Victorian (think Alice in Wonderland
or Lolita) or straight western. I like kids of all ages (after all, I
am one) and this should be a family friendly event.

[Denese "Georgia Banks" Harlan]

I think this would be great fun. Depending on the dates, we would
probably plan to spend one night.

[Laura]

Re: children, if you want a quick resource for period children's
fashions, they're included at the end of each of the Wikipedia
articles for Victorian (and Edwardian) era fashions. Here is the
first one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1830s_in_fashion and at the
very bottom of the page is a list that links to the rest.

[steamjam]

I also think this would be great fun. I could even give all those who
are interested a "working tour" of a steam engine and how they
work.. :)

[Alexander Watt Babbage]

Tell us more...

[vespawitch]

We would be TOTALLY interested! My daughter (2.5 years old) LOVES
steam trains and I think it would be a fun outing!

Wendy

On Feb 22, 3:12 pm, Alexander Watt Babbage <dh...@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

[Alexander Watt Babbage]

There has been a lot of enthusiasm expressed about this trip. It will
be happening in September. Because of the train schedule, it makes
sense to make overnight stays in Carson City (which has lots of motels
to choose from).

Round trip Train 2 departs Carson City at 10am arrives Virginia City
at approx. 11:30

Train 3 departs Virginia City at 3pm and returns to Carson City at
4:20

Here is where you need to respond with your preferences:

The first weekend of September is Labor Day weekend and there will be
"Civil War Days" happening in Virginia City. I expect that there will
be crowds also. If we choose this weekend, we had better get ALL of
our reservations made early. This would probably give those with
standard work schedules an extra travel day for the trip. It would
probably also be a conflict for anyone who intends to attend Burning
Man.

The second weekend of September is the 51st annual international Camel
races in Virginia City. This sounds interesting, but with the train
schedule we would probably miss the 11AM parade.

The third weekend of September provides the opportunity to cruise the
the Virginia City "yard sale" for some really interesting "bargains".
They will also be having the Ferrari hill climb this weekend, which
isn't exactly steampunk.

For more info:
http://www.visitvirginiacitynv.com/attractions.aspx
http://virginiatruckee.com/

[Alexander Watt Babbage]

Here are the latest updates on out plans for the September steam train
excursion.

On the second weekend of September, the Sacramento Steampunk Society
is planning a major weekend outing to Carson City, Nevada for a
steamtrain excursion. We will meet in Carson City, Nevada at 9:30 AM
Saturday (earlier if you want to tour the train museum first) to take
a steam excursion train to Virginia City. We will have about three
and a half hours to tour the old west silver mining town of Virgina
City (with an introduction by a local guide) before reboarding the
train for the return trip. Saturday evening we will have a banquet in
Carson City (details to be arranged).

We will be riding the historic Virginia City and Truckee railroad in
recently restored 1914 Pullman cars (inside with padded seats) behind
a recently restored real steam locomotive. The docents on the
railroad are usually in costume, as are many of the "locals" in
Virginia City.

Those traveling significant distances may want to get motel
accomodations for Friday and/or Saturday nights. An "official" motel
will be announced soon. We can get together at the motel for informal
socializing as well.

Virginia City will be having their annual Camel and Ostrich races on
this day, but it isn't certain how much of that we will actually see
within the limits of the train schedule.

We will be joint-venturing with the Great Basin Costume Society for
this event. Costumes are highly encouraged:. Wild, Wild West,
Victorian, railroad, or Steampunk. At least some of us will be
joining the Great Basin Costume Society's picnic at the Reno Balloon
races the next day.

This event is soon after the conclusion of the "Burning Man" event so
you might consider attending both. There is also a 4-day "Living
history days" event in old Town Sacramento, where they cover the
streets with tons of dirt, bring out the horses and wagons and really
turn back the clock - all on Labor Day weekend - the week before the
train excursion.

You can reply to this topic to discuss travel plans and car-pooling
and to make suggestions or volunteer to make the event even better!


--
Subscription settings: http://groups.google.com/group/steampunk-sacramento/subscribe?hl=en

[Laura]

Is there any particular costume that would have historically been the
proper one for riding trains?

[vespawitch]

The best thing about steampunk is that it doesn't have to be
historically accurate. That's why I love it so much, you can do
whatever YOU want costume wise. Historic costume is more a
guideline. :o)

Wendy

[Laura]

Yes, I know, but I'd like to know what the appropriate historical
guideline IS in this case.

[Alexander Watt Babbage]

First of all, you have to decide what date you are aiming at. This
line was completed in 1869, when Virginia City was a thriving silver
mining town. The restored locomotive is from a bit later, and the
enclosed coaches are from 1914. "The Virginia and Truckee is by far
the most famous of all American short line railroads. As many as 45
trains a day arrived and departed Virginia City. President U.S. Grant
and dignitaries the world over rode in the ornate coaches of Virginia
& Truckee. Completed in 1869, trains hauled millions of dollars of
gold and silver ore from the rich mines of Virginia City."

Secondly you need to consider who your character is, what they do, and
how much money they have. Also, why are they riding this train? Do
they live in the area and ride frequently to shop, or visit? Are they
traveling from outside the area for some reason? Different people in
different occupations and socio/economic positions dressed
differently. If you were a working person and not affluent, your
choice of clothing was probably limited and practical. If you were
wealthy your train attire would be quite fancy and as stylish as you
could arrange. If you were a woman of somewhat questionable repute in
the area at that time, you dressed flashy as part of your
advertising. A businessman or traveling salesman would be wearing
vest, pocket watch, coat and hat in probably "Eastern" style.
Considering the amount of wealth coming out of the ground in the area,
a lot of train riders would have been able to afford to dress very
well and follow Eastern or European styles, which leaves a very broad
range of options for you.

People traveling on trains would generally try to dress as well as
possible, but in daytime attire, not formal evening attire.

Specifics I leave to someone with real knowledge.

[Beatrix Travers-Braithwaite]

Generally, as indicated by Wodehouse short stories (of Jeeves and
Wooster fame, and slightly past Victorian/Edwardian), something tweedy
or similar, probably in the tan-brown family, often patterned (perhaps
to better mask traveling schmutz). As AWB indicated, the cut was
generally what was acceptable for daywear in the country, so looking
up what would have been worn in the country while outside but not
actively hunting would be appropriate. Also, for ladies traveling by
train or coach, slightly shorter-than-usual-in-the-front skirts were
common, to avoid stepping on your dress while climbing narrow little
steps. Trains and voluminous yardages were also less common, and it
seems that gloves were ubiquitous, at least at the station and while
alighting. Once in the train, everyone seems to pretend they're in a
country house (if up in fancy, first-classy digs) until it's time to
disembark.Specific cuts would depend on specific years, but I'd say
think brown tweeds and patterns, simple, sporting cut, shorter skirts,
sturdy shoes, hats and gloves.

For shorter trips within a metropolitan area, or between city centers,
probably wearing whatever you would in town (while still practical for
the steps and cramped quarters) would be appropriate.

Also! Train cases were specifically invented to carry all the things
that may be needed by a lady or fastidious gentleman during a train
ride. In Europe and on the East Coast, anyway, and if you had the
money, most people didn't travel light.

Here's some midcentury advice: http://www.victoriana.com/Fashion/travel-clothes.htm

For ladies by later in the century, suits were very popular for
traveling: http://www.fantasycostume.net/fantasy/costumehtmls/Victorian_Costume_D137VnCHH.html

And here's pictures from a period childrens' book called Abroad:
http://chawedrosin.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/victorian-childrens-travel-book/

And, of course, The Great Train Robbery:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2EPJUI5nVXk/SfnE7Bdis2I/AAAAAAAABTk/1xsDJw5R2EU/s1600-h/spa_train_robbery_080910_ssh.jpg

[Laura]

Thank you very much for that wealth of information. Interestingly
enough, I've just been watching Jeeves & Wooster (haven't read the
books yet, but they're now near the top of my list), and I believe it
was one of the early episodes, wherein Jeeves insists his master wear
a brown suit for traveling by train, that inspired me to ask the
question in the first place.

[Alexander Watt Babbage]

I was just checking on the availability of train tickets for our
excursion and there are plenty available AT THIS TIME for September
11th. The regular price is $48 each for a three hour round trip. I
believe that we can get a small group discount which I will look into
tomorrow and report back on. Tickets will be ordered and paid for
individually, but I encourage those who plan to attend to buy them
early. Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the summer tourist
season so ticket sales will become brisk very soon. I will post the
link to the ticket site and the discount coupon code soon.

[Alexander Watt Babbage]

I have just updated the event invitation with the latest details. As
of today there are 80 tickets available, but they will be going very
fast now. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120799734601976

A group discount was not available without paying a substantial
advance deposit and paying for the entire group as a lump sum.