A dinner train

A couple of days after our anniversary, we celebrated our 48th by going to Abilene to ride the Abilene and Smoky Valley dinner steam train.  It is the only operating steam railroad in Kansas.  It runs on historical railroad tracks.

It was about an hour away by car.  I love driving in the country!  There were some storm clouds in the distance.  It looked like we might drive into it.

The old and the new.  We prefer the old.  There are many reasons we don't care for these new windmills.  Don't get Allen started!

It was getting dark.

We got to Abilene just before the rain started.

This steam engine, Santa Fe 3415, is a century-old Baldwin “Pacific” locomotive.  It was rebuilt after it sat in Abilene’s Eisenhower Park for 40 years. 

Our town also has an old steam locomotive at the park!

The engineer invited Allen to come on up.

Time to board!  "All aboard!"

I recall the Japanese conductors saying "Oh rai!"

"All right!" I think?

For dinner, we were served Kansas BBQ.  It was really good!  You can also ride on a dinner train that serves Brookville Fried Chicken!  That would be good too!

We were surprised that the train only crawled along at 5 mph.  

 

It was NOT the Shinkansen Bullet train - it runs 223mph these days.

Back when we went on it in 1986, it probably ran between 150-200.

I really like the sound of the "choo-choo"!

We crossed the Smokey Hill River

I wish they still had cabooses!

I loved reading this book to the children when they were little!

We stopped in this little town, population about 700, founded in 1868.  It was named for the enterprising qualities of the pioneer settlers.

A little fun fact:  In 1901, the followers of the temperance movement, along with the leader Carrie Nation, wrecked a saloon in this town!

This fella ground some wheat for us.

You could purchase wheat at the shop connected to the mill.

We talked with a couple who lived in this town.  They were riding the train along with one of their mothers who was visiting from out of state.  They told us that the train has derailed a few times, but they are working on updating the track lines.  That's good!

They took our picture.

There were public restrooms we could use.

A pretty curtain gives one privacy.

Many people chose to sit in 2 open carriage cars on the way back to Abilene.  We sat inside, however.  

Sometime we should go visit Abilene's Old Town.  They closed at 4pm and the train didn't leave until 6.  Too bad the timing didn't coincide.  

1858 log cabin!

The history of the town of Abilene is really interesting!  Abilene has a LOT to see!

We got home as the sun was setting.  The storm clouds were south of us.  In fact, according to our weather map, it was headed toward our town!

There were several poles between Hillsboro and Lehigh that had been knocked down by high winds.  

The lightning was flashing and gave us quite a show!

We didn't see any damage around our property for which we were thankful.  

An enjoyable - although slow - train ride!