As a long standing tradition, many flock to the Strasburg Rail Road for Christmastime to ride and witness two steam powered trains operate holiday themed excursions every half-hour for much of the day. Fired up for these excursions would be 2-10-0 Decapod, #90, and 2-6-0 Mogul, #89. In order to maintain the day's schedule, each locomotive would charge down the line at a blistering pace once passing by at Cherry Hill. As a result, the smoke, sound, and full potential of these impressive locomotives could be seen as the trains highball back to East Strasburg. The trains run into the night where we continue to follow the excursions providing the special opportunity to witness these two iron horses under the cover of darkness. Sit back and enjoy this classic meeting of two steam locomotives in "Highballing for the Holidays" by Keystone Rail Productions!
History of Strasburg Rail Road 90:
Strasburg Rail Road 90 is a 2-10-0 decapod Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1924 and ordered for the Great Western Railroad in Colorado. During her service life, 90 worked and hauled sugar beat trains as one of the most powerful locomotives on the Great Western Railroad's roster. In 1967, the Strasburg Rail Road Company purchased 90 and she has been serving Strasburg ever since her career with the Great Western ended. At Strasburg's world-class shops, a series of modifications were made to suit passenger service, like the removal of the smoke box extension and the rearranging of domes atop the boiler. In 2020, her iconic black number plate was repainted to red that she adorned in previous years. To this day, 90 provides reliable passenger and freight service to the railroad.
History of Strasburg Rail Road 89:
Strasburg Rail Road 89 is a 2-6-0 mogul that was built in 1910 by the Canadian Locomotive Company for the Grand Truck Railway as No. 1009, and was designated as a E-10-a. In 1919 she was then renumbered to 911. In 1951, after the Grand Trunk Railway merged into the Canadian National Railway, the locomotive was once again renumbered to become Canadian National 89. She was one of the many steam workhorses that could be found operating for the CN in service. In 1965, she was sold to the Green Mountain Railroad. Then in 1972, 89 was sold to the Strasburg Rail Road, where she resides today in her Canadian inspired appearance pulling passenger and freight services reliably.
Locations:
0:00 Carpenters - 89
2:24 Cherry Hill - 89 Meets 90
6:25 Esbenshade - Highball, 89
7:12 Fairview - 89
7:52 Carpenters Cemetery - 90
8:58 Carpenters - 90
9:47 Cherry Hill - 90 Meets 89
12:10 Esbenshade - Highball, 90
12:59 Fairview - 90
13:38 Nightfall at Cherry Hill
15:05 J Tower
16:03 East Strasburg Depature - 89
17:20 "Jingle Bells" - 90
18:39 Darkness at the Water Tower
19:02 East Strasburg Yard - Conclusion
To learn more and support the Strasburg Rail Road's operations, please visit:
www.strasburgrailroad.com
Special Thanks To:
- The Strasburg Rail Road Company
- The Crews of 90 & 89
- The KRP Family
Happy Holidays from all of us at Keystone Rail Production!
Filmed on:
Saturday, December 9, 2023
Saturday, December 23, 2023
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