RIDING THE NEW CRITTER JUNE 12-14, 2009

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We quickly adopted a name for this new locomotive, the "Critter."  In real railroads, the term "critter" applies to any locomotive that's owned by private operators like grain elevators, mines, steel mills, and so forth.  Most are small locomotives,  just big enough to lug around a few cars to position for loading. But here on the Calvert Central, the Critter is destined to be our main locomotive for fast express trains!

READY TO RIDE - A little crude maybe, but the paint and lettering are done now.

OOPS - she drove it a little too fast and it derailed.  No harm done, Kate and the Critter are unharmed.  In a matter of seconds, she was back on board.

GUEST ENGINEER - Kate has never ridden anything like this before.  The blue and gold is very appropriate: she is a 1999 graduate of the University of Delaware.

TALL MAN ON LITTLE ENGINE - Kate's hubby Imad is 6 foot 4, but he fit OK and had a blast riding the Critter.

TAKING THE GOOSE FOR A GALLOP - Kate took a turn riding the Galloping Goose, which already was lettered Number One.

THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE - Imad said "can we race the two engines?" I said sure, why not!  The Critter is quite a bit faster than the single-speed Goose.

BACK INTO THE TRAIN SHED - Kate carefully backs the Critter into the train shed, where the Goose is patiently waiting for its new companion.