As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I have so many pictures! The train ride continues!
We got as close to the engine as we possibly could. I went up twice- once with @silvertop and then I took Agi up. It was exhilarating with all the noise and smoke! 🚂
We were all enthralled! You see, we used to have our own train store back in the early 90’s. Our love of trains and train history rubbed off on Bill. He used to work for the BNSF and has moved up to 6 diesel engines tandem. Steam engines are a bit rare and when you get close to one-well let’s just say our family has the same reaction! It’s nostalgic and gives you goosebumps and the list of emotions goes on. You just can’t get enough!
The end of the line for this trip is a little mining camp called Mineral. They did mine some silver, but its biggest haul was ruby arsenic.
GROK has this on ruby arsenic:
Ruby arsenic (also called ruby sulfur or realgar) is the common name for the mineral realgar, a bright red-to-orange arsenic sulfide (chemical formula α-As₄S₄ or AsS). It is highly toxic due to its arsenic content and is not safe for casual handling, ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. 
Historical and Traditional Uses
Realgar has a long history of use, primarily driven by its vivid color and toxic properties:
• Pigment: Ground into a fine powder for bright red-orange paints, inks, dyes, and cosmetics. It was widely used in ancient Chinese, Persian, and other artworks, as well as for dyeing fabrics like calico, until its toxicity was fully recognized. 
• Pesticide and Poison: Used to kill insects, rodents (e.g., rats), weeds, and vermin. It served as a poison in medieval Europe and elsewhere. 
• Fireworks and Explosives: Added to produce white flames, stars, yellow smoke (in daytime fireworks), and sometimes blue effects. It was mixed with substances like potassium chlorate for impact-sensitive explosives (handle with extreme caution due to reactivity). 
• Medicine and Ritual: In ancient Greek, traditional Chinese, and Ayurvedic practices, it was used in small doses (often processed) for treating inflammation, malignancies, or as a general remedy (“bull’s blood”). It was also employed in alchemy and as a protective amulet. These uses are dangerous and obsolete in modern medicine. 
• Other Crafts: In leather tanning (as a depilatory to remove hair from hides), manufacturing lead shot, printing, and producing oil cloth. 
Not the kind of stuff you want to handle, but the area was rich with it.
The train uncouples and backs up on a side spur to reconnect at the last car, pulling the train in reverse back to Elbe and the depot.
The total trip was about an hour and a half.
Such a lovely day spent with the family! Memorable as well because of it being family, but also as a family, we got to experience the maiden voyage of this historic steam engine together!
That’s gonna be it for me. Take care and enjoy the rest of your day wherever you are! 🙏🌏🙏
👣🐑☕️🚂🚂🚂🤩😎👍😁🌲🌞🌙🥱😴
BSB Psalm 37:1-4
Do not fret over those who do evil;
do not envy those who do wrong.
For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender plants.
Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD,
and He will give you the desires of your heart.
🙏🌹
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