Dollywood Express

Although there may be some question about Mrs. Parton's taste in coiffures, there is no question about her taste in steam locomotives. Her smaller Baldwin looks good in business black, having shed the gaudy stack and stripes of a more kitschy era. And she's earning her keep these days: a dozen drags a day up Dolly's mountain, always on the hour, seven days a week all throughout the money-making season. Noting all the tight S-curves and hearing her dig in up some impressive grades, I had the feeling that #192 -- while a long way from her Alaska roots -- still performs on the familiar stage of her early career. Right out of the depot, the park line starts uphill. Heavy with 7 or 8 cars chock full of park people and their snacks, the fast stack talk of slipping drivers made it clear she has her work cut out for her on most runs. Fireman: "We have to put down a good deal of sand when its raining. She works hard, this one." Sure enough, and she still looks good doing her thing after all these years. (The locomotive, I mean.)

We had a great time at Dollywood, but I took an unfair amount of ribbing from my family for repeatedly sneaking away from ride lines in order to get trackside for some more Baldwin pictures. Finally, late in the day, we all boarded the train together, and the ride itself did not disappoint. The stack sounds alone, bouncing all over the ridges surrounding the park, were worth the otherwise ridiculous price of admission. Furthermore, I've got a handsome little nephew who's quite smitten with the choo-choos at this point. Hopefully the generous amount of smoke and cinders layered upon us by Dolly's star Mikado will secure his place in the railfan fold.