trains old and new

On my way to Belle to pick up my "new" car i passed a train with these strange cars. I don't know what was in them, but suspect the contents maybe were parts for the planes that were on the two flatbeds following.

I had not ever seen planes on trains before. Of course, there were no wings!

Earlier that week I had gone with the students to North Platte where we saw an old steam engine. It was so large that it had two separate sets of drive wheels and was articulated. When you look at it from the front it is off center. I don't know exactly how it works. Guess I would have to see a model that actually worked. I have ridden on articulated buses, but it looks like the top part of the train does not bend, only the two bottom parts are articulated.

They had a mail car attached. it was interesting to see all the mail bags and slots.

There was also an old rail bicycle. Instead of two men powering the wheels by pushing a bar up and down, you could ride the rails by "bicycling." I am not sure you can see it all in the picture.