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| 1 April 2003 SteamCentral SteamCentral Press Release | In a stunning move, John Burke and Dave "Mortar Forker" Lathrop parachuted into SteamCentral World Headquarters shortly after midnight and have taken control of the steam-oriented web site. "We got tired of seeing the same old stuff day after day, no updates, so we're doing something about it," said Lathrop. "From now on Craft is going to put news on the site at least once a week if we have to hold a gun to his head." Lathrop's Dodge Van was seen making its way slowly to the site, and old Macintoshes were being shipped in to replace Craft's Dell laptops. John Craft could not be reached for comment. | ||||||||||
| 1 April 2003 USA U. S. Department of Homeland Security | (Railfanning Today) As part of the new Burke / Lathrop influence on SteamCentral, and in conjunction with the U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Steamcentral is instituting the "Railfan Threat Level" program which will be offered to all rail enthusiast web sites. On a daily basis SteamCentral will work with Tom Ridge's office to determine the Terrorist Threat Level and, from that, make a judgement on the risk to rail enthusiasts of being arrested while pursuing their hobby. | ||||||||||
| |  Scenes like this are now adviseable only under a Low or Guarded Railfan Threat Level. | ||||||||||
| Erik Ledbetter, a writer for both SteamCentral and Railway Preservation News, has been named the Special Liaison Officer for Warnings (SLOW) for this program. "As a staunch supporter of the Department of Homeland Security, I look forward to working with Secretary Ridge's office to determine the threat to law-abiding citizens." Secretary Ridge is particularly interested in working with the rail community, as he was Governor of Pennsylvania when the Gettysburg Railroad's ex-CPR 4-6-2 1278 suffered a firebox failure. "The Gettysburg Incident of Failure (TGIF) demonstrated to me the danger that a steam boiler presents. If this program is successful I can see it being extended to other pursuits such as hunting and fishing." The five railfan threat levels will correspond to the five DHS threat levels:
SteamCentral also offers the following tips for when you are out photographing steam locomotives, compiled by Don Phillips of the Washington Post: Do not brandish any apparatus such as swingblades or machetes. Even pruning shears may be confiscated by law enforcement officials. | |||||||||||
| 1 April 2003 USA Durango & Silverton NG RR | (D&S 473) Close on the heels of its announcement that it is repainting 2-8-2 473 in "Bumblebee" paint, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has announced that the engine crews running 473 will be wearing 1970s-vintage "Killer Bees" costumes from the fabled "Saturday Night Live" skit. Lorne Michaels, "SNL" producer and a well-known steam fan, has donated the costumes. | ||||||||||
| 1 April 2003 | (April Fool!) In case you've gotten this far and still haven't figured it out, get a cup of coffee. The news stories above come straight from the demented minds of the "SteamCentral" staff - this year the lovely Danah Craft is responsible for most of the above. Don't take ANY of this seriously. And thanks to Melissa Niles at phpExpo for the DHS graphics. Go to the real news here, or continue to previous years' April Fool stories below. | ||||||||||
| 1 April 2002 USA Big South Fork Scenic RR | (K&T Steam) The Big South Fork Scenic Railroad announced shortly after midnight that it has reached a definitive agreement to repurchase and return to service two Kentucky & Tennessee Railroad steam locomotives. 2-8-2s no. 10 and no. 12 are expected to arrive on the property later today. | ||||||||||
 Kentucky and Tennessee 12 at Yamacraw, KY, in 1963. Photo by Mike Eagleson. Copyright 2002 Michael A. Eagleson, all rights reserved.  Kentucky and Tennessee 10 at Stearns, KY, in 1953. Photo by Joe Collias. Copyright 2002 Joe Collias, all rights reserved. | |||||||||||
| The Big South Fork operates tourist trains on what remains of the Kentucky & Tennessee from Stearns, KY, to the Blue Heron mine near Yamacraw. A special movement on Norfolk Southern will return the locomotives from their current location to Stearns, and work will begin immediately on no. 10, currently stripped for a boiler survey by its previous owner. Work on no. 12 will begin soon after. "We are very excited that steam locomotives will run here again," said Bowdon T. Stearns, great-grandson of Justus P. Stearns, who found the town, mines and railroad. "Both locomotives will require a lot of work, but at least no. 12 has been painted the proper color." Regional railroad enthusiasts were unanimously positive. Jim Wrinn of the North Carolina Transportation Museum noted that "this acquisition will fill a big gap in the South Fork's collection. I'm just surprised that the previous owner agreed to de-accession no. 12; if we had known it was available, we might have bid on it." Ken Riddle of the Doe River Gorge project said, "It's about damn time them boys up there got 'em their own steam engine - good on 'em! I wonder if no. 207 is for sale?" Steve Freer, of Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, congratulated the group: "The South Fork has taken an important step in becoming a full-fledged mining museum. We wish them all the best . . . hey, has anyone seen the 4501? And why is Mike Brown sending me a post card from South America?" | |||||||||||
| 1 April 2002 USA 614 Web Site | (ex-C&O 4-8-4 614) Having twice failed to sell his "Greenbrier" for a sum he considers fair, Ross Rowland has done a 180 and announced plans to make the locomotive serviceable in time for the B&O Railroad Museum's "Parade of the Iron Horse" in 2003. Plans are to move the 4-8-4 to the Reading & Northern's shop at Port Clinton, PA, and perform a full Part 230 overhaul. Once completed, 614 will break in on coal trains on the R&N before re-entering the shop for paint. Rumors are already circulating that 614 will be painted in "American Freedom Train" colors for its trip to Baltimore. Rowland seemed unwilling to deny them, noting that "we considered using 614 on the Freedom Train at one time, you know? I think it would have looked damn good in Red, White, and Blue." And Rowland seems to be contemplating future work for 614: "my engine is capable of outrunning this "Acela" monstrosity, and will attract a LOT more people trackside. When Iron Horse Enterprises gets the contract to operate the Northeast Corridor, look for some big changes." You heard it here first. | ||||||||||
| 1 April 2001 USA Friends of the 4449 | (ex-SP 4-8-4 4449) In a surprise move, Doyle McCormack and crew have repainted the "Daylight" yet again. "BNSF was still having a little heartburn about the locomotive being lettered Southern Pacific," says McCormack. "And the black just wasn't all that attractive. So we did the only thing we could do." | ||||||||||
 ex-SP 4-8-4 4449 has been repainted in its Freedom Train colors for its spring excursions. Photo by David M. Johnston. Copyright 2001 David M. Johnston, all rights reserved. | |||||||||||
| "Over the course of the last four weekends, we sandblasted, primed and painted the locomotive to look like she did on her Freedom Train tour," says John J. "Warm Water" Wheelihan of Chicago. "It really brought back a lot of good memories, and the locomotive looks great this way. We've invited members of the 1975-76 crew to join us on the trips in May and June." Rollin Bredenburg, a senior manager with BNSF, has also confirmed that BNSF GE diesel 4449 will be painted in a Bicentennial version of the "Heritage 2" paint scheme to match the locomotive. "All of us - Doyle, Jack, and I - remember the 1970s very fondly, especially the hair and fashions," said Bredenburg. "We want to share that whole experience with everyone." 4449 will operate an excursion along the Columbia River and over Stampede Pass Memorial Day weekend. Trips to Wishram, WA, are tentatively scheduled for June; see the schedules page for more information. | |||||||||||
| 1 April 2001 USA Norfolk Southern web site | (ex-N&W 2-6-6-4 1218) For several weeks now, I've been trying to get confirmation of an unbelieveable rumor I've been hearing. I finally did, and if I had not seen it with my own eyes I still wouldn't believe it. In July, Norfolk Southern cooperated with "Vanity Fair" magazine and famed photographer O. Winston Link to spruce up ex-N&W 2-6-6-4 1218 for a photo session. The resulting photos appeared in the January 2001 issue of the magazine. Apparently, the resulting positive attention from the media had an effect on the executive office in Norfolk. You will recall that shortly before his death, Link was cooperating with the city of Roanoke to create a museum in the N&W passenger station in Roanoke, to feature Link's photos. Link was insisting that 1218 be displayed on a turntable beside the museum; NS officials were not agreeable. Now we can tell you why. | ||||||||||
 ex-N&W 2-6-6-4 1218 undergoes overhaul. Photo by John A. Craft. Copyright 2001 John A. Craft, all rights reserved. | |||||||||||
| Norfolk Southern has no plans to display the 1218 in Roanoke, or anywhere else. It's returning the 1218 to active service. "We're using the money from the sale of 722 to fund the boiler overhaul," says Bill Schafer. "The running gear is still in fine shape, so there's less work to do than you might suppose. Critical in this effort has been the influence of J. Preston Claytor, son of Robert Claytor and nephew of Graham Claytor. Now a consultant with RailAmerica, Preston has been quietly lobbying behind the scenes. "Around the same time as the Vanity Fair shoot," says Claytor, "David Goode and I were at the Democratic National Convention, and were part of a group that accompanied Senator Joe Biden to the UP business train for dinner one night. We got into a conversation with Steve Lee, who really gave David a ration about killing the steam program in 1994. Seeing the positive PR that Union Pacific was getting - did you know that a LOT of Congressmen are steam fans? - he decided to do something." Public excursions are not planned, with one execption. The engine will power this year's "New River Train" in October. (Allegheny fanatic Gene Huddleston is reported to be REALLY ticked off.) 1218 will be used on business trains and displayed at local community celebrations in the Norfolk Southern operating area. There are rumors that other steam locomotives from NS-predecessor lines, like NKP 765 and Southern 2-8-0 630 will be allowed onto NS rails occasionally. Only time will tell. | |||||||||||
| 1 April 2000 USA Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR | (C&TS RR) Faced with a critical motive power shortage for the 2000 operating season, the Friends of the C&TS RR have taken the unusual step of hiring in locomotives from outside to ensure enough power for the year. The source may surprise you. "Someone pointed out that the Isle of Sodor railway system is 36" gauge. So our board contacted Sir Topham Hatt, and made arrangements to lease several locomotives," said Friends President Terri Shaw. "We are just fortunate to have this option." "Thomas" and "Percy" will travel by ship to Detroit, where they will be loaded onto flatcars for the trip to Antonito, CO. As can be seen from the accompanying photo, "Mavis" the Diesel was very unhappy at being left behind. "I've never been to the States," said Mavis. "I think it's unfair." | ||||||||||
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| Thomas and Percy will return to the Isle of Sodor after the conclusion of the C&TS' tourist season. | |||||||||||
| 1 April 2000 USA Union Pacific Railroad | (ex-C&O 4-8-4 614) Union Pacific's Steve Lee announced today that UP will purchase Ross Rowland's C&O "Greenbrier" for their steam program. "844 will be out of service for a while longer, and we really need a second locomotive. Besides, the Republicans are complaining that the Democrats are getting a steam locomotive at their convention and we aren't sending one to Philadelphia, so this solves a thorny political problem for us as well." The locomotive will be painted in UP's Armour Yellow scheme, complete with the "winged shield" herald on a sheet-metal addition to the nose, and move to Philadelphia via CSX. After the convention it will run under its own steam to Cheyenne, where it will be converted to oil firing. If the paint scheme proves popular, Lee hinted that both 4-6-6-4 3985 and 4-8-4 844 may be repainted as well. | ||||||||||
| 1 April 2000 USA Norfolk Southern Press Release | (SOU 2-8-0 722 & N&W 2-6-6-4 1218) Norfolk Southern Railroad has sold Southern Railway 2-8-0 722 and Norfolk & Western 2-6-6-4 1218 to the state of North Carolina, along with the NS line between Asheville and the South Carolina state line near Tryon, NC, which includes the famous Saluda grade. The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced plans to establish tourist railroad service over the line using the two steam locomotives. A press release issued shortly after midnight (see it here) states that 722 will be used to haul the trains from Asheville (passengers will board both downtown and at the Biltmore station) to Saluda. There, dynamic-brake-equipped NCDOT diesels will take the train to Tryon, from where 1218 will return the train to Saluda for return to Asheville behind 722. Station stops in Hendersonville, Saluda, and Tryon will be available for passengers to tour the historic towns. "This project is important to both parties," said an NS spokesperson. "We will continue to operate freight service over the line, and this historic and scenic area will benefit from the passenger trains." Trains will run on weekends, and perhaps on additional weekdays during summer and the fall foliage season. NCDOT would not comment on the rumor that Southern 2-8-2 4501 would be leased for service alongside 722. During winter the two locomotives will be based at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, with ferry movements to be made over NS' Old Fort line. (Thanks to Monroe Ledbetter.) | ||||||||||
| 1 April 2000 USA Big Boy site | (ex-UP 4-8-8-4 4018) "Big Boy" producer Danny Bishop released new plans for his movie today. "The movie will no longer be named "Big Boy," says Bishop's press release (see it here). "We're now concentrating on making a movie version of "Petticoat Junction," with Big Boy 4018 (on display at the Age of Steam museum in Dallas) replacing Sierra Railway no. 3. Harrison Ford has signed on to play Floyd Smoot, and Rene Russo will be playing Kate Bradley. The plot will be lifted from an early, black-and-white episode of "Petticoat Junction." The management of the "C&FW Railroad" will attempt to close the Hooterville branch, and scrap Big Boy, leading to a climactic chase scene where big Boy nearly derails and destroys the hotel. Only quick action by the Bradley sisters (to be played by Winona Ryder, Renee Zelwegger, and Halle Berry) save both the engine and the hotel. Other characters include Uncle Joe (Denzel Washington) and Sam Drucker (Sandra Bernhard); Steve Lee is rumored to have a cameo as a fireman, and Bob Krieger will play a hotel guest. The actors issued a joint press release which states "We all have fond memories of watching "Petticoat Junction" during childhood, and we this this movie will allow us to fulfill childhood fantasies while staying true to the spirit of the original series." A detailed set will be built near Sullivan's Curve on UP's Cajon Pass trackage, and 4018 will be ferried west once its overhaul is complete. When filming is over and the movie has premiered, no. 4018 will be used in regular service on Coe Rail's "Tarantula Train," painted in a scheme similar to that worn by ex-SP 4-6-0 2248. (Thanks to Earl Pitts.) | ||||||||||
| 1 April 2000 UK Duke of Gloucester web site | (ex-BR 4-6-2 71000) The 71000 Locomotive Society has returned its unique locomotive to the main line in a new guise. No longer named "Duke of Gloucester," the poppet-valve Pacific is now known as "Percy," and will wear a molded face on each of its 75-mph main line excursions. "We chose to keep the Brunswick Green paint so familiar to British enthusiasts, but with the runaway popularity of the Thomas stories, it was an opportunity we couldn't pass up," Said 71000LS spokesperson Allison Britt Croft. The face can be removed on an operating day if lineside photographers are able to raise the British equivalent of $14 per mile operated that day. "One of our members found this web page that said we should be saving that much, and it really sounded like a good idea to us. This is our way of implementing it." (Thanks to John Bull.) | ||||||||||
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| From Bob Lyndall: "Another great April Fool's edition - got about two sentences into the 1218 article when "April Fools" came to mind." | |||||||||||
| From Jim Fitzgerald: "I laughed all the way through those first two stories, then went and looked at some forums--you succeeded in fooling the heck out of some people who wontonly trumpeted the return of 1218 to excursion service." | |||||||||||
| From Hume Kading, "Railway Preservation News:" "My Kudos to you on a brilliant piece of journalism. I really don't know how you do it. You must have sources and spies everywhere. Probably the preservation story of the year under my nose and I missed it completely. Jealously yours, Hume." | |||||||||||
| From Tom Olver: "I have to hand it to ya, you really had my attention there for a minute!!! Pretty good, Thanks for the great site! (with a sense of humor too)" | |||||||||||
| From Rich Melvin: "GREAT JOB on the April 1 page! I read it all and laughed out loud several times. My wife poked her head in the office to ask me what was so funny." | |||||||||||
| From Ken Riddle, Little River Locomotive Company: "YOU DA MAN!" | |||||||||||
| From Kent Hughes: "BRAVO!!! I havent laughed that hard in months! Sandra Bernhardt as Sam Drucker, Brilliant!" | |||||||||||
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