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| 21 June 2001 USA National Railway Historical Society | June is turning into a good month for steam. High-speed and long-distance performances are being turned in on BNSF by MILW 4-8-4 261, SP 4-8-4 4449, and SLSF 4-8-2 1522. (for the second time in three years, three steam locomotives were in operation on BNSF simultaneously, this time on 2 June.) 1522's return to service has been especially sweet - after missing a chance to power the first BNSF Employee Appreciation Special as far afield as Wyoming in 1997, and a nasty run of bad luck in a 1999 derailment, she made up for it by running off mile after mile after mile effortlessly during May and June, most of it on home Frisco rails. Congratulations to the St. Louis Steam Train Association and Scott Lindsay of Steam Operations Corporation for a fine re-rebuild. (See pictures of 1522's latest rebuild here.) 1522 is also sharing the spotlight this week at the NRHS National Convention in St. Louis, MO, powering a trip to West Quincy, MO today, and to Newburg, MO, on Saturday. According to the NRHS web site (where, for the first time, daily online updates are being posted), 3985's trip to Gorham, IL, yesterday was trouble-free and on-time as well. SOO 2719 also turned in some fast running last weekend on what may, and may NOT be, the last Wisconsin Central steam excursion. We'll keep you posted. | |
| 21 June 2001 USA | (ex-N&W 2-6-6-4 1218) Goin' Home? Together Again? The railfan community is buzzing over the promise by Norfolk Southern to donate N&W Class "A" 2-6-6-4 1218 to the city of Roanoke, Virginia, for display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in conjunction with a museum of O. Winston Link's photos and memorabilia. If the deal is concluded, it will be a fitting resting place for "the A," and a fitting tribute to one of the finest photographers ever to turn a camera toward steam locomotives. (Thanks to Mike Brown, Tom Schultz, and Danny McNaughton.) | |
 1218 in better days. Photo by John Craft. Copyright 2001 John A. Craft, all rights reserved. | ||
| 21 June 2001 USA Tennessee Valley RR Museum | (ex-CN 4-6-2 5288) In other news linking Norfolk Southern and steam, Steamtown's Canadian National 5288, long stored at Tobyhanna, PA, is on it's way to Chattanooga via NS this week. One of the pieces of equipment offered for free by Steamtown earlier this year, 5288 joins ex-Canadian Pacific "Jubilee" 4-4-4 2929 in finding a new owner (and there are interesting rumors going round about who acquired 2929 - stay tuned). 5288 will likely find its way into the TVRM shop quickly for return to service if feasible. | |
| 1 June 2001 Canada Alberni Pacific | (ex-Alberni Paficic 2-8-2T 7) One of those new locomotives is Alberni Pacific 7, a 1929 Baldwin which ran in logging service until 1971. While the locomotive was returned to service in 1996, operations this year will extend past the Port Alberni waterfront seven miles to the McClean Mill National Historic Site, a working sawmill museum. No. 7 will offer several departures each Thursday through Monday of the season. (Thanks to Pat Hosford.) | |
| 1 June 2001 USA Friends of the 4449 | (ex-SP 4-8-4 4449) The City of Portland's "Daylight" made a circle trip through Washington last weekend, part of which was a repeat of last month's SP&S 700 excursion. In fact, the photo below was taken at the same location as the photo of 700 below: | |
 4449 at Avery, Washington. Photo by Martin Hansen. Copyright 2001 Martin Hansen, all rights reserved. | ||
| 1 June 2001 USA Sierra Railroad | (Sierra Railroad) Sierra Railroad is cooking up an interesting little Labor Day weekend: hometown girl Pickering Lumber Co. Shay 11 is coming home from the Mount Ranier Scenic for the event, and the Pacific Locomotive Association's Southern Pacific 4-6-2 2467 will finally get some revenue miles as well. Also invited but not confirmed attendees: McCloud River 2-6-2 25 and Mason County Logging no6. 6. Sounds like an interesting event - and it's only 66 miles from the beautiful Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite Village. (Thanks to John West, Ted Benson, and Tom Schultz.) | |
| 1 June 2001 USA Tarantula Train | (ex-SP 4-6-0 2248) No. 2248 returned to active service last weekend on the Tarantula Train after a significant amount of work performed by Steam Operations Corporation. Scott Lindsay tells us there's still more to be done to the locomotive to bring it up to snuff - but there's time for that now that the 1896 Cooke is back on the road. Congratulations to the good folks of Grapevine for taking on the burden of operating the Tarantula Train. (Thanks to Jim Hollis.) | |
| 24 May 2001 USA Big Easy Steam Train | (ex-SP 2-6-0 1744) The June issue of "Trains" magazine features a photo of the "Big Easy Steam Train," inaugurated by Rio Grande Pacific Corp. on their New Orleans & Gulf property, across the Mississippi River from downtown New Orleans. Unfortunately, by the time many of us saw the photo, RGP had ended the runs of the steam excursions, with Mother's Day being the last runs. Appropriately, the final trip of the day ended with injector problems, and the consist had to be rescued by a diesel. The wisdom of beginning an operation of this nature during the Christmas season, and pulling the plug before the summer travel season begins, baffles me. Granted conventioneers come to town year-round, but apparently they never came (or never found out about it), as the trains were populated mainly with local residents. At this point RGP is willing to lease or sell the locomotive; the disposition of the passenger equipment is unknown. | |
| 24 May 2001 Germany | (Dresden Steam Festival) Several days ago I received a report on the annual steam gathering in Dresden from Correspondent Thomas Kreitmair, who attended. In addition to the huge gathering of main line locomotives and specials into Dresden, day-trips through Upper Lusatia, and outbound trips, attendees could also ride a "Traditionzug" photo special on the 750mm Radebeul Ost line, or enjoy the beautiful Freital Hainsberg - Kurort Kipsdorf line. Thomas also reports that the oil-fired 2-10-2s on the Zittau lines are being converted back to coal fuel, and the system is receiving some investment. (Thanks to Thomas Kreitmair - see the Travel Resources section for our combined reports on the German narrow gauge lines.) | |
 The lineup of visiting locomotives at Dresden, 30 April 2001. Photo by Thomas Kreitmair. Copyright 2001 Thomas Kreitmair, all rights reserved.  Saxon-Meyer 99-1564-6 on display at Freital Hainsberg, 30 April 2001. Photo by Thomas Kreitmair. Copyright 2001 Thomas Kreitmair, all rights reserved.  The Traditionzug at Moritzburg, 1 May 2001. Photo by Thomas Kreitmair. Copyright 2001 Thomas Kreitmair, all rights reserved. | ||
| 7 May 2001 | This month's update is late - but the reason why is long without being interesting, so I'll offer my apologies without details. This month's Opinion is by Hayes Smith, Jr., of Spencer, North Carolina. Hayes offers some ideas on how steam operators can encourage interest in teenagers. While OSHA laws prevent younger teens from engaging in some work, have a look at his suggestions - is there something in what he suggests that you can adopt? | |
| 7 May 2001 Argentina Ciudad de Ushuaia Train at the End of the World | (Steam and Tourism Congress) Well, that whole Falklands war is obviously behind them - Argentina's Secretariat of Tourism is organizing the First World Congress of Steam and Tourist Trains in Ushuaia in October, and HRH Prince Michael Duke of Kent is expected to attend. The event is part of the Argentinian government's efforts to promote tourism, particularly to the UK. The European Federation of Tourist and Museum Railways (FEDECRAILis expected to attend, and organizations worldwide have been invited. Ushuaia is the capital of Tierra del Fuego, and is home to the "Train at the End of the World," built early in the 20th century to haul building materials for a penal colony. Based on the photos at the web sites, this could be a very worthwhile trip for the steam fan. (Thanks to James Hefner.) | |
| 7 May 2001 USA Cass Scenic Railroad State Park | (Shay 11) Cass Scenic Railroad's Shay 11, formerly known as Feather River Railroad no. 3 (see the archive), is back in service after conversion from oil to coal firing. In addition to the firebox work, the locomotive got a new exhaust nozzle and petticoat pipe arrangement. A test run on 30 April revealed no major problems. (Thanks to Jim Wrinn.) | |
| 7 May 2001 USA | (ex-SP 4-6-0 2252) The Fort Worth "Star-Telegram" has reported that the city of Grapevine, Texas, which took over the operation of the "Tarantula Train" last year (see the archive), has approached the city of Roseville, California, about acquiring Southern Pacific 4-6-0 2252. 2252 is, of course, a classmate of the Tarantula Train's 2248, which spent its last years in service in California. Doubleheaded century-old Ten-Wheelers? Where's my camera? All this is a bit academic for now, though - 2248 is in the final stages of repairs to return her to service by Memorial Day, and Roseville may not be interested in selling. (Thanks to Jim Templin and Jim Hollis.) | |
| 24 April 2001 USA Pacific Railway Preservation Association | (ex-SP&S 4-8-4 700) Unfortunately, things did not go all that well on the "Homecoming trip." | |
 SP&S 700 at Avery, WA, 20 April 2001. Photo by Trevor Heath. Copyright 2001 Trevor Heath, all rights reserved. | ||
| 700's high-profile "Homecoming" to Spokane was marred by problems with the valves that forced rescue by a diesel on the second morning, and help from there on. It came to an end when, during a switching move in Pasco preparing for the last day's trip, one of the support cars split a switch and derailed. On the plus side, Pacific Railway Preservation Association has gotten a lot of favorable publicity, the valves problem can be solved, and 700 has proved that she's in a lot better shape than in 1989 when she first returned to service. PRPA will overcome this setback, I'm sure. 700 will return to Portland as early as today. (Thanks to Trevor Heath, Martin Hansen, Tom Schultz, Greg Stadter, and others.) | ||
| 24 April 2001 USA Kokosing Gap Trail | (ex-GSP 0-6-0 63) Alabama State Docks no. 63 is in place alongside the Kokosing Gap Trail and is being reassembled into a recognizeable locomotive. Once the work is done, an air compressor and smoke machine will add some life to the display. Intended as a "hands-on" working display, visitors will be able to climb into the cab and along the running boards and blow the whistle. (Thanks to Phil Samuell. | |
 0-6-0 63 along the Kokosing Gap Trail. Photo by Phil Samuell. Copyright 2001 Phil Samuell, all rights reserved. | ||
| 24 April 2001 USA Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum | (ex-USA 2-8-0 610) TVRM's shop crew will be running 610 in an all-white paint job this year . . . oh, yeah, April 1 is passed. | |
 610 ready for lagging and jacketing. Photo by Steve Freer. Copyright 2001 Steve Freer, all rights reserved.  The front flue sheet ready for welding in. Photo by Steve Freer. Copyright 2001 Steve Freer, all rights reserved. | ||
| Unforeseen delays have pushed back 610's in-service date to as late as early June, but progress is steady. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is holding a "Day Out with Thomas" event the first two weekends in May - if you're in the South and interested, get your tickets quickly, as it's almost sold out. (Thanks to Steve Freer.) | ||
| 18 April 2001 Canada D. F. Barnhardt web site | (ex-RDG 4-8-4 2100) Tom Payne has put Reading 2100 up for sale. After a thorough overhaul in the USA by Richard Keuhn and Bill Benson, conversion to oil and conformance to Canadian boiler regulations by Payne, 2100 ran around a bit in Ontario but never hauled a revenue trip. The locomotive is being brokered by D. F. Barnhardt and Associates. Andy Muller, are you out there? | |
| 18 April 2001 USA Tarantula Train | (ex-SP 4-6-0 2248) After a year of inactivity, work on the Tarantuala Train's 4-6-0 is moving fast. New pilot truck wheelsets have arrived, the no. 1 main axle has been replaced, and the Part 230 compliance work on the boiler is moving quickly as well, including a new rear flue sheet. Ron Larson, a former Tarantula Train employee, is on site for Scott Lindsay's Steam Operations Corporation. According to Scott, this is not a full overhaul - the work being done will get the locomotive back into service and compliant with the new regulations, but more needs to be done to return 2248 to top shape. Nevertheless, look for this one back on the road before Memorial Day. (Thanks to Jim Hollis.) | |
| 1 April 2001 Camelot | (Steam's Camelot) It was an annual ritual. Each spring, as the dogwoods were in full flower and the trees were sprouting their first green, early Saturday morning would find a clutch of friends standing in the parking lot of 27th Street Tower in Birmingham, sharing Krispy Kremes and coffee while waiting for a steam locomotive to round the curve, cross over to the ex-CofG "Passenger Main," and shout "Happy New Year!" at an increasing tempo as it passed by Sloss Furnaces. Over the years the loco number changed from 4501 to 610 to 2839 to 611 to 1218 to 290, and the weather varied, but the ritual remained constant. A few pictures, a wave, occasionally a doughnut tossed at the cab, and the chase to Chattanooga was on. For many of us it became much more than taking pictures. I met many of my closest trackside while riding or photographing Southern or Norfolk Southern steam excursions, and three of them were groomsmen at my wedding. From 1971 to 1994 I was on the scene 193 days; in 1987 alone I spent 35 days with 611, 1218, and 152. And special indeed were the days when I was allowed to clean out the ashpan of 2839, chase the stud threads on 611's smokebox, or ride the cab of 2716. And I'm not the only one. Many of you will have similar stories. I know Jim Wrinn does, and he's captured them in the definitive book on Southern Railway and Norfolk Southern steam, "Steam's Camelot." Telling the story from the last run of 611 in 1959 to the last run of 611 in 1994, Jim has captured the feel of the times: the "pitch-in-and-help" spirit of the 1970s, when the locomotives were operated and maintained by a loose-knit core of volunteers who would occasionally get expense money; the heady days of the 1980s when veterans 4501 and 750 shared track with 2716, 765, 611, 1218, 152, 587, and others; and the sudden decline of the nineties, which in retrospect started just days after the "25th Anniversary" celebration when 1218 made its last run. No steam fan should be without this book. The link at left (the image of the book cover) will take you to the North Carolina Transportation Museum web site, where you can purchase the book. No more does 1218 start a 50-car coal train at Ingleside, splitting position-light signals on a rare remaining stretch of double track with center siding. No more can you stand in the baggage door of "Man o' War" as 2839 crests Irondale Hill unassisted at a walk, or puts mile after mile behind her in the darkness at 65mph. You can't enjoy the view of Lake Ponchartrain as 4501 starts out for Hattiesburg yet again. We can't do any of these things - but Jim has helped us never to forget just how special they were. To celebrate the book's release, a book signing and barbeque will be held on Saturday, 28 April, in conjunction with the North Carolina Transportation Museum's "Rail Days." Bill Purdie, Jim Bistline and Carl Jensen are expected, as are a number of veterans of the program. It'll be a great reunion - the only thing missing will be steam on the Southern main. | |
| 1 April 2001 Crystal Ball | Speaking of Jim Wrinn, don't miss this month's edition of the Crystal Ball. Gymbeaux gives you the rundown on where to be this spring to catch the best in steam action. | |
| 1 April 2001 USA St. Louis Steam Train Association | (ex-SLSF 4-8-2 1522) Frisco 1522 is set to cover a tremendous amount of home rails this spring on BNSF's fifth annual Employee Appreciation Special. After a two-day deadhead, the EAS officially kicks off in Tulsa, OK, on 20 May, and focus primarily on the Dallas and Houston areas. In fact, trips departing Hazlet Yard are scheduled for nine different days. The Special concludes at Arkansas City, KS, on 8 June, after which 1522 will deadhead back to St. Louis. Get the details on the archive). | |
| 1 April 2001 USA | (ex-CN 2-6-0 91) The Middletown and Hummelstown is making progress on their ex-Canadian National 2-6-0 91. Boiler inspection is well under way, with the Form 4 calculations to be done soon. The pony truck has been completely disassembled and repaired as needed, and is ready to go back under the engine. Flues will be installed this summer. The group is holding training classes each Friday evening, and invites potential steam mechanics to come get involved in the overhaul. (Thanks to Steve Zarick.) | |
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