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| 1 September 2001 Canada South Simcoe Railway | (ex-CPR 4-4-0 136) Continuing our Canadian coverage with a story that deserves to be celebrated . . . "The steam locomotive in 1954 is reminiscent of some prehistoric monster unable to cope with the tide of evolution . . ." With those words began "In Search of Steam," the first of many collaborations in TRAINS Magazine between David P. Morgan and Dr. Philip R. Hastings. In November 1953 the two made the first of many trips together seeking out the vanishing steam locomotive. It was a seminal story that has influenced many of us: it is the source of the quote on this month's front page, the source of the name of Mike Eagleson's long-running column in RAILROAD magazine, and even the source of the name of Erik Ledbetter's web site of railroad photography, "Steam Safari." Their destination? Chipman, New Brunswick. The quarry: the last 4-4-0s left operating regularly in North America. One the way they experienced the best that CP, CN, and a handful of other lines had to offer, from "Jubilee" 4-4-4s to Pacifics, Hudsons, and 4-8-4s. | |
 CPR 4-4-0 136 crosses Bellisle Creek en route Norton to Chipman, NB, on 22 July 1959. Photo by N. Kent Loudon. Copyright 2001 N. Kent Loudon, all rights reserved. | ||
| "Practically everywhere anything with a stack on one end and a firebox under the other is fair game for the torch . . . as in any upheaval so sudden and so widespread, established values are upset and the strongest no longer have prior claim to survival." They found their quarry pulling short mixed trains on a branch line with bridges too light for diesels or more modern steam power. Morgan could not know when he wrote those words in 1954 that those 4-4-0s would outlive later quarry: New York Central Hudsons and Mohawks, Union Pacific Big Boys, Norfolk and Western As and Js. 4-4-0s 29, 136, and 144 held on until 1960, when they were transferred to Toronto for preservation. On May 1, 1960, 136 lead 4-6-0s 815 and 1057 on a tripleheader from Toronto to Orangeville, ON, that was supposed to be 136's last run: Morgan gave 10 pages in the August 1960 TRAINS magazine over to photo coverage. It was sold in June 1960 to Neil McNish, who loans it to the Ontario Rail Association even today. In 1975 136 and 1057 returned to Orangeville under steam, and today both continue to operate on the South Simcoe Railroad near Toronto. Sister 29 returned to New Brunswick in 1987, on loan to the Salem & Hillsborough, and operated sporadically until a shop building fire ended her career: she's now on display at Canadian Pacific headquarters in Calgary, AB. Only 144, in care of the Canadian Railway Museum, has not run since 1960. | ||
 Tottenham, ON, on 14 August 2001. Photo by Wally Weart. Copyright 2001 Wally Weart, all rights reserved. | ||
| "Now, she deserves a separate paragraph and that she will get. No. 136, classified today as an A2m, was built by Rogers in 1883 and rebuilt by the CPR, presumably in Montreal, in 1912 . . . To be quite honest about it, no. 136 is not an engine of the classic line . . . [but] you look at her tall, thin stack, too-big cab, smokebox practically on the pilot beam (like a person with chin cupped in hand), and you see it all bolted together and running, and she's very nice indeed. Apart from her looks, the 136 stirred up thought of the strange, unpredictable fate of locomotives. Engines of many times her size and power, some of them built more than half a century later, have come and gone, and still the 136 goes wheeling down a lonely branch line . . . as if invulnerable to age or its consequences." What was written in 1954 applies equally today. Engines of many times her size and power have come and gone, and many have come and gone again. Yet 1136 will hopefully wheel down that branch line for many years to come. (Thanks to Kent Loudon, Wally Weart, Rob Sterne, Steve Freer, David Morgan and Phil Hastings.) | ||
| 1 September 2001 USA Pacific Locomotive Association Golden Gate Railway Museum | (ex-SP 4-6-2s 2467 and 2472) From the Bay Area news bureau come reports of ramblings by both operable SP Pacifics. 2467 suffered a bearing problem while being towed from the Oakland area to the Sierra Railroad, and at last report sits in Stockton, California awaiting repairs. Needless to say, she won't be at this weekends special events on the Sierra. Better news from the other side of the bay. 2472 returned to the SP main line last weekend for a test run to Brisbane. More tests are planned for mid-October, and a return to revenue service will come with a public excursion on November 18. In December 2472 will run "Toys for Tots" trains between San Francisco and San Jose. Get her while you can - as quick as she appeared, she'll go back on the DL for her Part 230 compliance work. (Thanks to John West and Sam Reeves.) | |
| 1 September 2001 United Kingdom Swanage Railway | The Swanage Railway has commemorated nearly 30 years of preservation efforts by dedicating a marker at the Harman's Cross station. Starting with roadbed devoid of track and a partially-demolished station, the group has created a remarkable tribute to Southern Railway steam in the UK, where once express trains from London arrived behind modern streamlined Pacifics and local trains were pulled by turn-of-the-century power. Congratulations to you all, and keep up the good work. (Thanks to Andrew P. M. Wright.) | |
 The laying of a commemorative stone at Harman's Cross station. Photo by Andrew P. M. Wright. Copyright 2001 Andrew P. M. Wright, all rights reserved. | ||
| 18 August 2001 Canada Canadian Pacific Railway | (CPR 4-6-4 2816) And from the final day of test runs, a particularly nice action shot in sunny weather. (Thanks to John Fowlis.) | |
 Saturday's test runs. Photo by John Fowlis. Copyright 2001 John Fowlis, all rights reserved. | ||
| 17 August 2001 Canada Canadian Pacific Railway | (CPR 4-6-4 2816) Today's update contains photos from the first test runs. Judging from the size of the train, things are looking good. Keep 'em coming. (Thanks to John Fowlis and Rob Sterne.) | |
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| 16 August 2001 Canada Canadian Pacific Railway | (CPR 4-6-4 2816) Hudson 2816 begins three days of test runs today in suburban Vancouver. If all goes as well as hoped, the locomotive will return to British Columbia Railway's North Vancouver shops Saturday afternoon for final assembly and painting, and head home to Calgary in mid-September. Keep those photos coming, guys. (Thanks to John Fowlis and John Picur.) | |
  Test steaming and boiler inspection of CPR 2816 on 15 August, and the dawn transfer from BCRail's shops prior to today's test runs. Photo by John Fowlis. Copyright 2001 John Fowlis, all rights reserved. | ||
| August is quickly becoming a month of rebirths, with three more locomotives back in service in recent days. Congratulations to all the crews, and good luck as your efforts continue. | ||
| 15 August 2001 Canada Canadian Pacific Railway | (ex-CPR 4-6-4 2816) Smoke is rising over the North Vancouver, BC, engine house this morning as Canadian Pacific 2816 gets a steam test. A Federal boiler inspection will be performed today, and if 2816 is passed test runs could start as early as tomorrow. If you go out to see the test runs, three things: (a) the engine will be missing some of its jacket, so don't expect full beauty yet; (b) respect railroad property and don't trespass; and (c) send photos. | |
| 15 August 2001 USA Golden Gate Railroad Museum | (ex-SP 4-6-2 2472) Southern Pacific 2472 is back together after a multi-year effort to do running gear work. The pilot truck was converted to roller-bearing journals and rebuilt, driver journals and crown brasses attended to, and suspension trued up. The engine was fired up and test run on August 4. After the kinks are worked out, wouldn't it be nice to see 2467 and 2472 double-heading on the Peninsula? | |
| 15 August 2001 USA | (ex-GTW 4-8-4 6325) Good things come in threes, it seems, and the third rebirth is Ohio Central's 6325, which made its first test run on July 31. (I know that's not August - cut me some slack, I've been busy ;-) It would hardly have been possible to pick a hotter day, and a few things were found to work on, but the goal of a September 22 debut appears to be attainable. The engine would operate from Columbus, OH, to Dennison sponsored by the Ohio Railway Museum. | |
 6325 ready for her first run in 41 years. Photo by Jason Johnson. Copyright 2001 Jason Johnson, all rights reserved. | ||
| 1 August 2001 USA | The news this day is mostly bad. You are probably aware by now that a 110HP, 150psi steam tractor suffered a boiler explosion in Medina, Ohio, this week. Early indications are that the tractor, which was being driven about a mile to a fairgrounds site, simply ran out of water and the crown sheet failed. Of particular note is that the safety valve was reportedly set at 74psi to ensure greater safety. In any event, four people are dead and 50 injured. Will if affect steam railroading? Not likely if your locomotive is inspected by the FRA. If you're running on a state inspection, you might see some changes, but no one is predicting a big backlash. Soapbox time: whatever turns out to be the cause, take this as a wake-up to keep your engine well maintained and your operators trained. Follow the new FRA rules even if you aren't required to. If a 200-psi boiler launches in a crowd, a lot more than 4 people could die, including you. | |
| 1 August 2001 USA | It is also my sad duty to report to you another death: Billy Byrd, a WWII veteran and L&N engineer who came to prominence thanks to Charles Kuralt, and who continued to work with steam tractors and steam locomotives after his retirement, passed away last Sunday. Billy was a regular volunteer at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, and gave a cab ride to the prettiest little thing I've ever seen on her first outing to see a steam locomotive, feeding her peanut butter and crackers as they barrelled through Lookout Mountain tunnel. That ride on Southern 2-8-0 630 hooked her on steam, and I'm still hooked on her. Thanks, Billy - enjoy the right-hand side of that J4 on the Pearly Gates & Western. | |
| 1 August 2001 USA Tennessee Valley RR Museum | (TVRM) Some good news out of TVRM: this month's cover girl will finally be back on the road this week, and work will probably turn to putting ex-Southern 2-8-0 630 back into service. | |
 The finished product. Photo by Jeremy Morgan. Copyright 2001 Jeremy Morgan, all rights reserved.  Look up the word "Shiny" in the dictionary, and this is the photo you'll find. Congratulations, guys. Photo by Jeremy Morgan. Copyright 2001 Jeremy Morgan, all rights reserved. | ||
| 1 August 2001 USA Middletown & Hummelstown RR | (ex-CN 2-6-0 91) Work on the Middletown & Hummeltown's Canadian National 2-6-0 continues. Steve Seible and Mike Wahl of the Mid-Continent traveled from the Mid-Continent Railway Museum, tools in tow, to help out in May on boiler work. Work now proceeds to the firebox and tender. Still no fire-up date, but this is one to watch for. (Thanks to Steve Zarick.) | |
| 1 August 2001 USA SOO 1003 SOO 2719 | (SOO power) And now for the SOO report. 2-8-2 1003 is scheduled for a pair of trips from Fox Lake, IL over Wisconsin & Southern's ex-Milwaukee Road trackage to Milton Jct., WI on 22 and 23 September. With W&S cutting back on its passenger services, this is one to put on the list. Also on the "possibly endangered" list are the summer sojurns of SOO 4-6-2 2719 on the Wisconsin Great Northern, due to the uncertainty of steam on the Wisconsin Central in the wake of its takeover by Canadian National. Trying for one last crack at good photos, Steve Glischinski is offering a photo special with 2719 and a matched consist on the 20-mile line. Tentative date is Monday, 10 September, if enough paying photographers sign up. (In spite of being a bit of a diesel nut, Steve puts on a good trip.) Contact details for both trips can be found at the Schedules page. | |
| 20 July 2001 Canada Pacific Wilderness Railway announcement | (Pacific Wilderness Railway) I guess this means no Chinese 4-6-2s or 2-8-2s, then? Ross Rowland's Pacific Wilderness Railway shut down on Wednesday, citing lower ridership and higher expenses. Ohio Central owner Jerry Jacobson's reported unwillingness to further support the operation also reportedly played a role in the decision. Since steam never actually pulled a train here, what else is there to say on this site? | |
| 20 July 2001 Canada Canadian Pacific Railway | (CPR 4-6-4 2816) In better news, the extensive overhaul of Hudson 2816 is nearing completion. Test runs could begin as early as August 6 in the Vancouver area. If all goes as hoped, the locomotive will be buttoned up and ready to head for its new base in Calgary, AB, on 19 September (find the tentative schedule here). This sounds like quite the trip - new locomotive, attractive train, great scenery. (Thanks to Bill Stevens and "Trains Newswire.") | |
| 20 July 2001 Canada | (ex-CPR 4-6-4 2860) With 2816 nearing completion, attention in BC Rail's North Vancouver shops will naturally turn to the other, Royal, Hudson on the property, sidelined in 2000 due to boiler problems (see the archive. The provincial government, which owns the railroad and the locomotive, has reportedly appropriated CA$12 Million over the next several years for maintenance and capital improvements for 2860, stablemate 2-8-0 3716 (also sidelined by boiler troubles this year), and the fleet of passenger cars used in tourist trains. There are unconfirmed reports that 2860 may get a new boiler. | |
| 19 July 2001 USA Nevada Northern Railway Heber Valley Railroad | (Nevada Northern 2-8-0 93) Mark this one on your calendar for your winter steam fix: Nevada Northern's no. 93 will be spending a few weeks on the Heber Valley during the 2002 Winter Olympics, sharing shuttle duties with Union Pacific 2-8-0 618 and Great Western 2-8-0 75. | |
 Nevada Northern no. 40 at Ely, NV. Photo by John Craft. Copyright 2001 John A. Craft, all rights reserved. | ||
| Going along are two Nevada Northern coaches to augment the Heber Valley fleet. The railroad expects to shuttle as many as 700 people per day into the Soldier Hollow cross-country skiing venue, which is located along the railroad, and operate daily trips as well as private charter trains. No. 93, currently undergoing its boiler inspection, will be shipped in late December, a move that is expected to cost as much as $40,000 for all equipment. (Thanks to Ken Dailey, John Rimmasch, and Scott Lindsay.) | ||
| 19 July 2001 USA Mount Ranier Scenic Railroad | (Mount Ranier Scenic RR) Martin Hansen's private charter on the Mount Ranier, which coincided with their public Railfan Weekend, produced a number of fine shots of two "new" steamers. Mason County Logging #7, a Baldwin 2-6-2T built in 1910, worked was sold to the Port of Olympia, WA, in the 1940s and renumbered #2. She worked retired and sold in 1958. Her restoration took over 2 years but the finished product is one of the most unigue logging locomotives operating today. | |
 Mason County 2-6-2T No. 7 on the Mount Ranier Scenic Railroad. Photo by Martin Hansen. Copyright 2001 Martin E. Hansen, all rights reserved.  Curtiss Lumber Heisler no. 2 on the Mount Ranier Scenic Railroad. Photo by Martin Hansen. Copyright 2001 Martin E. Hansen, all rights reserved. | ||
| Curtis Lumber Co. Heisler #2 was also built in 1910, and spent her entire operating career at Mill City for a succession of owners which included Hammond Lumber Co, Mill City Mfg, Vancouver Plywood & Veneer Co., and Willis Shingle Co. After retirement in the 1960s, no. 2 operated briefly in the early 1980's on the short track of the Rogers Age of Steam Logging Musueum. Jack Anderson purchased the Rogers collection in the mid 1990's and resold her to her present owner Scott Wickert of Chehalis, WA in l999. Scott, who works at MRSRR spent over a year on #2's restoration which included a new crown sheet. | ||
| 1 July 2001 SteamCentral | This month's update includes a new Crystal Ball from Jim Wrinn, as well as a photographic update on the Railroaders Memorial Museum's ex-Pennsy K4s 4-6-2 1361. On that one I owe Wayne Laepple an apology - the photos have been sitting here on my desk for far too long now. Thanks, Wayne, for the photos - next time I'll do better. | |
| 1 July 2001 USA Tennessee Valley RR Museum | (ex-CNR 4-6-2 5288) TVRM's latest acquisition has made it to Chattanooga - Canadian National 4-6-2 5288 was unloaded Friday and is now at the Museum's East Chattanooga shops. A 1918 graduate of ALCo's Montreal Works, the engine was one of relatively few fitted out to operate in both Canada and the USA. What are the plans? Well, her specs read much like those of a Southern Railway Ps4 - draw your own conclusions . . . | |
 Canadian National 4-6-2 5288 being unloaded in Chattanooga, TN, on 29 June. Photo by Steve Freer. Copyright 2001 Steve Freer, all rights reserved.  Southern Railway Ps4 4-6-2 6688 preparing to lead a train out of Birmingham Terminal Station on August 17, 1946. Photo by Frank E. Ardrey. Copyright 2001 F. E. Ardrey, all rights reserved. | ||
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