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| 26 March 2002 USA Friends of 4449 | (ex-SP 4-8-4 4449) The crowds flocked to the stations, the riders to the vestibules, and the photographers to the trackside. Once again the Friends of 4449 and the Northwest Railroad Museum put on a fine excursion behind 4449, in "Freedom Train" colors. With no firm plans for future operation (but some very interesting rumors floating about), a patriotic sendoff is just what the doctor ordered. Congratulations to all who made it happen, and may we see the "Daylight" - in any paint - grace the high iron again soon. | |
 The "Freedom Train" returns. Photo by Martin Hansen. Copyright 2001 Martin E. Hansen, all rights reserved.  Photo runby at Madras, Oregon. Photo by Martin Hansen. Copyright 2001 Martin E. Hansen, all rights reserved. | ||
| 6 March 2002 USA 4449 Web Site | (ex-SP 4-8-4 4449) Well, it's about as official as it gets: the riders on the sold-out excursion from Portland, OR to Bend, OR (see the Schedules page) will be hauled by . . . American Freedom Train 4449. The first coat of paint was sprayed onto the tender last night. The organization's current plan is to keep the engine in AFT paint for about a year. No word of any appearances during that period - keep an eye on the group's web site. And support the crew with your souvenir and ticket purchases, as they've just committed themselves to another expensive round of painting next year. (Thanks to the 4449 crew.) | |
| 3 March 2002 Canada Canadian Pacific | (CPR 4-6-4 2816) CPR 2816 made its most recent move without the fanfare associated with its September debut (see the archives). It left Calgary on 19 February with six boxcars and business car "Assinaboine," led by GP38-2 3084. On 23 February it arrived at the shops of the Southern Railway of British Columbia in New Westminster, BC, for some final tweaks. CPR has not released its 2002 plans for the locomotive yet, but they reportedly do not include any trips into the US at this time. There are hints that the locomotive will run east to Toronto or Montreal - operations are expected to begin in May. | |
 CPR 2816 leaves Basque, BC, shoving "heritage" GP38-2 3084. Photo by William C. Slim. Copyright 2002 William C. Slim, all rights reserved. | ||
| 3 March 2002 Canada | (ex-CPR 4-6-4 2860) That other CPR Hudson, "Royal Hudson" 2860, is also in the news. A consortium of tourism entities, railway enthusiat organizations, and residents of Squamish, BC, have formed the "District of Squamish Task Force" and are lobbying Provincial officials to approve their plan to return 2860 to service. The details of the proposal appear to include the transfer of ownership of the locomotive to the West Coast Railway Association, and using a portion of the ticket revenue earned by BCRail in 2002 for the locomotive. The group would commit to raising funds to finance locomotive work and to cover the operating losses the tourist train incurs (currently about CA$ 1 Million annually). The groups has even garnered approval from the private secretary to the Queen Mother, who was queen when sister 2850 earned the class its "Royal" monicker. BC Minister for Transport Judith Reid is expected to issue an RFP soon which may lead to other options for the Province. All in all, even though BCRail is exiting the passenger business, it may mean that there is a glimmer of hope for 2860 to operate again one day after all. (Thanks to Rob Sterne and the North Shore News.) | |
| 1 March 2002 USA PRR 1361 Restoration | (ex-PRR K4s 1361) Progress continues on returning Pennsylvania Railroad K4s 1361 to the active column. A contractor has tack-welded the new wrapper sheet for the boiler (see the 1361 Tutorial)in place. Over the next few weeks final welding will take place. Still to come: the door sheet, bracing, staybolts, rear tube sheet, and flues and tubes. Keep up the good work, guys! (Thanks to Dave Crosby.) | |
 PRR 1361 has a new backhead. Photo by Dave Crosby. Copyright 2001 Dave Crosby, all rights reserved. | ||
| 1 March 2002 United Kingdom The Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Preservation Trust Ltd | (ex-BR 4-6-2 60007) It appears that in the not-too-distant future we'll be able to see three LNER A4s on the main line. 60009 "Union of South Africa" is back on the main after overhaul and extensive running-in, 60019 "Bittern" is being overhauled, and now 60007 has been withdrawn and refurbished. Funded by a grant of GBP 294,000 from the proceeds of Britain's National Lottery (and here I envision a gold hand pointing down and a booming voice announcing "It's YOU, Sir Nigel . . ." sorry, got sidetracked ;-) , the locomotive has already been disassembled and the boiler sent out for attention. You'll find many wonderful photos of the inner workings of an A4 at the Society's web site. Hmmm . . . all three A4s, "Blue Peter," and "Scotsman" (in BR paint) together at once? Well, a fellow can dream, can't he? (Thanks to Sue McNaughton.) | |
 Volunteers remove the cab from BR 60007 "Sir Nigel Gresley" on 23 January prior to lifting the boiler from the frames. Photo courtesy The Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Preservation Trust Ltd. | ||
| 25 February 2002 USA Heber Valley RR | (Olympic Trains) Heber Valley and Nevada Northern crews have completed their Olympic tour of duty, carrying the Olympic Flame and ferrying over 6,000 ticketholders to the Soldier Hollow venue. Representatives of both the Heber Valley and the Nevada Northern are very satisfied with the results. (Thanks to Ken McConnell.) | |
 A tripleheader carrying the Olympic Flame on the Heber Valley RR. Photo by Ken McConnell. Copyright 2002 Ken McConnell, all rights reserved. | ||
| 25 February 2002 USA | (ex-C&O 4-8-4 614) 614 is on the auction block. And once again, the locomotive is pursued by more rumors than the "Enquirer" puts in the average issue. The big event will be on 7 March at D. F. Barnhart's office in Mt. Pleasant, NC. Among the other items to be auctioned that day is a circa-1929 Heisler located in south Alabama. Bids will be accepted until 3:00pm on the 7th. (Thanks to Greg Scholl.) | |
| Rail Tour Italia | (World Steam Information) Welcome a new member to the world of putting in long hours for little or no financial return (a feeling well known by every steam mechanic, excursion operator, and increasingly steam website webmasters ;-) Giovanni Tamborrino has filled in an important gap by creating "Rail Tour Italia" to provide schedule information for steam movements. That would be admirable enough, but Gianni has also collected some beautiful works of art by, among others, Monet, Van Gogh, and Turner, incorporating rail themes. If you've ever tried to get reliable and timely information on steam movements in foreign countries, you'll appreciate his efforts. | |
| 1 February 2002 UK MHR's Bittern restoration page Robb Doyle's Bittern history page | (ex-BR 4-6-2 60019 "Bittern") The Mid-Hants Railway steam crew is making progress on returning Gresley "A4" Pacific "Bittern" to the main line for its new owner. Built in 1935 for the London and North Eastern Railway, the engine was retired in 1966 (it was one of the last two in service, along with 60024 "Kingfisher") and purchased by Geoff Dury. In 1997 Sir Tony Marchington purchased it with plans to overhaul it as a partner loco to his "Flying Scotsman." In 2000 Marchington sold the loco to a new owner who had it moved to the Mid-Hants Railway's Ropley engine shed. As this is a privately-funded overhaul, there's no precise deadline for when the work will be finished. Robb Doyle reports that the loco will be painted in BR green (it ran in preservation as LNER 4464 and was displayed 1988-1995 as LNER 2509 "Silver Link"). Hopefully it will be soon - with "Sir Nigel Gresley" out of service and "Union of South Africa" only now returning after a three-year overhaul, it's been some time since an A4 took to the main line. | |
 If the "Flying Scotsman" is departing, it's 10.00 at King's Cross. If it's "Bittern" carrying the headboard, it may well be a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday before WWII. An Ivatt C1 4-4-2 sits in the background, furthering the pre-war impression. Photo provided by Robb Doyle and Martin Blanchard. Copyright 2001 Martin Blanchard, all rights reserved.   The frames and boiler (showing the distinctive smokebox necessary for the streamlined front end) from "Bittern" upon arrival at the Mid-Hants in January 2001. Since these photos were taken, boiler work has begun and the wheels taken out of the frames for cleaning and overhaul. Photo by Tony Wood. Copyright 2002 Tony Wood, all rights reserved. | ||
| 1 February 2002 UK | (ex-BR 4-6-2 60009 "Union of South Africa") Speaking of A4s, BR 60009 "Union of South Africa" returns to the mainline tomorrow after an overhaul and several months of running-in at the Severn Valley Railway. "Number 9's" first trip will be from Westbury to Plymouth and return via the Great Western main line. After that it's on to Shap and some crew-training trips in late March. 60009 has been touted as the power for "The Imperial Scot," a luxury circle tour departing from Prague 14 April to Kosice, Budapest, Ljubljana, Salzburg, and Vienna in April. Planning crew-training trips as late as 29 March may be tacit admission that the engine isn't going to be there after all - can anyone offer an answer? | |
| 1 February 2002 USA | (ex-Flagg Coal Co. 0-4-0T 2) And speaking of privately-financed overhauls, John Gramling and his son Barney have finished returning Flagg Coal Co. no. 2 to service, even making it Part 230-compliant. It carries its as-built paint scheme, but a number (75) acquired after being sold to Allied Chemical for its stone crushing operation in Jamesville (Syracuse), NY. | |
 Flagg Coal Co. no. 2 poses for the Vulcan company photographer in 1920.  80 years later, looking much as it did when built, the engine gets an FRA inspection at Ashley, Indiana. Photo by John Gramling. Copyright 2002 John Gramling, all rights reserved. | ||
| The project was done over ten years after a friend of Bryan's encouraged them to do it and put up some seed money. How much did they spend? " I really don't know. I am sure that we could have bought at least a couple of new cars with what we have in the engine." Flues, piston rods, boiler repairs - all of it was done by father and son. "As for helpers we didn't have any except for a couple of friends that came to see how we were getting along. We would give them a paint brush or some other tool and tell them to get at it while they talked . That help amounted to less than 100 hours." The loco has been leased to the Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation in Owosso, MI, where it will join ex-Pere Marquette 2-8-4 1225 as an operating exhibit. John and Barney have already started their second project - Vulcan 0-6-0T 126 from Lehigh Valley Coal Co. - and hope to finish it in 2003. Congratulations, guys. (Thanks to John Gramling.) | ||
| 1 February 2002 USA Fort Wayne RHS (765) web site | (ex-NKP 2-8-4 765) Finally, work on Nickel Plate 765 is moving along. The volunteer crew is stripping and descaling the boiler in preparation for its Part 230 inspection, and work on the running gear should start later this year. The group has set mid-2003 as a tentative goal for finishing the locomotive, and reportedly have identified a friendly host railroad for some operations. | |
| 30 January 2002 USA 4449 Web Site | (ex-SP 4-8-4 4449) Have you been following the rumors about 4449 this week? Rumblings have been coming from the Northwest that the Daylight might make its March excursions in "American Freedom Train" paint. What's the evidence in favor of the rumor? Well, back in the fall I got email from crew members stating unequivocally that the engine was being repainted in Daylight colors, and I believe I saw the same thing on the Friends of 4449 web site. If it was there, it's gone now, and messages simply state that the engine is "being repainted," with the words "in Daylight colors" conspicuous by their absence. I've also been unable to get anyone to deny the rumors. That doesn't mean it's decided. The most plausible story I've heard is that there is some sentiment to do so, but that no firm decision has been made. Dang, I hope they do it. Insurance prices mean that it may be a few years before 4449 returns to the main line. Some of us remember the "Freedom Train:" it was an audacious spectacle, the product of a bunch of patriotic steam nuts, a pure celebration of the USA. Take it a step further and name the locomotive "The American Fireman" for this one trip. There is no more fitting locomotive to wear red, white, and blue, there is no better time to do it, and it would be a fine gesture by a fine crew. Besides, it would sure make my April Fool story prescient, wouldn't it? | |
 "Daylight" 4449 is being prepped for painting. Photo by Dave Brown. Copyright 2001 Dave Brown, all rights reserved.  "Daylight" 4449 is being prepped for painting. Photo by Chris Fussell. Copyright 2001 Chris Fussell, all rights reserved. | ||
| 23 January 2002 USA | (ex-C&O 4-8-4 614) I swear I'll just never understand it. Every time someone in Kearny sneezes, a new rumor about 614 pops up. Half the e-mail I get here is "what's happening with 614?" And now the discussion boards are burning up with rumors, misinformation, confusion . . . Here's what I've been able to synthesize: for a while now there have been discussions between New Jersey Transit, Andy Muller of the Reading & Northern Railroad, and Ross Rowland about moving 614 from NJT storage in Kearny to the R&N, possibly the Port Clinton shop area. Initial discussions with Norfolk Southern produced a positively discouraging price quote for the dead-in-tow move, but it appears a more reasonable price has been found. The locomotive might be moved as early as February. Muller has NOT purchased the locomotive. There are NO plans for operating 614 at this time. A Part 230 inspection has not been done, and no flue extension has been requested or received. The monies owed by Iron Horse Enterprise / Ross Rowland to NJT and others will not be affected by this move in any way that I can find out or foresee. So ignore all those fake posts by someone claiming to be Andy Muller. And the ones that say 614 is fired up and run every month. And the ones that say an agreement has been reached to return the locomotive to service. 614 may return to service one day - but that day is at least a few years and a million dollars away. (Thanks to anonymous, anonymous, and anonymous.) | |
| 23 January 2002 USA Shaylocomotives.com | (Shay 3142) Cass has acquired yet another locomotive. Shay no. 3, Lima SN 3142, was built for the Eastern Railway & Lumber Co. at Centralia, WA, and spent it life there, working until 1963 for Eastern and later S. A. Agnew Lumber Co. In private hands since 1963, it's spent most of that time in Snoqualomie, WA. No firm word yet on when it will be transported and in service at Cass. (Thanks to gearhead Jim Wrinn and Rick Henderson.) | |
| 23 January 2002 USA Nevada Northern Ry. Museum Heber Valley Railway | (ex-NCCCo. 2-8-0 93) The transport time for one locomotive is known, however: Nevada Northern (actually Nevada Consolidated Copper Co.) 2-8-0 93 was loaded onto trucks yesterday and should be in Heber City, UT, by week's end, along with two coaches now named "Ely" and "Nevada." Scott Lindsay, interim Director of the Nevada Northern Railway Museum, has worked with the good people of Ely to build quite a coalition to finance the trip. The Museum is working with an advertising firm to sell 24" x 30" ad positions in the coaches at $2,900 each. The ads will remain in place through the Olympics trips on to year's end. The Nevada Commission on Tourism and the Las Vegas tourist authority have purchased a total of $50,000 in ad space, and additional ad sales and private donations have totaled $95,000 to date. No. 93, which was built in January 1909 (and is thus 93 this month), joins 1907-built Union Pacific 2-8-0 618 and Great Western 2-8-0 75 for approximately six weeks. In addition to shuttle trains to the Soldier Hollow cross-country skiing and biathlon venue, private charters are available with all three locos during the visit. No. 93 and the coaches return in March to be back in service in time for a mid-April kickoff of the Nevada Northern's operating season. Now why didn't Scott do this for the Olympics here in Atlanta in 1996? Congratulations to the Nevada Northern Railway Museum, the White Pine County Historical Foundation, the City of Ely, and everyone involved in making this event happen. | |
 Nevada Northern 93 being loaded for the trip to Heber City, UT. Photo courtesy the Nevada Northern Railway Museum via Keith Albrandt. | ||
| 23 January 2002 USA 4449 Web Site Northwest Rail Museum | (ex-SP 4-8-4 4449) Planning for the 4449 excursions to and from Sacramento have fallen through, but round trips to Bend, OR, have been announced. You'll find more details in the Schedules page. | |
| 23 January 2002 Germany Harzer Schmalspurbahnen | (Harzquerbahn) The Harzer Schmalspurbahnen in installing a EUR1.5 Million computer-controlled signaling system between Wernigerode, Drie Annen Hohne, and Brocken (see the Harz Travel Resources page). The new system will control meets between trains at eight stations, and takes over on 27 April, when the summer timetable will show 12 trains in each direction between Drei Annen Hohne and Brocken. Last year the HSB carried 600,000 riders to the top of the Brocken, and another 500,000 on the rest of this steam paradise. Go see this show - you won't regret it. (Thanks to Ken Sawyer.) | |
| 14 January 2002 USA Golden Gate Railroad Museum | (ex-SP 4-6-2s 2467 and 2472) 2467 and 2472 finally got to run together - and on Harriman suburban coaches, at that. The duo were steamed up at the Golden Gate Railroad Museum in San Francisco, operating separately in the morning and as a doubleheader after lunch. The derailment of a coach during a backup move brought an early end to the doubleheading, but the event continued with rides available in 2472's cab. Still no word on when these two will get to stretch their legs on the main line. Bearing work on both engines is in the works, as is 2472's Part 230 inspection. But at least they are together, close to friendly home rails, and with a little luck something will happen one day soon. (Thanks to Sam Reeves.) | |
 SP Pacifics 2472 and 2467 lead a consist of Harriman suburban coaches on a photo runby. Photo by Sam Reeves. Copyright 2002 Sam Reeves Photography, all rights reserved. | ||
| 14 January 2002 USA Orlando & Mt. Dora | (ex-W. T. Carter 2-6-2 4) No. 4 is back in service under new management, after spending a month chained to the tracks. After having trouble paying the lease on no. 4 for most of 2001, Reader Industries and Arkansas Short Lines (the owner and lessee of no. 4) took posession of no. 4 last November and chained her to the rails to prevent further use by Steve Torrico's Mount Dora Scenic Railroad. In December the Orlando & Mt. Dora, managed by Neil Bagaus, took over operation of no. 4 (Mr. Torrico remains involved as an employee), and carried 4,000 riders during the month. On 1 February the new operator will inaugurate service from Orlando to Mt. Dora, approximately 40 miles one-way on the Florida Central Railroad's ex-Seaboard Coast Line trackage. Trains will depart Orlando at 9am, returning at 5pm. (Thanks to Ed Ellis.) | |
 Last seen as "Yazoo & Mississippi Valley 4" in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", Mt. Dora no. 4 is back in service. Photo courtesy Ed Ellis. | ||
| 6 January 2002 USA Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum | (ex-SOU 2-8-0 630) Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is making progress on returning ex-Southern Railway 2-8-0 630 to active service. On 29 December the locomotive was jacked 6 feet into the air and the drivers rolled out for machine work. The engine will sit on stands and cribbing for a while. Work has also been done on removing boiler studs for inspection and replacement, and on the "waist" sheets that support the boiler from the frame. The shop crew in Chattanooga is also giving TVRM's ex-Army no. 610 a little winter work, and is doing some work on the drivers from Pennsylvania RR K4S 1361, the subject of a Tutorial by Wayne Laepple. (Thanks to Mark Ray and David Johnson.) | |
 Southern 630 losing its wheels. Photo by David Johnson. Copyright 2002 David Johnson, all rights reserved.  Southern 630 losing its wheels. Photo by David Johnson. Copyright 2002 David Johnson, all rights reserved. | ||
| 6 January 2002 USA Southern OR NRHS Medco 4 page | (ex-Medford Corp. no. 4) Out in southwest Oregon, the Southern Oregon Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society is making progress on the restoration of what would be the only operating Willamette steam locomotive. The Willamette was a West Coast knock off of Lima's popular Shay. Willamette Iron and Steel only built 33 locomotives and six escaped the torch. "We have been busy putting up a new 30 foot by 60 foot locomotive shed at the Medford Railroad Park to house the No. 4 as we reassemble it,'' said Jerry Hellinga, chapter president. The shed was set to be finished this week, and engine work took a backseat while the chapter set about to put a donated baggage car back on the rails. "With the locomotive shed and the baggage car now taken care of work on the No. 4 should pick up,'' Hellinga said. "The locomotive is completely dissassembled. The wheel sets, line shafts and drive lines are currently at the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad's shops in Mineral, Wash. for work. Once the machining of those parts is completed we will start reassembly. Current goal is to have the work on the trucks, frame, and boiler completed by the end of 2002." Medco 4 was built in 1925 as a three-truck engine originaly for the Owen-Oregon Lumber Co. It was transferred to Medco in 1932 after Owen-Oregon went into receivership and was reorganized. In 1959 the No. 4 was retired by the Medford Corporation and donated to the City of Medford. It was moved to Jackson Park were it was turned into a piece of playground equipment by Medford City Parks. The chapter acquired the engine in Sepember 1997, and is overhauling it at the park site. Plans call for the engine to be used on a segment of what was once the Medford Corp. logging railroad near the town of Butte Falls in the Cascades east of Medford. (From SteamCentral gear-head Jim Wrinn, with thanks to Larry Tuttle | |
 Medford Corporation 4 in regular service. Photo by Hearld F. Stewart. Photo courtesy Southern Oregon Chapter NRHS. | ||
| 1 January 2002 Sweden | (Swedish Plandampf) Andre Sinn has built a reputation of excellence in organizing steam photo specials in Italy. Over the years he's also put together events in Germany and the Czech Republic. This year's event will take place in Sweden, where Andre pulled off a successful event in 2000. The plandampf will feature seven loco classes hauling passenger and freight consists on non-electrified lines for seven days. June this close to the Arctic Circle may make night shots an excercise in sleep deprivation, but guarantees long days for photography in a beautiful country. Download a flyer and booking form here or get more details in the schedules. | |
 Swedish State Railways B class 4-6-0 1143 at Ivarsbjorke between Lysvik and Kil, May 2000. Photo by Andre Sinn. Copyright 2002 Andre Sinn, all rights reserved. | ||
| 1 January 2002 Slovakia | (Slovak Plandampf) Also on the books for 2002 is Ad Van Sten's bash in Slovakia. Ad's annual plandampfs in the Czech Republic have strayed into Slovakia once before, when he arranged for 4-8-2 486.007 to operate through the Tatra mountains. This year's event covers some of the same territory from a base near Kosice, a 4-hour train ride from Budapest or a leisurely overnight journey from Krakow or Prague. (You can get a Hertz car in Kosice.) 4-8-4T 477.013 (from a class nicknamed "Parrots" because of their red-white-blue paint scheme) will be the main attraction, though 2-6-2T 331.037 may operate as well if there is sufficient interest. Download a flyer and booking form here or get more details from the schedules page. | |
 "Parrot" 477.043 hauls a passenger train from Prague to Plzen through Vsenory in September 1995. A sister loco will be featured on a September 2002 special in Slovakia. Photo by John Craft. Copyright 2002 John Craft, all rights reserved. | ||
| 1 January 2002 Germany Interessengemeinschaft Harzer Schmalspurbahnen e. V. | (German Plandampfs) In Germany, the "Friends of the Harzqerbahn" are planning two photographic weekends. On 9-10 February, the annual "Full Steam into the Snow" features 0-6-0T 99.6101 and 0-4-4-0T 99.5902 (repainted black last year after some time as "NWE 13" - see the Harz Travel Resources page for photos) on special trains and - if conditions require - a snowplow special to the Brocken. €25 gets you the timetables, a bit more gets you on the trains. In May, all three operable Mallets, 99.6101, unique 2-10-2T 99.7222 and 2-6-2T 99.6001 will power a whole host of interesting specials. Saturday's event features three specials running in tandem - depart on the first, disembark to photograph all three, and ride the third to the next station, where you board the first train again to repeat the process. A passenger train, freight train, and mixed train provide variety. On Sunday, more specials (and special engines on regular trains) are offered. Get the timetables for €85 or ride all three days for €170. You'll find more information on the schedules page. More specials are planned for mid-October, but no details have been announced. Steam will be common on the standard gauge in 2002, as well. Plandampfs are planned for the Saalfeld area in February (DM 380, about €175) and in October in the Koblenz area (funded by the local railway authority). All this is in addition to the extensive excursion schedule on the main line. | |
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