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| 1 December 2002 USA Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR | (Cumbres & Toltec) The C&TS Railroad Commission is slowly moving forward in its efforts to name a new operator for the troubled railroad and prepare equipment for the 2003 season. Shop work on locomotives is under way again, and car work will begin next week. No word yet on any plans for track work. At the November 22 inspection held by the Commission for prospective bidders, only two showed up (one of which being a representative of the most recent operator, Rio Grande Railway Preservation Corp.), and it is rumored that Lindsey Ashby has decided not to bid. That leaves RGRPC, Jerry Fisher, Robert Stetson, Ed McLaughlin's Railway Operations Corp., and Bob Keller's Scenic Railways. Bids are due this week, and an initial evaluation scheduled next week, with an operator to be named in February. | |
| 1 December 2002 USA North Carolina Transportation Museum | (NCTM Steam) The North Carolina Transportation Museum at Spencer is a busy place for steam these days. ex-Buffalo Creek & Gauley 2-8-0 4, masquerading as "Southern 604," is getting its boiler inspection and repairs to one boiler course, the firebox, and tube sheets. Graham County Shay 1925, its FRA inspection completed in 1997, is getting the usual winter repairs. Southern 2-8-0 542 has been the subject of a boiler survey as well. The consensus is that the boiler is in good shape, but that the firebox would have to be largely replaced if the locomotive were made operable. Discussions are now going on to determine whether to do the required repairs and operate the locomotive, cosmetically restore the engine, or preserve the existing boiler as-is and operate the loco using a new boiler. A decision will be made in 2003. (Thanks to Jim Wrinn.) | |
| 1 December 2002 USA FWRRHS 765 Progress Report | (ex-NKP 2-8-4 765) The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society keeps plugging away on the huge task of returning no. 765 to top condition. The locomotive is currently in "kit form" in the Society's shop, getting new tube sheets, firebox and wheel work in addition to a boiler inspection. The tender is getting some loving care as well. Drivers were sent to TVRM's wheel shop in Chattanooga, TN, for attention after the tires were removed by FWRRHS volunteers. The group is providing most of the labor and expertise, with outside help from Gary Bensman (Diversified Rail Services) and Scott Lindsay (Steam Operations Corp.). (Thanks to Jim Wrinn.) | |
| 1 December 2002 USA City of Tulsa Locomotive Auction | (ex-SLSF 4-8-4 4500) Want to buy a 4-8-4? The City of Tulsa, OK, is attempting to divest itself of Frisco 4-8-4 4500, donated to the city in 1954 and subject to a restoration attempt in the 1980s. Mike Reel, the City employee charged with finding a buyer, reports that "the City wants to sell this locomotive for a nominal amount of money, but yet to someone who wants to restore it; this combination makes for a tricky sale." Interested parties can contact Mr. Reel through this web site; potential bidders should be able to present a restoration plan for consideration. (Thanks to Mike Reel.) | |
| 1 November 2002 United Kingdom Mid-Hants Railway | (ex-BR 4-6-0 73096) The Mid-Hants Railway has successfully steam-tested British Rail "Standard 5" 4-6-0 73096 after an extensive overhaul. The locomotive should be out on the Southern Region main soon hauling MHR's "boat train" of green Mark II coaches. Next project for the MHR is bringing in-service 2-10-0 92212 up to main line standards. It's been a while since a "9F" was out on the main, and 92212 will be a welcome addition. Progress on the contract overhaul of ex-LNER A4 4-6-3 60019 "Bittern" continues as well. (Thanks to Tony Wood.) | |
| 1 November 2002 USA | (C&TS RR) For the second time in three years, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is without an operator, and the locomotive and car shops are shuttered. The Rio Grande Railway Preservation Corporation has nearly completed vacating the property, and the C&TS Commission, which oversees the property for the states of Colorado and New Mexico, has received six positive responses from parties interested in operating the railroad. While none ascend to the sublime (the leading contenders appear to be RGRPC and Lindsey Ashby's Georgetown Loop Railroad), some certainly descend to the ridiculous. The Commission plans to name a new operator by mid-December, but next Tuesday's gubernatorial elections may have an impact not only on that timetable but also on the makeup of the Commission itself. | |
| 1 November 2002 USA | (ex-Rayonier Willamette no. 2) ex-Rayonier Corp. Willamette no. 2, the last Willamette to be built, was purchased by Jim Gertz of Port Angeles, Washington in 1962 for $1,000. This week it was moved from its resting place of 40 years to the Mount Rainer Scenic Railway workshops in Mineral, Washington for overhaul to operating condition. No word yet on a timetable for return to service. (Thanks to Trevor Heath.) | |
| 24 October 2002 MPEG - EBT 14 (30-sec., 2.8mb) | Last weekend was a good one for catching steam somewhere. The East Broad Top ran a five-day series of photo charters and regular public excursions starting Friday the 18th, and General Manager Stanley Hall confirmed that EBT is planning to operate in 2003. This is one of many steam-powered treasures that deserves your support - let's all hope that the shops and railroad can be restored, and soon. | |
 Rockhill Sunrise. Photo by John Craft. Copyright 2002 John A. Craft, all rights reserved.  EBT 14 on a photo special near Shirleysburg, PA. Photo by John Craft. Copyright 2002 John A. Craft, all rights reserved. | ||
| Also operating for photographers last weekend was McCloud River RR 2-8-2 18, chartered by Martin Hansen. McCloud is another railroad living on the edge - traffic isn't what it used to be and the future is uncertain. | ||
 McCloud 18 on a photo special. Photo by Martin Hansen. Copyright 2002 Martin E. Hansen, all rights reserved. | ||
| SP&S 700 was in the midst of a successful series of excursions on the Montana Rail Link. This was the most ambitious outing yet for the Pacific Railway Preservation Association and its 4-8-4, which returned home to Portland on Wednesday. Unfortunately, a plan to operate the locomotive as "Northern Pacific 2668" on MRL's ex=NP main line was cancelled. | ||
 SP&S 700 near Logan, MT. Photo by Steve Brown. Copyright 2002 Steven J. Brown, all rights reserved. | ||
| | Also, the Sumpter Valley Railway operated a fall foliage special for photographers with its ex-W. H. Eccles Heisler 3, and "Rachel" was in operation on the ex-ET&WNC in the Doe River Gorge. | |
| 24 October 2002 USA Ohio Central RR | (ex-GTW 4-8-4 6325) In the bad news department, Ohio Central's ex-Grand Trunk Western 6325 suffered a damaged no. 2 crown brass on its trip from Coshocton, OH to Columbus on Saturday. The locomotive is back at the Morgan Run shops, but repairs may require a trip to TVRM's wheel shop for the offending axle. | |
| 24 October 2002 USA TVRM Web Site | (C&C) The town of Summerville, Georgia, is making progress on the installation of a turntable removed from CSX's ex-L&N roundhouse at Boyles Yard, Birmingham, AL. When completed, steam locomotives powering TVRM's "Dixie Land Excursions" on the Chattooga & Chickamauga RR can be turned at Summerville, eliminating the tender-first return and, hopefully, the diesel helper. | |
 Summerville, Georgia's new turntable. Photo by Ken Frazer. Copyright 2002 Ken Frazer, all rights reserved. | ||
| 14 October 2002 Australia "The Age" article | (ex-VR 2-8-0 K138) Three crewmen are dead and one passenger injured in a tragic crossing accident in Benalla, in northern Victoria. Victorian Railways 2-8-0 K183, owned by SteamRail, was apparently running tender-first with a wedding party on 13 October when it struck a commercial truck/trailer which was stopped on the crossing. The tender jacknifed into the cab as the loco derailed - it ended up on its side. Other than the one female passenger thrown from the train, those aboard suffered no serious injuries. The driver of the truck also escaped serious injury. Efforts to recover the bodies of the crew continue today. There is no word yet on the condition of the locomotive. | |
| 8 October 2002 USA Ohio Central Steam MPEG - GTW 6325 and CPR 1293 at Coshocton, OH (41 sec., 3.8MB) MPEG - GTW 6325 at Trinway, OH (45 sec., 4.3MB) | (Ohio Central) Some folks just know how to have fun - and Jerry Jacobsen is certainly one of them. And last weekend Jerry shared his fun and opened up his Ohio Central Railroad to photographers. The crews put on quite a show with GTW 4-8-4 6325 and CPR 4-6-2 1293. The highlight of the weekend is a toss-up: was it the multiple side-by-side runbys, or 6325 at speed with an American Electric Power train? (For Jerry it was the AEP train for sure.) Thanks to Jerry, Mary Marshall, Denny Varian, and the rest of the Ohio Central crew for a great weekend. | |
 Local children witness the departure of 6325 from Newcomerstown, OH. Photo by John Craft. Copyright 2002 John Craft, all rights reserved.  6325 hauls an American Electric Power coal train at Trinway, OH. Photo by John Craft. Copyright 2002 John Craft, all rights reserved.  The Ohio Central crew: (L-R) Jerry Jacobsen, Grant Geist, Mike Manwiller, Johnny Meek (hidden behind Scott Czigins), Jason Johnson, Tim Sposato. Photo by John Craft. Copyright 2002 John Craft, all rights reserved. | ||
| 8 October 2002 Cloud Nine Download Don Phillips' Computer Wallpaper Here | Washington Post reporter and "Potomac Pundit" Don Phillips experienced some slight health problems over the weekend. Sources report that they could hear Phillips' heart skipping not one, but several beats, as this photo was taken near Coshocton, OH. Phillips seemed to make a complete recovery, however, as he was observed floating just a few inches off the ground, and wearing a silly grin, for the rest of the day. And to think that you probably spend your time between runbys checking on your cameras like Steve Fowler back there . . . | |
 Don Phillips' reputation gets a huge boost. Photo by John Craft. Copyright 2001 John A. Craft, all rights reserved. | ||
| 2 October 2002 USA SLSTA web site MPEG - 1522 at Moselle, MO (36 sec., 3.2MB) | (ex-SLSF 4-8-2 1522) It's a shame that 1522 has completed her operating career, as it can be argued that the locomotive is in the best shape she's been in for years. The running gear is in top-notch form. The valves are much closer to square than in 2001, restoring the "loudest steam locomotive in America" title to its rightful place. Unless a boiler inspection revealed a problem, 1522 could have continued on the "active list" for many years to come. But it's not to be, and we can be thankful that the St. Louis Steam Train Association's last trips with 1522 operated so well. If the stars align for a third career for 1522 some time in the future, count me in as a supporter. | |
 This, my friends, is why digital cameras just aren't "ready for prime time" when it comes to shooting trains. Don't worry, I got it on Kodachrome - I hope . . . and you can see an MPEG from this location by clicking on the link at left. | ||
| 2 October 2002 USA Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR | (C&TS RR) Here we go again. The Rio Grande Railway Preservation Corporation, formed by the Friends of the C&TS Railroad to operate the line, appears to be in its last weeks of operating the railroad. The C&TS RR Commission does not appear to be interested in renegotiating its contract with RGRPC, and has started the process of seeking a new operator. With dismal ridership due to the June shutdown of the railroad, neither the Commission nor RGRPC can mount a significant winter work plan. Federal money may become available for locomotive work early next year, but it may not, and in the meantime cash flow just isn't there. And if a not-for-profit operator which sank over $1 Million over and above the state and federal appropriations can't revive the railroad, what for-profit group with any business sense will touch it? It's going to be a long winter in Antonito and Chama, and the hopes for any significant operations in 2003 are pretty dim right now. | |
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