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| 30 September 1999 USA Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR | (C&TS RR) Three days of photographers' specials were concluded successfully on the C&TS this week. A railroad-sponsored round trip to Osier on the 26th was followed by a two-day Trains Unlimited charter. No. 497 was returned to service in time to participate in this season's first tripleheader on the 25th, but a doubleheader out of Chama was reportedly cancelled on Tuesday the 28th due to engine problems. | |
| 30 September 1999 South Africa | I've just learned today of the death of A. E. "Dusty" Durrant, a well-known rail enthusiast who lived much of his life in the Republic of South Africa. One of the most knowledgeable men in the world with regard to the steam locomotive, Dusty and his ex-wife Christine were always willing to open their home to enthusiasts enjoying steam in their country. True to form, Durrant was cremated and his ashes spread in rare fashion: fed into the firebox of a South African Railways at speed. Dusty will be mourned and missed by many. | |
| 24 September 1999 USA Tarantula Train Web Site Fort Worth Star-Telegram article | (Tarantula Train) The Tarantula Train, operators of ex-SP 4-6-0 2248, has hit a snag - their staff is resigning in droves. In April this tourist operation was sold by the Fort Worth & Western to Coe Sun, a Michigan dinner train operator. (The operation continues to run on FW&W track.) Staff benefits and salaries were cut, and many other cost reduction efforts have been instituted since the takeover. After losing a number of staff this summer, three more departures in recent weeks have dramatically reduced the experience level of the staff. In an article in today's Fort Worth "Star-Telegram," Passenger Operations Manager Earl Knoob (who resigns effective 1 October to take a position with another railroad) is quoted as saying that he believes Coe Sun intends to discontinue the excursion trains between Grapevine and the Fort Worth Stockyards as soon as the company begins its planned dinner-train operation in October. Coe Sun General Manager Dennis Larson says that Tarantula plans to operate six steam excursions and two dinner trains each day by 2003. Coe Sun's pair of F-units and three passenger cars will be used for the dinner train service. 2248, the company's only steam locomotive, will require its annual inspection beginning the week of 3 January 2000, and runs out of flue time shortly thereafter. An extension is unlikely to be granted due to the amount of use the locomotive sees, and its lap-seam boiler construction. | |
| 22 September 1999 Canada Canadian Pacific Railway | (CPR 4-6-4 2816) A spokesperson for Canadian Pacific has confirmed that the railroad still plans to return Hudson 2816 to service, with a target date of 1 July 2000. The railroad has recently initiated layoffs and restructurings that left some question as to whether the project would go forward. It was reported earlier that overhaul will be done in Vancouver, BC, by the British Columbia Railway shop forces responsible for sisters 2860 and 3716. Speculation is that once complete, the locomotive will be based at the railroad's Calgary, AB, headquarters. (Thanks to Rob Sterne and Jonathan Hanna.) | |
| 19 September 1999 USA St. Louis Steam Train Association | (ex-SLSF 4-8-2 1522) Work began yesterday to dismantle this locomotive for yet another running gear overhaul. In June, on her first run after a thorough rebuild, 1522 derailed on a wye, after running only about 20 miles (see the archive). Damage due the derailment and subsequent rerailing appears to include 2-4 axle bearings and perhaps one bent axle. SLSTA has set a 31 March 2000 deadline to complete the work, at least partially funded by insurance. | |
| 17 September 1999 USA Wilmington & Western Railroad Photos of the damage | (Wilmington & Western) Delaware tourist line Wilmington & Western, which operates ex-Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic 0-6-0 58 and ex-Mississippi Central 4-4-0 98, has suffered major flood damage. The remnants of Hurricane Floyd dumped 10" of rain on the Wilmington area, and the increased flow in Red Clay Creek washed away two trestles and damaged two others. There are also numerous washouts and downed trees. It's far too early to speculate on how quickly the line will return to service, but let's hope it's soon. (Thanks to Tom Gears.) | |
| 15 September 1999 (Updated 18 September) USA Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR Narrow Gauge Discussion Board Albuquerque Journal Article | (C&TS RR) During its quarterly meeting yesterday, Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission Executive Director Leo Schmitz presented George Bartholomew, designated operator of the C&TS, with a letter declaring Bartholomew in default of his contract with the Commission. Written on behalf of the Commission by Ken Salazar, Colorado Attorney General, and backed up by a unanimous vote of the Commission, five specific items were listed: Failure to provide timely financial statements, failure to maintain the premises (including locomotives - see the archive), failure to install ties as agreed, failure to maintain inventories, and failure to pay rent on time. As a result the Commission judged Bartholomew unable to meet his financial obligations under the contract. In addition, an audit of C&TS finances and a joint inventory of expendable supplies was ordered. In remarks to the Commission, Mr. Bartholomew blamed a number of outside factors for his financial problems, including negative press, higher gasoline prices, excessive rains and fewer vacationing families due to Year 2000 concerns. At least two of Bartholomew's subcontractors and creditors expressed concern over being paid during the meeting. According to paragraph 19b of the Commission's contract with Mr. Bartholomew, Bartholomew has 30 days to cure the items declared in default or the Commission has the right to terminate the contract. (18 September) Mr. Bartholomew has subsequently issued a press release via attorney Michael Schwarz to respond to the Commission's allegations. It can be found posted on the Narrow Gauge Discussion Board, and also posted at RYPN's Interchange Discussion Board. | |
| 15 September 1999 USA Virginia City (MT) Chamber of Commerce Altamont Press News Line | (Alder Gulch 2-8-0 12) The Virginia City (MT) Chamber of Commerce has returned ex-Ferrocarril Mexicano del Sur 2-8-0 12 (Baldwin 34313, 1910) to service. After retirement in 1957, this 30" gauge engine was located at Edaville, MA, until 1992, when it was sold and moved to Escanaba, MI. No. 12 was overhauled under contract by John Larkin's Escanaba & Lake Superior RR, and the extremely thorough overhaul included mahogany cab panelling. Montana Governor Marc Racicot and his predecessor, Tim Babcock, were on hand for the dedication of the locomotive and the rebuilt roadbed to the ghost town of Nevada City, 1 1/2 miles away; much of the historic district is state-owned. The Chamber web site makes this former mining district look very interesting - maybe a visit next spring is in order? (Thanks to Altamont Press, Steve Glischinski, Joel King.) | |
 Alder Gulch 2-8-0 12 at the Virginia City, MT, engine house. Photo by Joel P. King. Copyright 1999 Joel P. King, all rights reserved. | ||
| 14 September 1999 India International Working Steam Locomotives | (Western Railway (India) Pacifics) A Delhi-based export company claims to have sold two Indian steam locomotives to the Railroad Development Corporation, part owner of the Iowa Interstate RR, "in the interest of preserving the locomotives and ultimately operating them." The sale was confirmed by Henry Posner, Chairman of RDC. Western Railway metre-gauge YP-class 4-6-2s 2257 and 2805 were built by Vulcan in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, and 2257 was decorated by the railroad to celebrate 50 years of Indian independence in 1998. Mr. Posner does not have any firm plans to operate the locomotives, although he did allow the possibility of regauging the locos to operate on one of RDC's operations in Latin America or Africa. Operation in the US is unlikely, although nothing has been decided. (Thanks to Trevor Heath, Nick Lera and James Hefner.) | |
| 7 September 1999 USA PRPA PRPA Announcement M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust | (ex-SP&S 4-8-4 700) The Pacific Locomotive Preservation Association will be the recipient of a US$44,000 grant from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust to replace the smoketubes, superheater flues, and superheater units in the boiler of No. 700. (Read the details of the process and the grant by clicking the "PRPA Announcement" link at left.) The Murdock Charitable Trust was created by the will of the late Melvin J. (Jack) Murdock, a co-founder of Tektronix, Inc. of Beaverton, Oregon, in 1975. It is the second largest private foundation in the Pacific Northwest and among the hundred largest private foundations in the nation. The Trust has focused its grantmaking efforts in the areas of education, scientific research, and, more recently, arts and culture and health and human services, with an emphasis on the five states of the Pacific Northwest - Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The Association's grant proposal went through an exhaustive eight month review process that examined the PRPA mission in the community, how it has accomplished it to date, finances, the future of PRPA programs with the SP&S 700, and the Association's ability to generate continued funding. SteamCentral congratulates the PRPA for building the credibility with a major grant-making institution to receive this grant. This is a perfect example of the type of thinking and action SteamCentral encourages on its Opinion pages. (Thanks to John Cox and the PRPA.) | |
| 7 September 1999 UK | (Highland Railway Festival) Most years, at the end of the summer-season excursions between Fort William and Mallaig, a series of specials are scheduled to explore new lines and return the coaches and steam power to their various bases. Previous years have seen doubleheaded runs to Glasgow or Edinburgh, or trips in the far north of Scotland to Thurso, Wick, and Kyle of Lochalsh. This year's "Highland Railway Festival" sees the first return of steam to the ferry-and-whiskey town of Oban since the 1960s. (See the Schedules page for details.) If you happen to be planning a trip to Europe during this period, don't miss this event - each of these lines is a photographer's delight, with big bridges, horshoe curves, and 2.5% grades in abundance. | |
| 3 September 1999 USA 2719 Status Report | (ex-SOO 4-6-2 2719) L&TPF have posted a great update concerning the work being done on this locomotive, damaged when it was struck by a Wisconsin Central freight train while stored at Chippewa Falls, WI, in May (see the archive). Scott Lindsay and the L&TPF crew have taken some great photos of the repair process. The new wheel center has been cast, and final assembly and preparation of the driver sets will be under way soon in St. Louis and Chattanooga. This project is full of talent, as Gary Bensman, Bob Yuill (a veteran of the Southern and Norfolk Southern shop crew) and Scott Lindsay combine forces. | |
| 2 September 1999 USA | (ex-SOO 2-8-2 1003) | |
| 1 September 1999 USA | (Labor Day Steam) Ex-SOO 0-6-0 353, operating with an "honorary SOO engine," an unnumbered ex-Dresser Trap Rock 0-4-0T, will be operating this weekend at the Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's Reunion in Rollag, MN. The show starts on Friday, September 3rd and runs through Labor Day, September 6th. In Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, the Midwest Old Thresher's Reunion will be in high gear as well, with their complement of narrow gauge locomotives including ex-Surrey, Sussex & Southampton 2-6-0 No. 6. Both of these events feature steam tractors and an amazing collection of agricultural equipment in addition to the trains. Ex-NP 4-6-0 328 will be hauling passengers on the Osceola & St. Croix Valley in Osceola, WI, (for perhaps the last time before a major overhaul - no return date forecast) and ex-SOO 2-8-2 1003 is to pull a passenger train for a large contingent of British fans if the final details were settled between the WRPT (103's owners) and Wisconsin Central. Whether you attend one of these events or visit your favorite tourist line, get out there and enjoy one last summer weekend of steam. (Thanks to Jeff Terry.) | |
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| 28 August 1999 USA Durango & Silverton NGRR Durango Herald Article | (D&S NGRR) Update 30 August The Silverton Branch was reopened late Sunday afternoon, with the last stranded train arriving Durango about 2230. Heavy rains on Friday caused a mudslide that trapped two D&S trains at Silverton. The slide blocked approximately 100 yards of track with mud, and logs, and water continued to flow over the tracks. Jeff Ellingson, curator of the D&S museum in Silverton, was quoted in the Durango "Herald" as saying "It's an inconvenience, [but] . . . it's part of mountain railroading." The storm also knocked out power in the Durango area. Ex-Rio Grande Southern "Galloping Goose" 5, which ran a Silverton-Elk Park-Silverton-Durango diagram on Friday, was not affected. Bulldozers were transported to the slide area to begin clearing the railroad. Saturday's scheduled "Railfest" events - the three scheduled Silverton trains, the return of #5 to Durango, and a one-way trip to Silverton by ex-Eureka & Palisade 4-4-0 No. 4 "Eureka" are affected. (On the bright side, the chance to shoot 2 Mikados overnighting in Silverton is an unexpected pleasure.) (Thanks to Tony Kassin, Curt Bianchi and Leon Ford IV.) |
| 26 August 1999 Canada Nanaimo Daily News | (Esquimalt & Nanaimo) The Nanaimo Daily News is reporting this week that Ross Rowland's Iron Horse Enterprises is negotiating to form a tourist railway operation on this Vancouver Island railway. SteamCentral has talked with a source close to the project, and learned that Rowland's operation would be under contract to RailAmerica, successful bidder to operate the E&N, with financial support from a Canadian government entity. If negotiations are concluded successfully, Rowland's plan is to have four to six new 4-6-2s constructed at Tang Shan, China, from existing Chinese blueprints very similar to the Canadian Pacific G5 class. (The last Chinese locomotive built to these blueprints was constructed in 1962.) Steam operations could begin in 2000. Unlikely? So was the Transcontinental Steam Excursion, the Freedom Train, a month of coal trains in the New River Gorge and steam power on a regularly-scheduled Amtrak train. Even if nothing comes of this, he's not a wise man who bets against Ross Rowland where steam is involved. |
| 25 August 1999 UK Millennium Cavalcade "Launch Report" | Rail2000 kicked off the preparations for next year's Millennium Cavalcade with a steam excursion from York to Darlington yesterday. Celebrating the 175th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway as well as stretching out Millennium celebrations for quite some time, this event promises 40 locomotives (most steam) in a procession from Shildon south to Darlington. VSOE, the operator of the Orient Express and the British Pullmans, is involved, so getting to the cavalcade in style should be no problem. And there is an interesting teaser that "Tornado," the updated A1 Pacific being constructed in Darlington, will be a participant. Will this be the engine's formal introduction into traffic? (I sure wouldn't mind seeing it take the Pullmans from Darlington to York after the festivities end . . . ) The Millennium Cavalcade is scheduled for 26-28 August 1999. Tickets for entry into the photography stands (approximately $40), sponsored by "Steam Railway" magazine, can be purchased by calling 0115 912 9247 (011-44-115-912-9247 from the US). |
| 24 August 1999 USA MSTRP / PM 1225 | (ex-PM 2-8-4 1225) The Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation has cancelled the remainder of Pere Marquette 1225's "Engineer-for-an-Hour" operations for this month, due to breakage of one of the locomotive's leaf springs. Several broken leaves were discovered in one of the No. 2 driver springs during inspection after the first day of this program on August 21 at Owosso, Michigan. No spare springs are on hand, and the lead time to manufacture new springs will probably be too long to permit operation of the locomotive again this year. The schedules page has been updated to reflect the cancellations. (Thanks to Aarne Frobom.) |
| 21 August 1999 Union Pacific Historical Society | (UP 844 & 3985) In a presentation to the UPHS annual convention (in Kansas City, 12-14 August), UP Steam Program member Bob Krieger offered the most thorough statement yet on 844's failure at Railfair 99 in Sacramento, CO, in June. "We ordered [the flues] to the specifications on the UP diagrams and drawings. As a matter of fact, Steve [Lee] had ordered them 2 mils thicker in wall thickness . . . We found out that the tubes we took out [prior to 844's retubing in 1997], based on the lab samples, had 15% more nickel, 12% more copper, and 4% more molly [molybdenum] in them [than the tubes that failed]. And we haven't seen any paperwork to support why. So now we're in the process of searching for a different quality of tubing that will match closer to that . . . We also pulled one of the small tubes and one of the large flues out of the 3985 as soon as we got home to see what kind of shape it was in. The large flues are fine, but the small tubes are in the same shape, or are getting close to the same shape as 844's. That's why we decided not to run the Denver Post [excursion with steam - 6936 was substituted]. Second, in California, there's an awful lot of oxygen in the water . . . We went and got some special Nalco treatment for oxygenation, to scavenge it off so we don't have oxidation on the tubes. And Nalco was kind enough to supply us with the information that this was "a store-stock item for UP and to go ahead and order it through your supply department" . . . We've now been trained on test kits for water treatment. We have a whole new water treatment system [...] It should be a whole lot better. We did do some reading in advance, and we found this water treatment, if overtreated, can cause a problem, so we're going to undertreat a little bit. This should work and make everything last a long time. Matt Austin, a boiler inspecter from Hawaii with lots of credentials making him very well qualified, indicated to us that he thought he could see that a small blister had formed on the crown sheet. We may have to do a patch on the crown sheet, or more if we have to. He also expressed the possibility of some grooving on one of the knuckles on the tube sheet, so we may have to fix that. On 3985 we pulled a big flue, it looks fine. Our plan is to re-tube the small tubes in the 3985 this winter, and Steve [Lee] has already announced that we are going to drop a couple of drivers off and have them turned so that we'll have another four or five years on them. Then later on, we'll send all the drivers off and have new tires put on. We're looking at two to three years on the 844. It's going to take a long time because the 800 has approximately 122 of the small 2.5 inch tubes that were failing, whereas the 3985 has only about forty-eight. Before we even left Railfair, two days after the incident happened, [UP CEO Dick] Davidson's office called up Steve's boss, and Steve's boss called him and said, "I don't think you have to worry, because Davidson wants you in L.A. next year." So, we'll be in LA [at the Democratic National Convention in August] with 3985. We've also had requests for several other things we're considering, [including] the Greeley Stampede, the UP Historical Society Convention, and the Denver Post trip [the first three weekends in July]. [Dick Davidson is] on our side. You don't have to worry about the program going away." (Thanks to the UPHS.) |
| 18 August 1999 USA Ohio Central Railroad | (ex-GTW 4-8-4 6325) The Ohio Central has formally announced that the ready date for No. 6325 has been changed to Spring 2000. A manpower crunch brought on by increased freight service is one of the causes of the delay. OHCR will use ex-CP 4-6-2 1293 and ex-CN 4-6-0 1551 on a number of excursions planned for the fall, possibly operating some doubleheaders. |
| 16 August 1999 USA Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad | (C&TS RR) Illustrating that the sad state of mechanical condition is not confined to Nos. 463 and 497, 2-8-2 489 was unable to pull a relatively easy load of eight cars (six coaches and two cabooses) up the grade from Chama to Cumbres on Sunday, and was forced to double the hill. The train returned to Chama over two hours late. Engine 463 is back in service, but No. 487 is currently receiving a boiler wash and 31-day inspection, so there are still only two serviceable locomotives available. |
| 15 August 1999 USA Fort Wayne RR Historical Soc. 765 Overhaul Fund | (ex-NKP 2-8-4 765) The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society has announced that it has been awarded a $400,000 TEA21 grant to return ex-Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 765 to active service. No. 765 accumulated 52,000 miles and over 95 million ton-miles in excursion service from 1979 to 1993, carrying over 300,000 riders. A complete running gear overhaul is planned; 765's last received this attention in 1957. The boiler will be inspected and work performed as required to comply with the updated FRA 49CFR230 regulations, and other repairs completed as required. Fort Wayne RR Historical Society President Tom Nitza stated, "We're thrilled that our application was approved for these special funds. Now we can start the work we need to do to put the 765 back on the road." Society Vice President Glenn Brendel, a charter member of the organization, commented, "We've worked a long time to get these funds. Our initial application was submitted back in 1996 and we followed up each year to re-submit it for the next year's program. Now we have finally reached the point where we can once again make plans to share our 400 ton piece of history with the people of the country." Rich Melvin, Fort Wayne's Operations Officer said, "Our target date to get her back on the road is sometime in '01. And when that time comes, there are places where we'll be able to operate the locomotive." All funds distributed under TEA 21 (the Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century) are administered by a local governmental authority, and in this case it will be Allen County, Indiana that will handle the task.The TEA-21 program is an 80/20 program, where the program pays 80% of the cost and the Society must raise the remaining 20%. This means that to take advantage of all the funds available, the Society must raise about $85,000. In 1998 the Society established the "765 Overhaul Fund" and several thousand dollars has already been raised. Donations can be made to the 765's Overhaul Fund at the Society's web site (click the link at left) or by mail at: 765 Overhaul Fund, P.O. Box 11017, Fort Wayne, IN 46855. It's good to know that 765 will be back on the mainline again soon. Congratulations to the FWRHS for securing this grant, and best of luck during the overhaul. (See my thoughts on locomotive economics on the Opinion page.) |
| 15 August 1999 USA Tweetsie Railroad Ken Riddle's Little River Railroad Page | (ET&WNC 4-6-0 12) Word is that No. 12 will be back in service by Labor Day after a thorough overhaul that includes a straightened frame, new tubes, and attention to every part on the engine below that wonderful capped stack. The little 4-6-0 usually works the off-season trains when fewer cars are required; hopefully she'll take a few turns before the amusement park closes after Halloween. Hey y'all, how much of a bribe would it take to get no. 12 in true ET&WNC colors for one weekend? (Now, if only someone would restore the track through the Doe River Gorge . . .) (Thanks to Ken Riddle.) |
| 11 August 1999 USA Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad | (C&TS RR) 10 August turned out to be a VERY bad day in Chama, NM. According to a report I received this morning, FRA inspectors have "tagged" 2-8-2s 463 and 497 as unsafe, leaving the line with only 2-8-2s 487 and 489 to handle the two daily trains. A number of passengers, tickets in hand, had to be turned away from yesterday's Chama departure because the scheduled doubleheader could not be run. The train finally departed Chama around Noon, and had not arrived at Cumbres from Osier by 2100, making it over SIX hours late. That same day the train from Antonito suffered derailments in BOTH directions, and returned four hours late. Walter Rosenberger, Chief Mechanical Officer of the C&TS, says that the investigation, which began Monday, is in response to a letter of complaint made to the New Mexico Corporation Commission, the state regulatory body. (SteamCentral has learned that numerous "tips" have also been sent to the FRA, including reports of repeated violations of the Hours of Service Act.) Walt also states that the decision to remove 463 and 497 was his, not forced by the FRA. 463 was removed because the water glass could not be isolated (required in the event the glass breaks or must be removed), and 497 was removed because of excessive lateral motion in the No. 1 driver. He expects no. 463 back in service this week; no. 497 will require further work, and should be back in service before the fall tourist rush. CBS affiliate KRQE of Albuquerque, NM, sent a full crew to Chama to investigate the situation and aired a report during their 5:30pm news broadcast 11 August. Read the Railway Preservation News Brief on this story here. |
| 11 August 1999 USA Hill Country Flyer Home Page | (ex-SP 2-8-2 786) The Austin & Texas Central has issued a press release concerning 2-8-2 786. During repairs to the lead truck journals, a crack in the cylinder saddle was discovered. Subsequent investigations have led to a decision to disassemble the cylinder casting for repairs. Washington Iron Works of Sherman, Texas, has been contracted to perform the repairs, expected to cost $300,000 and take 90 days. Send your donations, folks. I still haven't seen this engine running yet. |
| 1 August 1999 USA Ohio Central Railroad | (ex-MISS 2-8-0 76) If it hasn't already arrived, Gettysburg Railroad 2-8-0 76, acquired by Ohio Central along with ex-Canadian Pacific 4-6-2 1278, will arrive by truck at the railroad's Coshocton / Morgan Run shops this week. No. 76 gained fame in the 1960s as the personal engine of James Carlisle, who along with his brother Frank and fireman Quinton Stegall, put on a steam show right into 1968 on the Mississippian Railway between Amory and Fulton, MS. It will be no secret that I'm watching this one closely. I spent a lot of time in the mid-80s on 76's twin No. 77 at Amory, even firing a revenue freight train to Fulton when the line's Alco S1 was down, and have a soft spot in my heart for catalog Baldwins like Nos. 76, 77, Rockton & Rion 203 (now in Knoxville, TN), and others. Ohio Central may not have an immediate revenue use for No. 76, but that didn't stop them from returning ex-Chattanooga Wood Preserving 0-4-0T 3 to service in 1997. Here's hoping Jerry Jacobson throws a little cash into the repair pool for 76 after ex-GTW 4-8-4 6325 is finished. |
| 1 August 1999 USA | (ex-B&O derrick X-45) For those of you whose interest in steam is not limited to locomotives, the Western Pennsylvania Railroad Historical Society is restoring its Browhoist 200-ton derrick to service. Work is currently under way in Orrville, OH, to add roller bearings to the Buckeye trucks and install a new brake system. When these repairs are complete, the derrick will be moved to the group's New Castle, PA, facility. The boiler is to be removed and taken to a member's residence for overhaul and retubing. (Thanks to Rick Rowlands.) |
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| 23 July 1999 USA 2719 Web Site | (ex-SOO 4-6-2 2719) There's good news and bad news in the latest 2719 status report. Work to return the locomotive to service is progressing rapidly; the running gear may be reassembled in mid-September, and boiler tests are encouraging. But because the overhaul cannot be completed by early September, the fall schedule of trips has been cancelled. (Thanks to Steve Glischinski.) |
| 19 July USA Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad | (ex-CN 2-6-0 91) July must have been proclaimed "start restoring a steam engine month" by Congress. The Middletown & Hummelstown has begun restoration work on Grand Trunk / Canadian National 2-6-0 91, which last ran in 1990. The 91's return to working order is being funded largely by "Friends for Steam" and the Middletown and Hummelstown Railway Preservation Society. As part of the restoration, employees are holding training sessions to educate a new group of volunteers. No target date for completion of the work has been set. (Thanks to Steven Zarick.) |
| 17 July 1999 USA Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad | (ex-D&RGW 2-8-2 486) Work has begun in the D&S shops in Durango to prepare No. 486 for overhaul and return to service. The engine has been been largely disassembled, and flues are to be removed next week. Once the asbestos lagging has been removed, the heavy work can begin. It's likely that 8 of the 9 surviving K36s will be serviceable next year, a fine success rate for the 21 st Century. |
| 17 July 1999 Canada Elgin County Railway Museum | (ex-RDG 4-8-4 2100) Work has finally begun to convert 2100 to oil firing for operation in Canada. In addition to the required firebox and front-end work, the boiler will be inspected for conformance to Canada's boiler laws. Owner Tom Payne has set a goal of 20 August for completion of the work. (Thanks to Rob Sterne.) |
| 12 July 1999 USA Union Pacific Railroad | (UP 3985) John Bromley, UP's Director of Public Affairs, released the following statement today: "Steve Lee has informed me that he has decided to take Challenger 3985 off the scheduled excursion for the Denver Post July 24 and the Greeley trip the next day. The trains will run with the diesel Centennial 6936. They have inspected some flues from the 3985 and found unexpected wear. There isn't enough time to do the repair work properly before the Denver Post trip. No other steam trips are on the agenda this year. Steve plans to go ahead with the running gear overhaul on 3985 he had planned anyway in addition to whatever flue/tube work is needed. There isn't a timetable yet for repairing the 844." |
| 12 July 1999 USA 4449 Web Site | ( ex-SP 4-8-4 4449) Discussion of a possible fall trip with 4449 has been halted after the engine's feedwater pump failed during the return from Bend, OR, on 1 July. The pump apparently cracked where it had been repaired during its initial 1974-1975 overhaul. No timeframe has been given for the repair, or for 4449's next outing. |
| 10 July 1999 USA 2719 status report | (ex-SOO 4-6-2 2719) Work on ex-SOO 4-6-2 2719 continues. One axle will be replaced as it would reach its condemning limit if turned again, and the left rear wheel center is to be recast. The drivers have been transported to St. Louis, where Steam Operations Corp. is assessing repairs to ex-SLSF 4-8-2 1522, so that the wheel centers can be pressed off the axles. Once the new axle and new wheel center are fitted, new tires will be mounted and turned at TVRM's wheel shop. Other work determining damage to the boiler and frame continues in Altoona, WI. All this unfortunately means that 2719 will probably not return to the rails until next year, although no formal announcement has been made by L&TPF. It's possible that ex-SOO 2-8-2 1003 will substitute for 2719 on the planned September trips out of Whitehall and Chippewa Falls, WI. |
| 7 July 1999 USA Ohio Central | (ex-GTW 4-8-4 6325) The Ohio Central Railroad has sent out a mailing stating that ex-Grand Trunk 4-8-4 6325 will be ready to power the 16-17 October Columbus, OH - Coshocton, OH excursions. Ohio Central shop forces have been overhauling the locomotive as time permits. |
| 7 July 1999 USA 765 Around the Shop | (ex-NKP 2-8-4 765) The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society has added an "around the shop" feature to its web site. The first steam installment is an excellent set of photos illustrating the installation of rivets. |
| 6 July 1999 USA Railfan & Railroad Magazine | (R&R Special) Railfan & Railroad's 25th Anniversary special came a cropper when CPR 4-6-2 2317 and its diesel helper slammed into the excursion consist during a station stop at Cresco, PA. The impact, characterized as a "hard coupling," knocked people off their feet and knocked at least two light fixtures loose from a coach ceiling. 26 minor injuries were reported. |
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