Inspired by brits post, I thought this would be a good general interest topic.
Tell us about operational steam locos you're aware of and/or restoration projects to return steamer to operational condition.
--
Bryan
Steam restoration projects.
What's simmerin' out there?
Well Bryan where to start............. In the west US there is AT&SF 3751 a 4-8-4/SP 2353 a 4-6-0/SP 2467&2472 P-8 class 4-6-2's/SP 2479 a P-10 class 4-6-2 under restoration. I have video that I shot with 2472 doubleheaded with SP 4449 a 4-8-4 yet another of that wheel arrangement alive and well! In Sacramento Calif. there is SP 4294 a 4-8-8-2 Cab Forward which is in pretty good shape. Going up the west coast we have SP 4449 of course, SP&S 700 another 4-8-4, UP 3203 a UP 4-6-2 (under restoration), and in Richland Washington (tri-cities area) there was/is a Reading 4-8-4. That is JUST the west coast area of the US, I'm sure I missed a few there. Can anyone imagine what it would be like to get all the SP power together again for a family reunion? Is there any doubt why I love the SP and always will, I grew up watching that power as a little kid. STEAM FOREVER!
Jacko
B&MRRHS
I do not know if the ultimate goal is to restore it to operational status but, the B&MRRHS is restoring 0-6-0 #410 in Massachusetts.
operational steam
TVRM has a modified US Army S-160 2-8-0 (#610) in active service, with SOU 2-8-0 #630 close to full restoration to active service. SOU 2-8-2 #4501 will undergo a full boiler examination to see what is needed to restore her to service. And this is all in one location, Chattanooga.
Flagg Coal Co. 0-4-0T #75 is fully restored and being trailered around to various tourist lines for "steam festivals". Was recently in South Carolina.
The are 1876 steam locomotives extant in the USA, of which approximately 200 are certified to operate by the FRA, or local authorites if on a non-contiguous railroad, although these days if you cross a public highway your steam engine is subject to FRA inspection!
--
Put the MODELING back in model railroading.
For those who may be
Steam loco restorations ..
In Maryland there are a few
In Maryland there are a few and more in West Virginia, a couple are: WMSR 734 2-8-0 running on old Western Maryland track that prior to being WM was WVaC&P, GC&C and C&P from Cumberland to Frostburg, Maryland (a lot of history there...). Then there is WM 202 a 4-6-2 Pacific that is undergoing work and cost estimates for repairs to return to service in Hagerstown, Maryland. Aside from Old WM 6 a Shay running on the West Virginia CASS line, I will need to look things up (and make sure I remembered what I already said accurately).
Charles
Charles
Jacko, I assume the RDG
Jacko, I assume the RDG 4-8-4 you mention is the Reading T1 number 2100. Glad to hear she is alive and well. Saw her in action several times on the Reading rail rambles in the early 60's. Just found a picture of her in Tacoma taken in 2006. She looks pretty good for her age.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=375792
How about this,start a
How about this,start a steam restoration project on your own model railroad that is if you're modeling in the modern "no caboose"era? And use the steam loco for excursions including the exectutive/ business train of yours. My best example of this would have to be A.T.& S.F. 4-8-4 No. 3751.
Tom
The current status of the
The current status of the surviving Reading Company T1's is as follows;
The 2100 is in Tacoma, Washington, in the process of being restored.
The 2101 in on static display at the B&O Museum in Baltimore. She was cosmetically restored in the American Freedom Train paint scheme, but is inoperable and sadly in need of a new paint job.
The 2102 is stored at Port Clinton, PA, on the property of the Reading and Northern, supposedly awaiting repairs.
The 2124 is at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, PA. She is inoperable but cosmetically restored.
So, sadly, none are under steam at the moment but there is hope that the 2100 and 2102 may run again.
Everyone should be aware of
Everyone should be aware of the 2-8-2's run by the Durango and Silverton Narrow gauge RR in Colorado. There is also a lesser known 2-8-0 Baldwin running in Virginia City Montana......look on the internet under the Alder Gulch short line.
There's one of the last GN 4-6-2's #1355 ,under restoration in the old Milwaukee Road shops in Sioux City Iowa, but the extent of the restoration keeps changing.....sometimes it's supposed to be operational, sometimes just for display.
Reading and North Eastern?
Steamers
Let's see:
Nickel Plate #765 (2-8-4) in Fort Wayne IN. Undergoing repairs, maybe finished by now.
Big South Fork Scenic Railway, Stearns KY Restoring an 0-6-0 for use on the line. A real good tour, takes you back into the hills to a restored coal mine.
L & N #152 (4-6-2) at New Haven KY runs at the KY Railway Museum.
And lets not forget CASS, WVA. For Shays, a Heisler and more Shays DIS IZ DA PLACE!!! For ANY true fan of geared logging engines, HEAD FOR CASS!!
BAD NEWS! Grand Canyon Rwy. ends steam operation.
The Grand Canyon Railway had ended operation of steam locomotives and fired its entire steam maintenance force, so it is pretty clear that this is permanent. Philip Anshutz, who formerly owned the Rio Grande and later added the SP, has owned the GCRY since June 2008.
--
Put the MODELING back in model railroading.
Steam Restoration
The New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society is in the process of restoring ATSF 2926, a 4-8-4. Their website http://www.nmslrhs.org/ provides a photo diary of their progress (click on photos at the top). Definitely cool to follow.
Stettler Alberta runs
Stettler Alberta runs operations of the U1F Class CNR 6060, and a Baldwin Consolidation 41. (http://www.absteamtrain.com/)
Edmonton has: #107 which is a Prarie that runs @ Fort Edmonton Park, #1392 H6G Ten Wheeler (CNR), #73 Consolidation built for the Alberta Government Railway (or NAR). 73 is not in operation, but is being restored
Sumerland, BC has a Shay and a Consolidation #3716. 3716 was originaly transfered over from Squamish, BC as it was the backup loco for the now returned to excursion service:
Royal Hudson # 2860 which is operating out of Squamish's Heritage Park. Which was recently restored after she had failed her seasonal inspection after the winter of 1999. She almost got shelved pernamently to rot in Northern Vancouver...but a private proposal was put out to save the loco and was accepted by the BC government. $20,000 was raised to perserve and restore the loco through private fundraising within a couple of years... then in 2005 it ran it's first steam tests.
It's still undergoing restoration to get it up to as high quality as possible. They plan on running her well into 2050 and for her to be a major part of the 2010 Olympic Games. Restortation is schedualed for completion in 2012.
Joined: 2004-02-29