The official steam thread

[MQT1223]

A big week for some Iron Horses that are set to earn some much earned TLC...

Denver and Rio Grande #168 was removed from her long time resting place in Colorado Springs without incident on Wednesday. The 1883 4-6-0 was transported down to Chama, New Mexico via truck for preliminary inspections that will proceed her restoration and return to operation. Once she is operable the 168 will be one of the oldest operating steam locomotives in the USA.

Maine Central #470 "The Mascot of Maine" was jacked up off the tracks she sat on for 60 years in preparation of being loaded on a flatbed for movement. The crew of the New England Steam Corporation had to sacrifice the heavily corroded tender pin in order to separate the two pieces of the locomotive, however so far the removal of #470 from the park in Waterville, Maine seems to be going according to plan.

Southern 4501 has been out and about this weekend pulling passengers throughout The Peach State...

The big surprise to me came from out in California, where some long neglected locomotives look like they FINALLY will be given much needed care. Santa Fe 5021 was moved at the California State Railroad Museum off of the siding she has called home for more then 30 years for testing a new turnout that will bring the massive 5000 class 2-10-4 closer to the museum and under better watch. The locomotive along with Santa Fe 2925, a 2900 class 4-8-4 (sister to 2926) have sat on the same siding since the 1970's when Santa Fe donated them after they decided not to restore the locomotives in a proposed steam program. Both locomotives were stored on a siding away from the museum and have been subjected to untold amounts of vandalism and graffiti due to the sheer size and lack of space. Soon 2925 will be towed onto the museum grounds to get a much needed cosmetic restoration. 5021 comes from the most advanced, largest and powerful 2-10-4's ever built. The class of locomotives are all roller bearing designed for dual freight service, with 70 inch drivers 5021 CAN and DID pull passenger trains as well as fast freight, something that most 2-10-4's never did on other lines. 2925 is a part of the longest and heaviest 4-8-4's ever built. Like sister 2926, she is all roller bearing and was nearly restored for the American Freedom Train. The locomotive was inspected by Doyle McCormick, but due to her length and weight she was not selected. Mechanically 2925 and 5021 are in fantastic shape.

[MQT1223]

Few things to note:

765 finally returned to Fort Wayne after months touring on NS lines pulling excursions on the mainlines, shortlines, and tourist lines. The crew did a great job with her this year and the locomotive has earned a well deserved rest. Congrats on a great season FWRHS!

Southern 4501 returned home from Atlanta, Georgia after the NS excursions were cancelled due to flooding concerns.

Hocking Valley Scenic, Ex. Ohio Power 0-6-0 #3 made her first public runs on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway in Ohio, the first steam locomotive to due so since former LS&I #33 in the early 1990's and finishes up a long 12 year restoration. The old Baldwin Product sounded good and ran (from what I can find) without incident. She is scheduled to run again later this month.

Fundraising for the FireUp2100 campaign begins today. Besides becoming a member or giving small donations directly to the campaign, the American Steam Railroad has an open invitation from the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad to operate the 2100 and is offering a $21.00 a month for one year campaign with perks for donors. So far $10,000 has been raised and 100 people have signed up to give $21.00 for 12 months.

[MQT1223]

Well a lot to report on since the last update:

Reading 2100 is coming along nicely. The locomotive is continuing to be torn down in preparation for her form 4 and eventual return to operation.

Central Railroad of New Jersey #113 received her jacketing in November, a sign that the locomotive is starting to finally be more road worthy. The massive 0-6-0 made an impressive sight reaching speeds of close to 30mph on the Reading and Northern during it's two weekends of operation in December.

Pere Marquette #1225 ran SOLD OUT runs of all of its North Pole Express trains, showing that there are still plenty of families that BELIEVE in the spirit of Christmas and the lure of the large 2-8-4.

The proposed deal between the Cumbres and Toltec and the Durango and Silverton for trading a K-36 for a K-28 has fallen through. The groups voted against it with the unknown condition of K-28 #478 and the historical connection of K-36 #483 to the Cumbres and Toltec.

Monson #3 one of the legendary Maine Two-Foot Steam locomotives made a return to steam for the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum. The locomotive had been down for her Form 4 and returned just in time for their North Pole Express trains.

Another Maine Two-Footer returned to steam in grand fashion after being silent for over 80 years. Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington #9 steamed for the first time in 82 years and has already been put to work hauling passengers on its home rails.

Norfolk and Western #611 is set to be towed to Norfolk Southern's East End Shops in Roanoke for a major wheel replacement. The streamlined 4-8-4, which was built in those very shops in 1950 is set to go in for a total trailing truck replacement. The original trailing truck's bearings are shot, and since no replacement bearings can be found a whole new trailing truck is being manufactured with a standard bearing design incorporated into the replacement truck. The repairs will make the locomotive ready for Norfolk Southern in 2015, who is ONLY using 611 in the program this year.

Spokane, Portland and Seattle #700, a 4-8-4 is now out of service and will begin the teardown process for her Form 4 in January of 2016.

Strasburg #89, an ex. Canadian National 2-6-0 steam locomotive is now out of service and will begin the teardown process for her Form 4 in January of 2016.

Pennsylvania Railroad #460 a class E6 4-4-2 Atlantic is in the final stages of a thorough cosmetic restoration at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. She will be on display yet again sometime in 2016.

Baldwin Locomotive Works #26, a 0-6-0 built as a shop switcher for the Baldwin Locomotive Works, is now operational again after a 15 year long frame off rebuild at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The locomotive emerged from the shop in Baldwin Green and in better-then-new shape thanks to the hard and dedicated workers and volunteers in the backshops at Steamtown National Historic Site.

Chesapeake and Ohio #2756 a K-4 class 2-8-4 Kanawha is being moved to a new display site.

The Western and Atlantic's "Texas", an 1856 4-4-0 famous for being one of two locomotives involved in the "Great Locomotive Chase" that took place during the Civil War, was moved from its longtime display site to Spencer, North Carolina where she will go in for her FIRST cosmetic restoration. $500,000 have been donated to study the locomotive and return it to it's as-built appearance.

Woodward Iron #41 a 2-10-0 is currently in transit and being delivered to the Age of Steam Roundhouse, who purchased the locomotive at auction early in 2015.

More rumors surrounding the potential restoration of Central of Georgia #509 a 2-8-0 in Macon, Georgia owned by the city that wishes to see the locomotive run again. Bid's are once again being placed to see the locomotive removed from it's display site and restored to operation.

Southern Pacific #4449 made it's long awaited return after coming out of it's 1472 rebuild and debuted on the Holiday Train's in Portland, Oregon.

The Everett Railroad finished restoration of 2-6-0 #11 and put it to work hauling excursion trains over its lines as well as the occasional freight. The 2-6-0 was originally built for service in Cuba but was never delievered. It instead worked for several owners in the US and has been running on an off since.

A photo charter on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad set for February has 2-8-0 #734 set to run ONE MORE TIME before she goes down for her Form 4. The 1916 Baldwin 2-8-0 originally built for the Lake Superior and Ishpeming has been the mainstay for steam operations on the WMSR for over a decade and was granted an extension to run beyond her original boiler expiration date of December of 2015. The return of Chesapeake and Ohio #1309 has put the return of #734 on the back burner until the massive 2-6-6-2 returns to operation.

This is what I remember at the moment. If anyone has anything else to add please do!

[MQT1223]

A small update with some BIG news.

I rarely follow European Steam, but The Flying Scotsman locomotive that toured the US in the late 1960's or early 1970's has returned to steam after a 10 year multi-million dollar restoration.

In BIG American Steam News, Reading T-1 #2102 is in the shops getting torn down for initial inspections for a possible return to operation. The big 4-8-4 hasn't steamed since 1991, and two Reading T-1's haven't operated at the same time since the 1970's. This now means that 2100 and 2102 will probably be operable again in the very near future. Rumor has it that the owner of the Reading and Northern (same person that owns #2102) wants to have her running by 2017 for his 70th Birthday.

[MQT1223]

Well, I haven't posted much lately so I'll gather up what I know.

Western Maryland Scenic #734 (Formerly #34 of the LS&I) is going to operate just two more times this year in the month of April for some photo charters. The locomotive was granted another flue extension beyond her original February flue expiration. This is expected to be her final time in steam for a while until after #1309 is running.

While one former LS&I 2-8-0 gets ready to go down, another is getting ready to come back to life again. Grand Canyon #29 (Ex. LS&I #29) was removed from her short time display site at the former Santa Fe Depot at the Grand Canyon and towed back to the shops in Williams, Arizona where it will undergo a form 4 to return it to operation. No details at this time on whether any modifications will be made, but the 2-8-0 currently burns oil and last operated in 2008 before #4960 returned to operation burning WVO.

CNJ #113 is set to operate next month running Easter Trains again.

N&W #611 is resting comfortably down at Spencer, NC after a ferry move in preparation for some photo shoots at the Bob Julian Roundhouse as well as a series of mainline excursions over NS rails next month the only such excursions for the year on NS and the only outings planned for the 611 so far.

Union Pacific 844 has been confirmed to return to operation this year, according to Union Pacific and Trains Magazine.

The private passenger car excursion with ex. IAIS #6988 and the Central States Steam Preservation Association has been cancelled after a lack of participants in the excursion.

Pere Marquette 1225 is currently in the process of getting some much needed trailing truck work. The locomotive was having some minor bearing issues but so far nothing out of the ordinary has popped up. There are no plans for a bearing conversion and the locomotive is supposed to have a busy schedule to celebrate its 75th Birthday.

[Typhoon]

IRM put on quite a show last week, with 1630 pulling 130 coal hoppers.
https://youtu.be/WTdK5NheTjI
https://youtu.be/-q39OEODpsA

The museum continues to show why it is the best in the country.

[SD80MAC]

Second hand info so I can't guarantee the accuracy, but supposedly PM 1225's trailing truck has been converted to roller bearings. They are looking at converting the tender next, possibly by acquiring a pair of 3 axle (roller bearing) buckeye trucks and doing a complete truck swap.

[MQT1223]

Second hand info so I can't guarantee the accuracy, but supposedly PM 1225's trailing truck has been converted to roller bearings. They are looking at converting the tender next, possibly by acquiring a pair of 3 axle (roller bearing) buckeye trucks and doing a complete truck swap.

Trailing truck has been converted. Pilot and Tender will be done next in a gradual conversion to make 1225 more appealing to Class 1's and other organizations.

[MQT1223]

I'll post an update to this thread soon.

[MQT1223]

SO MUCH to talk about:

Union Pacific 844 is operational yet again and will be pulling the Cheyanne Frontier Days train this year. This marks the first steam powered passenger train on the UP since 2013.

Pere Marquette #1225 has been enjoying her 75th Birthday season, and so far all news is good on the conversion of the trailing truck to roller bearings.

C&O #1309's tender was completed and is sitting waiting for the locomotive to be reassembled.

C&O #2716 continues to progress at a fairly steady rate, thanks to its followers from her stint as a Southern engine. Initial inspections have come back positive, and an ultrasound as well as the conversion of the tender to roller bearings is approaching.

Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis #576, a 1943 ALCO product is closer then ever to returning to steam. The J3 class 4-8-4, called a "Dixie" by the NC&StL has been on display since 1953 in a park in Nashville. A group has formed around the locomotive to remove it from its longtime home to the Tennessee Central Railroad Museum for restoration to operating condition, once a lease with the city is agreed on. So far, the park that cares for the locomotive has unanimously voted to hand over the locomotive to the restoration party, which consists of several experienced members from the 611 group, the Fort Wayne Group and TVRM. 576 is significant for its very modern and powerful design and is the last surviving NC&StL steam locomotive. When originally delivered, the locomotives were semi-streamlined and had a yellow stripe down the side. This earned them the nickname, Yellowjackets. So far, preliminary inspections have indicated that the locomotive is in extremely good to almost surreal condition for being outside for so long. Prep work by the NC&StL done for the locomotive to be on long term display has clearly come through as the all roller-bearing 4-8-4 so far is showing signs of minimal deterioration.

D&RGW #493, a K-37 Narrow Gauge 2-8-2 has been removed from its long time display sight in Silverton, Colorado for evaluation for potential restoration to operation by the Colorado Railroad Museum. #493 last ran in the 1970's in freight service for the D&RGW and was still carrying the last load of coal from her last run when removed from her display site. The Colorado Railroad Museum already operates K-37 491 around its property currently as the only operating K-37 in the US and the largest operating 3 foot locomotive in the world.

Work continues to progress on Northern Pacific 924, an 1898 Rogers 0-6-0 that is returning to operation for the first time in over 60 years at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington.

Cosmetic restoration of Santa Fe 2925 and Santa Fe 5021 is moving right along at the California State Railroad Museum. The massive 4-8-4 and 2-10-4 have languished outside of the museum on a siding suffering from years of vandalism and neglect since the 1970's after the Santa Fe donated their historical collection to the museum.

Santa Fe 2926 continues to get closer to operation. Some of the last work before the first hydrostatic test is being completed, and a new shelter was built to give 2926 its first indoor home in more then 60 years.

J Neils Lumber #5, a Three-Truck Shay at the Illinois Railway Museum is closer then ever to returning to service. The former logging engine and only geared steam locomotive in IRM's massive collection has passed a series of large milestones such as the front truck being reattached, the tender reattached and a successful compressed air test that saw the locomotive move under its own power for the first time since the 1990's.

Saginaw Timber #2 also made test runs up at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum, signifying a return to steam at that museum. Regular steam has been absent since the 1990's.

Maine Central #470 continues to be prepared for her big move. The cab was recently removed and the locomotive and tender were separated. Other parts continue to come off the locomotive in preparation for its big move.


**Feel free to add any information I've missed**