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 Post subject: 2719 wreck
PostPosted: Thu Jul 30, 1998 12:49 am 

I heard that Soo Line 4-6-2 #2719 was involved in some sort of accident with a Wisconsin Central train on Saturday night. Anyone know anymore about this? There is more talk about this on the Railfan WWW Board (I hope the link works):



Railfan WWW Board
mhigg@mindspring.com


  
 
 Post subject: Re: 2719 wreck
PostPosted: Fri Jul 31, 1998 2:34 am 

Historic steam engine struck by diesel<p>BY MARK GUNDERMAN<p>THE CHIPPEWA HERALD<p>Soo Line&#146;s steam engine No. 2719, resurrected from a resting place in an area park into active service last year, was struck early Sunday morning by a Wisconsin Central diesel engine at Irvine Yard.<p>The extent of the damage to the historic engine built in 1923 is not known, but it will be out of commission while repairs are made, said Fred Kappus, vice president of the Locomotive Tower and Preservation Fund. The fund operates rail trips under the name Chippewa Valley Railway.<p>&#147;The 2719 was in the way,&#148; Kappus said of the collision that took place at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday.<p>The 2719 apparently rolled from a storage track position onto the main track, and was partially in the way of the Wisconsin Central Limited diesel engine pulling freight westbound on the track, Kappus said. The collision tore off some parts from the side of the 2719. It is not known yet whether or not the collision caused any more serious structural damage.<p>Gary Bensman of Diversity Rail Service, which restored the 2719 into working order, is in Chippewa Falls to examine the engine and assess damages, Kappus said.<p>Wisconsin Central dispatch office referred questions on the accident to a corporate communications office. An official there would not be reached for comment or information on the damage to the diesel.<p>There was no report of any injuries in the accident.<p>&#147;As far as our organization is concerned, this is an unfortunate occurrence and our plan is to make repairs to 2819 and be back in service as soon as possible,&#148; Kappus said.<p>How the steam engine came to roll into the way is under investigation. Kappus would not comment on whether there was any neglect to engage a brake when the engine was stored there.<p>&#147;We&#146;re unsure of the cause of this. There&#146;s an investigation underway at the present time,&#148; Kappus said.<p>The 2719 had made two trips on Saturday from Colfax to Cadott and back. A Mother&#146;s Day trip was scheduled for Sunday, but was canceled a week earlier due to a lack of ticket sales, Kappus said.<p>The next scheduled trip was to be May 23-24, when the 2719 was to team up with Soo Line&#146;s No. 1003 steam engine in what is referred to as a &#147;doubleheader.&#148; Now the 1003 will pull the train solo.<p>Kappus could not estimate how long the 2719 would be out of use, since the damage assessment isn&#146;t complete. The loss of the parts alone will take some time to repair, he suggested.<p>&#147;With the parts that were damaged, you don&#146;t go down to Sam&#146;s Auto Parts and pick up new ones,&#148; he said.<p>The 2719 was the Soo Line&#146;s last working steam engine. It sat as a museum piece of sorts in Eau Claire&#146;s Carson Park for 30 years. Previously, it logged a lot of miles on area tracks, running throughout the Midwest from 1923 until its final run from Minneapolis to Ladysmith in 1959.<p>The Locomotive & Tower Preservation Fund then had it restored in Altoona. The group offering steam engine trips to tourists last year.<p><br>



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