Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge #18 Update

Randytb · **Joined:** Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:04 pm **Posts:** 6

For those of you that are fans of the narrow gauge or the SP I am please to let everyone know that the recently restored to operation 4-6-0 SPNG #18 will have two official operations this year. First will be a Silver Spike Ceremony dedicating #18's new permanent home at the Eastern California Museum in Independence, CA. This event will be on July 3rd and is free to anyone, however there will be a charge for the tri-tip dinner fundraiser.
The other operation will be September 22-24 at the nearby Laws Railroad Museum in Bishop, CA. Tickets will be up for sale in the coming weeks, until then here is the official press release for the event:

The Carson and Colorado Railway and Laws Railroad Museum are excited to announce the return of Southern Pacific engine #18 to the only remaining SP narrow gauge track for the “Slim Princess Reunion” September 22-24, 2017 at the Laws Railroad Museum in Bishop, CA. For the first time in 63 years, Engine #18, a 1911 Baldwin steam locomotive that is permanently housed in Independence, CA and which has recently been returned to operation, will operate numerous trips over track it once called home. Passengers will have the opportunity to ride behind engine #18 in the Espee's iconic “crummy” #401. The weekend operations will also include Death Valley RR Brill Car #5. In addition to the regular operations, an exclusive night photo shoot will be held on September 22 that will include multiple photo opportunities, including side by side photos with sister engine SP #9. Due to the limited number of rides, tickets will be available for advance sale. Exact pricing, times, tickets and much more information for the Slim Princess Reunion will soon be available at carsoncolorado.com and lawsmuseum.org

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Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 5883

I'm very glad that, for one of the two operational events for SP #18 this year, they are taking the 3' gauge Ten-Wheeler to the Laws Railroad Museum in Bishop, California. The wife and I visited Laws a couple of years ago, and were impressed by the preservation of the railroad and area. Wish I could make it out there to attend this event.

Les

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Fri Apr 07, 2017 6:04 am

Will they have to do any trackwork at Laws?

brandi_n_la · **Posted:** Fri Apr 07, 2017 12:17 pm

Its about 45 miles between Independence and Laws. How much of the ROW between the two stations is undeveloped? If I were to win the Lotto, would it even be possible to rebuild the track?

Brandi

PS not being real serious here. If I had that kind of money, probably a lot of more worthwhile preservation efforts.

David Dewey · **Posted:** Fri Apr 07, 2017 5:09 pm

Well, that was the dream some decades ago. Nowadays?? I dunno, but it would make getting the 18 to Laws a lot easier! (and then the 9 could be brought down to the enginehouse in Independence for rebuilding!!) I know, DREAM BIG!

Randytb · **Joined:** Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:04 pm **Posts:** 6

About 99% of the ROW is still undeveloped and looks just like it did in 1883 or 1953, but about 98% of all land in Inyo County is publicly owned and thus off limits to development. The most you will ever see out of our humble little organization is a 1000' feet or so at the Eastern Cal Museum and maybe another 1500' or so at the Kearsarge depot site as a historical monument.

Topfuel · **Joined:** Sun Aug 29, 2004 4:49 pm **Posts:** 433

I recall reading a year or two ago that remarkably, the UP still owned most of the C&C ROW and presumably was still paying taxes on it. Segments of it could be purchased for cheap because there isn't a lot one could do with it, other than relaying some track and running a certain restored NG steam engine over it. That's how the group bought it's segment of the ROW around Kearsarge.

Kind of makes you think.....

Charlie · **Posted:** Fri Apr 07, 2017 9:30 pm

And I recall many many years ago that there was a plan to build a line from the Laws museum to Bishop over a long abandoned railroad right of way. Although there was a minor problem as it passed through the middle of the airport there.

Seriously, it'll be great to see it romp around the Laws museum. I'm so hoping that you'll take it for a spin on the turntable.

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Fri Apr 07, 2017 11:14 pm

Charlie wrote:

And I recall many many years ago that there was a plan to build a line from the Laws museum to Bishop over a long abandoned railroad right of way. Although there was a minor problem as it passed through the middle of the airport there.

The grade was prepared for a never-built interurban. David Myrick in Railroads of Nevada and Eastern California, volume One, tells the story of the line. The grading was far enough along when the USGS surveyors came through in 1910-11 that it is shown as a completed railroad on a 1913 topographic map (reprinted in 1950).

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Charlie · **Posted:** Sat Apr 08, 2017 6:07 am

Thanks for the info! That explains why I couldn't find the railroad on a map or any info on it. I'd forgotten about the Myrick volumes.

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 22, 2017 1:40 pm

I don't know if this will work or not, but here is a video, quite recent, of the 18 in a "meet" with sister No. 9 at Laws, Ca. . . .credit to David R. Busse via the Laws Railroad Museum for this amazing clip.

https://www.facebook.com/david.r.busse/ ... 218299224/

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 22, 2017 1:51 pm

Another video from the other day, also via the Laws Railroad Museum, by Pam Milligan Vaughan:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/9431947 ... 091870909/

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 22, 2017 8:48 pm

A beautiful locomotive portrait, again by David R. Busse, via Railroad Glory Days:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5A3CE47B

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2017 1:08 pm

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2017 1:10 pm

Having noted this line in Beebe's "Mixed Train Daily," I can not say how impressed I am at the images that have come from this visit by the 18 to her sister No. 9 at Laws.

We've been speaking of "immersive experiences" lately, and this looks like the real thing.

How did all this survive all this time?

Congratulations to all, to those who brought the 18 back to life, to the people at Laws, and to the photographers and videographers, too.

Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge #18 Update

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