....appears to also have resurrected from the dead this week.

Photos posted by them show 40 under steam and statements that it too will be leading Christmas Trains in the near future.

NH&I has put a LOT of work into 40. The loco ran for nearly 20 years consecutively prior to this recent rebuild. 1533 never made it past 6 years. 40 has by far put in thee most miles of all the steam ever to turn a wheel on the NH&I.

Kudos to them and their shop staff on getting steam back.

Never "dead"; merely sleeping.

I imagine that a break-in run of some sort will be coming soon, or at least I'd hope one would be. The "Santa's Steam Spectacular" trips start on Friday, November 24 - and run once every couple of hours (i.e. 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm) most days after that. Every other hour has the "North Pole Express" diesel-led trips (i.e. 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm). Starting in December, there will be daily weeknight runs of the steam trips, and then day and night runs on weekends, and the week before Christmas as well. Looks to be a relatively busy Christmas season for the 2-8-0 once she returns.

For those of you with Facebook (let's not get started on an anti-FB rant here, people), photo and video updates can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/nhrr40/

Yes, under the leadership of CMO-Steam Brendan Ziegler ( formerly at Strasburg RR ) she is about to emerge from an extensive 22 month overhaul. As Big Jim posts those of you who do Facebook can see lots of details of the in depth job Brendan and his team have done. on her Facebook page.

She should run like a new locomotive.

We're trying something entirely new this year with the Santa trains. We've created two ( 2) distinctly different products (although they share a common theme of celebrating Christmas and meeting Santa & Mrs. Claus), one steam powered and more expensive, and one diesel powered and cheaper. To some degree it will be an interesting test to see if the general public is willing to pay a premium for the steam experience. VERY early sales seem to indicate that steam is a strong seller. We'll see what the results are when the season is over. Please go to www.newhoperailroad.com to see the details. We've totally redone the website and I think you'll agree it came out well.

I'll be on the steam engineers roster Dec.9-24 and as in years past would welcome any RyPNers who would like to take a cab ride with me to do so. If you're interested please PM me and I'll let you know which days I'm on duty. As you'll see from visiting the new website we've increased the prices for everything ( including cab rides ) in an attempt to continue running a profitable enterprise.

A very early wish to all for a blessed Christmas season and a healthy, steam filled 2018.

Best regards, Ross Rowland

Buy a ticket!

https://www.newhoperailroad.com/santas- ... ectacular/


(you might need to sell a limb or two....)

#40 moved on her own today for first time in nearly 3 years after an extensive overhaul. We took her out on the line and all things considered she ran well. Several of the all new tender journals ran warm and will need work but in the main she performed well.

It will be a real pleasure having steam back this Christmas season.

Thanks, Ross Rowland

# 40 entered revenue service on schedule Friday Nov. 24th. and has run very well so far. As expected a few relatively minor " bugs" have surfaced and been addressed. Considering the extensive rebuild she's just been through it is strong testimony to the quality of the work done that so far the "bugs" have been very minor.

Another interesting fact is that so far the steam product (although priced approx. 20% above the identical diesel product) is holding its own and even slightly outselling the cheaper product. The heavy part of the season is just ahead so we'll see if that ratio holds true through to Christmas.

My best wishes to all my fellow RyPN friends for a blessed Christmas and a healthy, steam filled 2018.

Thanks, Ross Rowland

To those of you who want a little sights and sounds from her first day of action, I posted a short video on YouTube - I'll get some more footage in a few weeks...

https://youtu.be/V37SmVG4HXo

Very nice video, Jim! 40 looks and sounds great. Also wonderful to read that the NH & I is interested in evaluating 1533 for restoration, at long last.

Thanks
John

I concur!! And yes, she does sound great, nice and square, no rod noise. . .hope she does well for at least the next 15 years!!

Someone sure likes to ring the bell.

Congrats on the #40 return to steam. What a beauty and she sure does sound good. Regards, John,

I completely agree. I don't think #40 has looked that good since she was built. I love how she looks now, and she sounds just amazing.




Where is that said? I don't remember seeing anything about that.

It's said in one of the 6 replies to the first comment listed for the video ... strangely enough, coming from someone claiming to be you: