The newest operating steam railroad in the US now has a couple of operating weekends under our belt and I must say that everyone who visited enjoyed themselves greatly. The 58 ran flawlessly after her half century slumber. All three of the local TV stations covered the event, two with live segments.

We plan to operate at least one weekend per month for the rest of the summer and fall.

http://www.wfmj.com/clip/14831659/steam-train-rides-youngstown-steel-heritage-i?fbclid=IwAR3MP8GU-8x9cleWVb_ci4nlPCjq1pNDJ9vLidSxswZ1Omq_cUDV0yYZGCI

http://www.wfmj.com/clip/14831658/steam-train-rides-youngstown-steel-heritage-ii?fbclid=IwAR3xfFy4WLSj8s6KhrrjLI9CQ5BgyUpqeBf3_90MxefG5ppuX98P-WlhIrs

These two photos show how 58 now looks with the large numbering on the sides of the tank and a Porter nameplate above the smokebox door, a recent donation from Bert and Ken Williams.

It all looks great. Been watching the YouTube videos. Definitely have to do another OH meet up and visit again. The news interview was very well done - not too bogged down in detail, not too much over exuberance, just a brief how it works, why it is important, and what makes it a fun thing to do on a weekend afternoon. Glad to see you had a good turnout.

The last pic - the portrait with the "Porter" plate - says it all.

I may be alone in my opinion {often am} but your #58 is on the same level as Big Boy #4014. Apples to oranges of course but for me equally impressive. Both are wonderful to see running but I identify better with your #58. Looking good.

When boarding Amtrak to come home from a East coast excursion I tired to convey to a contractor that I was not really a railfan in comparison to many. He saw my hat from the Valley RR and my T shirt with the "Porter logo and picture of the #58 on the back. He felt it was a conflicting message. Probably lost that debate. Regards, John.

job well done!

One of the most impressive restorations I've ever seen. I'm proud to have met you when I was out in Ohio, a couple years back. This is a service to all steam preservationists in the nation, and I agree, as impressive as the 4014 in terms of getting her rebuilt an under steam. Can't wait to see what your next undertaking will be!

Fantastic. Congrats on that major accomplishment Rick.

Kudos. Great job on an impressive locomotive. Is that you talking, or are you shoveling?

Thanks everyone. I put everything that I had into getting 58 completed. Weight wise about 1/3 of the locomotive had to be remade from scratch since the front plate and the rear platform and cab were long gone. Fortunately I had Porter drawings to work from to remake them. She is a good running engine, easy to fire and we have amassed a stockpile of spare parts too (Even a spare boiler, once it gets back from California).

What is next for us? I just made a deal with our neighbor to purchase a 30' x 700' strip of land that extends eastward from the museum property, so the next big project is building the "Eastern Branch". Land clearing, grading and track construction will consume a couple of years or more and when done we will have a longer track for 58 to run on as well as passing sidings and maybe even some sort of "industry" at the other end to give 58 something to haul. Another big project for the future is a 20' addition to the rear of the Tod Engine building for a two track narrow gauge shop area. The Tod building has a 15 ton crane so the extension will permit us to work on the equipment under hook.

The future is looking pretty good. Extending our trackage, a REAL locomotive shop and probably a few more surprises yet to come. I think 58 is going to operate for many years into the future.

Rick,

Was the recently purchased 700' part of the original track plan? How many running feet of track will this bring your railroad to?

This is the new track plan. The part to the left is what is built. The new switch will go in just above what is shown and extend to the east. It will be a fairly steep grade around the curve, then it flattens out a bit (where a passing siding will go) and then it climbs a little bit more.

This just shows the main track. Planned sidings and spur tracks are not shown.

The track going to the front yard of our property is on a fill, with a short beam bridge planned for a portion of it. Basically a location to unload bottom dump hopper cars. I kinda have a crazy idea. At some point we will get to buying truckloads of coal for our own use, and if we are going to have full truckloads here, why not retail sell it to the public? So use the railroad to bring the coal down from a stockpile in the back to the front where it could be bottom dumped into a waiting pickup truck or trailer. Like I said, a crazy idea but it would give the railroad some occasional real work to do.

Nice to see some of the more unknown and obscure railroad locomotives come back to life.

I don't think that coal trestle idea is all that crazy Rick... You can show how one would've operated at one point and the operations that went into supporting it. Seems like an good idea to me, considering that I can't think of a single museum that showcases such an operation.

Rick -

Congrats on the recently acquired 700' of property to build the new "East Branch". You have probably also noticed that a couple of switches would also result in a "wye"; one with a long "tail track", but a wye nevertheless. I like the large 58 on the tank of the Porter. From photos on your Facebook page other engines in the series, it looks like this was once done at the mill. I also saw the chalk comment on the smokebox of number 58 stating "LITTLEST BOY"; obviously a bit of sarcasm on another recent steam locomotive restoration! Made my day! You might consider posting that pix here for the readers of RyPN. Nice to see that you have Erie bay window caboose C335 earmarked for the future general office of the J&LNG. We have sister C345 running at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum. I hope that C335 will get a nice coat of red with Erie lettering someday. Finally, I too like the idea of an "industry" on the grounds.

You guys are doing a wonderful job. Keep up the great work!

Les

Those two switches will have a slight complication--the connecting track for them would go through the standard gauge exhibit, right where the red center cab diesel is. There's also a fairly serious change in elevation in a short distance. It's not likely impossible, but Rick has quite the handful now!

As to the second part of the above quote, I strongly second it!!