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 Post subject: Soo Line 2-8-0 headed to Michigan and a return to steam
PostPosted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 4:07 pm 

Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:26 pm
Posts: 612
Location: Pure Michigan
I guess I'm confused. What is the engine's future purpose? Tourist service?

Trains Magazine wrote:
CHISAGO CITY, Minn. — Minnesota’s Ironhorse Railroad Park has sold former Soo Line 2-8-0 No. 2425 to Mineral Range Inc., operator of the Mineral Range Railroad in Ishpeming, Mich. The locomotive has been stored at the museum since its acquisition in 2009. Despite being on outdoor display for more than 60 years, the Consolidation is in good mechanical condition and an excellent candidate for restoration.

No. 2425 was built in October 1909 by the American Locomotive Co.’s Schenectady Works for the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie (Soo Line) as No. 475, which was part of an order for six 2-8-0s numbered 473 through 478. However, at the time of its construction Soo Line had leased the Wisconsin Central, and No. 475 was renumbered into the Wisconsin Central number series and diverted to that railroad as No. 2425.

Consolidations were the workhorse locomotives of the Wisconsin Central and Soo Line, and they were used on the main line, for yard switching, and in branch line service. Over her long career No. 2425 worked out of Minneapolis; Schiller Park, Ill.; Stevens Point, Wis., and numerous other locations on the system; its last assignment being at Enderlin, N.D., from 1952 until 1954.

The locomotive was retired in January 1955 and donated to the city of Enderlin on July 21. It sat on display in Baxter Park until the mid-1990s when the city became concerned about its deteriorating condition, which included exposed asbestos boiler insulation. The city eventually built a large shed around the engine, which was completely sealed up with no access door, while they contemplated how to dispose of it.

Erik Thompson of the Ironhorse Central in 2005 contacted the city about acquiring the 2-8-0. A panel of the shed was removed and an inspection was performed in February 2008. “I had no clue what the condition of the boiler was, but the engine was basically complete and I thought she was a worthy candidate to save,” Thompson said. “And, besides, I didn’t want to see it cut up.”

Thompson made a proposal to purchase the 2-8-0 in 2008, and after Enderlin’s city government consulted with area residents, it decided to sell No. 2425 with the condition that the museum had less than a year to remove it. After its asbestos was removed by a contractor, the locomotive and tender were disconnected, and the boiler was separated from the chassis. It was loaded onto four semi-trucks for the trip to Chisago City, Minn., in July 2009.

Although No. 2425 was primarily purchased to save it from being scrapped and was intended to become a static display in Minnesota, it was found to be in surprisingly good condition with a sound boiler, and when the chance came up to send it to a home where it could be restored to operation the museum decided to sell it. Mineral Range is currently preparing the locomotive for the move to the Upper Peninsula, which is expected to take place in early September 2018. The new owners intend to return it to service.


A recent photo of the locomotive.
Image
Photo by Doug Bailey


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 Post subject: Re: Soo Line 2-8-0 headed to Michigan and a return to steam
PostPosted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 5:44 pm 

Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm
Posts: 2279
This post contains some info about the person who is Mineral Range Inc., Clint Jones. He has a collection of equipment around Wisconsin, and from time to time proposals for restoration of some of it come forward: viewtopic.php?t=41574


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 Post subject: Re: Soo Line 2-8-0 headed to Michigan and a return to steam
PostPosted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 10:25 pm 

Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:37 pm
Posts: 238
As the real estate agent said ...."A fixer upper!"


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 Post subject: Re: Soo Line 2-8-0 headed to Michigan and a return to steam
PostPosted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 11:02 pm 

Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2011 4:44 pm
Posts: 120
NS 3322 wrote:
I guess I'm confused. What is the engine's future purpose? Tourist service?


According to its former owner, occasional freight service

Quote:
Ironhorse Railroad Park is pleased to announce that it has sold steam locomotive number 2425 formerly of the Soo Line Railroad. 2425 was purchased to save it from being scrapped and it was intended on being on display at our Museum. After several experts came in and inspected the locomotive it was determined to be an excellent candidate to be restored to steam operation. 2425 is being moved to Michigan this month(September) and restoration efforts will commence immediately. 2425 is to be returned to operational condition and will be used occasionally on the Mineral Range Railroad for freight operations(owner enjoyment).

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Nick Turinetti
Operations Manager, Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad
Former Operations Manager, North Shore Scenic Railroad


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 Post subject: Re: Soo Line 2-8-0 headed to Michigan and a return to steam
PostPosted: Sat Sep 01, 2018 12:12 pm 

Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 12:41 pm
Posts: 540
Location: Minneapolis, MN
The Fireman wrote:
2425 is to be returned to operational condition and will be used occasionally on the Mineral Range Railroad for freight operations(owner enjoyment).

Pretty well heeled owner if he is going to do a $500K+ 1472 Day Inspection and run it for fun! Kind of reminds me of the late JJJ!


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 Post subject: Re: Soo Line 2-8-0 headed to Michigan and a return to steam
PostPosted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 4:06 pm 

Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:26 pm
Posts: 612
Location: Pure Michigan
Any updates on this?


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 Post subject: Re: Soo Line 2-8-0 headed to Michigan and a return to steam
PostPosted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 4:29 pm 

Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm
Posts: 1477
hamster wrote:
The Fireman wrote:
2425 is to be returned to operational condition and will be used occasionally on the Mineral Range Railroad for freight operations(owner enjoyment).

Pretty well heeled owner if he is going to do a $500K+ 1472 Day Inspection and run it for fun! Kind of reminds me of the late JJJ!


Pete Clausen owns and has operated 2-8-0’s #154 and #203 over the years. He also bought the Mississippi from Chicago (not for operation), and also owns one of the former Stone Mountain steam locomotives that is under restoration to operating condition. He does run passenger trains a handful of times a year, but certainly not enough to even pay for the maintenance of the coaches and insurance, let alone the steam engines.

Then there is the former owner of the Iowa Interstate and his QJ’s, the late R J Corman...


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 Post subject: Re: Soo Line 2-8-0 headed to Michigan and a return to steam
PostPosted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:31 pm 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:12 am
Posts: 569
Location: Somewhere off the coast of New England
Crescent-Zephyr wrote:
... Then there is the former owner of the Iowa Interstate and his QJ’s, the late R J Corman...

Excuse me, the former owner of the Iowa Interstate?

GME

Who is looking at this year's holiday card from the gentleman in question...


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 Post subject: Re: Soo Line 2-8-0 headed to Michigan and a return to steam
PostPosted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:27 pm 

Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm
Posts: 1477
Does he still own it? I thought he sold it and that's why the QJ's stopped running for a few years. Or did he sell part of it or something? Either way he's another example ha.


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 Post subject: Re: Soo Line 2-8-0 headed to Michigan and a return to steam
PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 11:35 am 

Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2013 3:55 pm
Posts: 91
You mean Iowa Interstate QJs? Was on crew during on the ferry move between Newton and Brooklyn, IA in 2018. Mr. Posner was at the throttle when we left our stop in Grinell, IA. Photos during our fireman's department fundraisers.

So no, the QJ's are not sold. Nor is the railroad.

edit: added photos.


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 Post subject: Re: Soo Line 2-8-0 headed to Michigan and a return to steam
PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 11:40 am 

Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2013 3:55 pm
Posts: 91
Let's clarify the situation.

Mr. Corman owned one QJ.

I will probably get something wrong in the following statement, but the general gist is there.

Two QJs are owned by Railroad Development Corporation, which Mr Posner has some type of authority over (if it's president of RDC or owner of RDC, I'm not sure), and RDC either owns or works with Iowa Interstate. In short, Mr. Posner basically owns the two other QJs in question.


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 Post subject: Re: Soo Line 2-8-0 headed to Michigan and a return to steam
PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 12:42 pm 

Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm
Posts: 6400
Can we get the discussion on the QJ 2-10-2's removed from this thread on Soo Line number 2425 going to the Mineral Range Railroad in Michigan? Make it a separate thread as it really has absolutely NO bearing on the discussion of this Soo Line 2-8-0. If somebody knows how to do that, it would really be appreciated.


Les


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 Post subject: Re: Soo Line 2-8-0 headed to Michigan and a return to steam
PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 7:09 pm 

Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2005 9:34 pm
Posts: 2758
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
I fixed it!


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Steven Harrod
Lektor
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet
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 Post subject: Re: Soo Line 2-8-0 headed to Michigan and a return to steam
PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 7:36 pm 

Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm
Posts: 6400
Steven -

NICE TRY! However, here we count engine types from the FRONT, not the back as they apparently do in Denmark. You've made an 0-8-2, not a 2-8-0. An "E" for effort is the very best we can offer you.


Les


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 Post subject: Re: Soo Line 2-8-0 headed to Michigan and a return to steam
PostPosted: Tue Aug 20, 2019 1:46 pm 

Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:26 pm
Posts: 612
Location: Pure Michigan
Returning to the original topic....

The #2425 finally left the Ironhorse Railroad Park yesterday! It is bound for the Mineral Range shops in Ishpeming, Michigan.

The tender for #2425 (which is actually from 2426) will remain behind and will stay in the Ironhorse collection. Apparently moving costs exceeded value.

Photos and information from the Ironhorse Railroad Park Facebook page.

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The tender.
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