To add to the overall list:

Wilmington & Western has had applicable locos for most of its term: started with 2-6-0 92, introduced 4-4-0 98, then progressed to 0-6-0T #3 and 0-6-0 58, with an interloper 2-8-2T in the meantime.

Insofar as the Army 0-6-0's, I'm told that in exchange for the spectacular pyrotechnics and sound effects (worthy, in one person's description, and which I can second from audio recordings, of a 2-10-0 storming Sand Patch or Sherman Hill with too much tonnage), the ride in the cab was worthy of kidney belts or a ride in a barrel over Niagara Falls. I have witnessed one film of #9 in action on the NH&I in its day, and I swear I wouldn't want to be in the same Zip code as that loco at speed, even on straight track, unless I was substantially above said loco at a safe diatance.

Jason -

Late last month I had the opportunity of riding behind 2-8-0 #29 on the trip from Williams to the Grand Canyon station. The Consol had eight cars and was really down on her knees at one point, so much so that I told my brother-in-law who was riding with me that I thought we might have to get out and help push. But the 29 came through. I have nothing but admiration for the Consolidation, its engine crew, and the shop crew at the CGRY that keeps her in trim. The next day, we photographed 2-8-2 #4960 leaving Williams handling the same train but with only 7 cars due to a somewhat lighter passenger load.

Les

Yes, John, you are correct.

There are three major directions to the efforts of the steam team right now.

The long running and ongoing restoration of UP 428 (2-8-0) continues to bear fruit. Appliances to the boiler continue to be mounted and plumbed and piped, and a LOT of work has been done on the tender. Soon there is the possibility of a test fire to warm up the boiler, and then remounting the cab, lagging, etc. As others on this forum can attest, restoring a locomotive is not for the faint of heart.

Our stalwart Russian decapod SLSF 1630 remains sidelined. Necessary wheelwork and running gear repairs are the second focus of the team. This includes construction of a drop pit, including the now ready to install Whiting elevator and mechanism.

The third effort is to continue boiler repairs and maintenance on J Nells Lbr 3 truck shay.

All three of these projects are 'close' to reality - which in terms of steam restorations, probably means 2-4 years. Perhaps sooner for at least one of the three.

Bob Kutella

While not exactly the subject of the thread (0-6-0 and 2-8-0), an awfully lot of the Cedar Point (OH) locomotives, when I worked there in the early 70s, were converted to a 2-4-0 arrangement from the 0-4-0 "as built" configuration. I don't remember if Plymouth Locomotive Works did the conversion, or a local outfit in Port Clinton OH, but the addition of the pony truck was said to really improve tracking. I remember they had a pretty little 2-6-0 which had come from the sugar cane fields of the south which was the best runner of the bunch. I hear it's stuffed and mounted someplace in the park, today.