Any word from your contact on whether a renewed push will be made in 2015?

Better question; how far along are they on completing the rebuilding of the section of line near the bridge that was completely washed out a couple years ago by flooding?

...one would argue that's a bit more important than operating steam, which impacts the bottom line negatively, when they have been successful hauling tourists with diesels for neary 30 years but can't access the entire line for said service.

Steam is nice, but so is having a railroad to run on.

They are a business after all.

My understanding is that the washout on the approaches to the Swatara Creek bridge was fixed late in 2014, and that the only remaining issue was fixing the track/washout and runoff issues between the bridge and the crest of the hill at the Indian Echo Caverns crossing. My recollection is that the September 2011 flood saw water rushing down this hill that resulted in some damage to the track and right-of-way in this section. Ironically the Swatara Creek bridge itself was unscathed through the whole ordeal.

Hi,

The Middletown and Hummelstown is an enjoyable ride. My first ride was about 1999. The history lesson on the way to the caverns was very interesting.

The show (singing) on the way back was not me (on my first ride) and I got to ride on the platform with the crew.

I think this is something that might be used for other operations that need to live off the locals. Not for those in low population areas maybe.

I would have liked to see the 91 in operation. Darned. I recall learning that a local quarry wanted to ship on the M&H but the cost to upgrade the track for the heavier loads was apparently too much relative to the earnings from the gravel.

Doug vV

I had the chance to do so quite a few years back. Engine is a sister to the 89 on the
Strasburg (and there are several others around, including one in J. Jacobson's collection in Ohio). Surprisingly small, but that's what would make one ideal for most heritage operations.

What I recall most of all about the ride with the 91 was that it had more performance--speed--than the diesel that I had ridden behind previously! Just waltzed up the grade smoothly and quickly, didn't seem to work too hard, again a surprise given how small this class is.

If the M&H has no interest in running her, then I really wish they would sell it to a tourist railroad (preferably locally) that wants to run steam. 91 is an ideal sized locomotive, and it's a shame it's just sitting there in storage.

What would be good to know is how many years of service, or how many service days, the 91 had used up since it was restored. Perhaps the M&H is planning on using the Mogul later in its service life, rather than earlier.


Les

I think 91 initially went into service with her current flues in the Summer of 2003. She ran regularly for the remainder of that season, and most of the 2004 season as well. After that, she sat out a season or two, then ran occasionally for a season or two, sporadically after that, and has not run at in recent years.

I'm pretty sure the cylinder casting problem was repaired. I don't remember the name of the process used, but I've seen it used elsewhere. I think the process is something like they reinforce the crack with these gizmos that when they're all in, it reminds you of a zipper, and then they weld the crack shut. Ya, I know, not very technical.

As for the revenue aspect, I remember attendance was way up when 91 first went into service, and it gradually tapered off after the initial excitement. The 2004 season was rather unremarkable attendance-wise. Might be a lesson in there.

I have since left the M&H, and I've heard all kinds of stories as to why she is not run with more regularity, or at all. I do know water quality has been an ongoing issue - it was when I was still there. Mechanically, I do not know of any major issues that would keep her sidelined. Her hydrostatic lubricator had one temperamental feed, and I heard she was switched to mechanical, but beyond that, she ran great when I fired her.

Beyond anything mentioned above, since I'm not there I would not care to speculate as to why she doesn't see more service. As one of several people who spent a few years worth of weekends and vacations getting her FRA and roadworthy, it is a bit of a bummer.