1941 Ex-SP NW2 up for grabs(?) at Royal Gorge Scenic

car57 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2017 10:51 am

Not en route yet still has to be loaded

robertmacdowell · **Posted:** Thu Dec 07, 2017 2:25 pm

Rick Rowlands wrote:

A whole month! Wow why so generous with the lead time?

Emergencies happen. Success goes to the prepared.

(Or as a thin substitute, those wealthy enough to contract out to the prepared, but spare cash like that is rare in this business.)

car57 wrote:

Not en route yet still has to be loaded

Oh, dear.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Fri Mar 23, 2018 10:21 am

About two weeks ago:

https://www.williamsnews.com/news/2018/ ... ad-museum/

Photo by Steve Dudley, Williams News

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2865

I guess they won't be using it as a shop switcher if it is only to be cosmetically restored, the "considerable neglect" could be anything from copper theft to not capping the stacks.

Lincoln Penn · **Joined:** Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:40 pm **Posts:** 841

According to best sources who have actually examined it, this thing hasn't run since Ideal owned it and they scavenged a number of engine, electrical and some body parts from it and left the stacks uncovered long before it went to the Royal Gorge Railroad.

It reportedly has an incomplete 12-567A engine purchased from U.S. Navy surplus by SP and installed in the late 1940s in it, so parts for it would be scarce anyway even if it was complete and did run.

Exactly when Ideal retired it and sold it seems to be a bit of a mystery. It has the faint remains of SP lettering and numbers visible under the Ideal paint. This appears to be the at least the second Ideal paint scheme it has had, as well.

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2865

Lincoln Penn wrote:

According to best sources who have actually examined it, this thing hasn't run since Ideal owned it and they scavenged a number of engine, electrical and some body parts from it and left the stacks uncovered long before it went to the Royal Gorge Railroad.

It reportedly has an incomplete 12-567A engine purchased from U.S. Navy surplus by SP and installed in the late 1940s in it, so parts for it would be scarce anyway even if it was complete and did run.

Exactly when Ideal retired it and sold it seems to be a bit of a mystery. It has the faint remains of SP lettering and numbers visible under the Ideal paint. This appears to be the at least the second Ideal paint scheme it has had, as well.

If the engine isn't original they would probably be better off picking up a C block or newer if they ever progress that far, without worrying about destroying the original fabric.

Lincoln Penn · **Joined:** Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:40 pm **Posts:** 841

What became of the rest of the surplus equipment at Canon City?

Did it find homes or become razor blades?

Topfuel · **Joined:** Sun Aug 29, 2004 4:49 pm **Posts:** 529

Word on the street has it that the ex-SP 7/8ths dome in Canyon City has been sold to a well-heeled buyer who has every intention of putting it back into operation. However, I have not heard if it has moved yet. I suspect that thing would be hard to hide, loaded on a flat car, so maybe they're waiting for the weather to clear up before making the big move.

NS 3322 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2018 4:24 pm

It appears the dome is going to a worthy home!

Trains Magazine wrote:

CALGARY, Alberta – Canadian Pacific has acquired a former Southern Pacific three-quarter-length dome car. Railroad spokesman Andy Cummings confirms the purchase to Trains News Wire. The car was purchased from Colorado’s Royal Gorge Route Railroad, where it had been in storage. After rebuilding it will join Canadian Pacific’s extensive business car fleet. The car was moved on a TTX flatcar from Colorado to Calgary in late May and early June. The car will require extensive rebuilding before returning to service.

Photo by Erik Rasmussen/Trains Magazine