Last revenue steam freight runs?

Heavenrich · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 11:07 am **Posts:** 630

This was covered in detail in an issue of the NRHS Bulletin a few years ago.

Back issues may still be available.

Bob H

Schuylkill Valley · **Posted:** Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:51 am

Reading & Northern ran their Ex Reading T-1 # 2102 on an Revenue coal train back in 1991 it was called the Schuylkill Shifter, it was a two day event. Mark One Productions cought it on tape.

Len.

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Seth Jackson wrote:

Hello everyone. I hope you are all well. DougvV's post on 6/6/08 about the last steam freight run on the Gainesville Midland on 6/10/59 was very interesting to me. In particular I'd like to know of the dates of the last steam freight runs on Class Is (and shortlines if you know them).

Seth

Seth -

Ran across another "last run". This one was on the Southern Railway and occurred on June 17, 1953. Heavy 2-8-2 #6330 arrived with a freight at Chattanooga, Tennessee to be greeted by company officials and the railroads "Best Friend of Charleston" reproduction. Obviously, this was a well planned for "last run". Although the Southern later restored some of its former steam fleet (4501, 630 and 722) and these engines might have hauled freight on occassion when moving from one point to another, they were primarily used for special passenger and railfan moves, and were in service for that reason. Mikado 6330 on the other hand, was still on the roster in 1953 to move freight, which she did for one last time. Unfortunately, the Southern did not see fit to preserve the big Mike. She sure could have come in handy years later when the Southern DID start their steam excursion program!

Les

pm-man · **Posted:** Sat Jun 28, 2008 1:17 am

Thanks for noticing, guys. ;- )

Not everyday you get a chance to haul 2800 tons behind Lima Superpower in 2008.

Thanks, RailAmerica!

TJ Gaffney
SRI

o anderson · **Posted:** Mon Nov 30, 2009 4:07 pm

I ran into a reference on the web of some "Abandoned Trains" in PA.
Maybe this is one of the Shamokin Dam fireless locos mentioned earlier?
With the water tank in the picture, I imagine this location was, or was intended to be, a tourist railroad.

http://www.darkpassage.com/postmortems/pa_trains.htm

jayl1 · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 2:47 pm **Posts:** 16

From the O anderson note & photo - This is the South Hamburg (PA) yard of the former Blue Mountain & Reading - now Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern. This was the northern end of the BM&R and a bit to the north will be the new RCT&HS museum on South Third Street in Hamburg.

dinwitty · **Joined:** Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:18 pm **Posts:** 2226

Recording Steam Railroading under thundering skies has the Bonhami and Hattiesburg Southern running recorded in 1961. The steamers retired 1961 when the shopman passed away who worked on the engines.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:06 am

o anderson wrote:

I ran into a reference on the web of some "Abandoned Trains" in PA.
Maybe this is one of the Shamokin Dam fireless locos mentioned earlier?
With the water tank in the picture, I imagine this location was, or was intended to be, a tourist railroad.

http://www.darkpassage.com/postmortems/pa_trains.htm

Yes, that is one of the two fireless Porters from the PP&L Sunbury Steam Electric Station at Shamokin Dam, Pa., retired ca. 1989. The photo is at the South Hamburg shops of the former Blue Mountain & Reading, now storage for the Reading Co. T&H Society, and I believe the loco has been switched to a different track since this photo was taken. This particular one was bought by one of the late steam mechanics of the former BM&R; I have no idea who actually owns it now. The other one of these steamers is/was floating around somewhere on the former West Shore excursion operation and was retrieved from Mifflinburg as part of the last train out of town before the tracks were removed; I seem to recall it got shoved into a siding along Rt. 15 north of Lewisburg. Wayne, can you confirm?