Leviathan

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2018 7:30 pm

Do you see how the hopper spur appears to continue as a loop right of way around the property to rejoin the main line? Is that the abandoned 1860s right of way they speak of?

jayrod · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2018 9:41 pm

That would make sense. There are other places along the line where you can see later realignments to eliminate curvature.

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2018 11:39 pm

softwerkslex wrote:

Do you see how the hopper spur appears to continue as a loop right of way around the property to rejoin the main line? Is that the abandoned 1860s right of way they speak of?

One can't help but think, would somebody at the venue have a craa-zee idea of connecting this new road to the spur, and taking the Leviathan out for a spin on the main line?

(Taking off for the bomb shelter under the Greenbriar. . .)

Actually, looking at Elizabethtown again joggled some brain cells, and it has a number of things that might be interesting to the rail enthusiast and preservationist.

One is that it has a restored Pennsylvania Railroad (Amtrak) station, a stone structure built in 1915. The extensive restoration in 2011 included making the station handicapped accessible, and included high level platforms.

This station replaced one that was built in 1900. That station had been built due to elevation of the line. That suggests the date of the abandonment of the 1860s right of way.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabethtown_station

http://subwaynut.com/amtrak/elizabethtown/

I remember seeing this station before the restoration work. At the time, the main line rail was jointed and had roll dates of 1942. There was also a spur on the south side of the line, now gone, leading to the heating plant of the Masonic Home there; this rail had "Scranton 98" rolled into its sides!

There was also more trackage in what is now a parking lot area, and a wooden freight house that went away for those parking spaces. That seems particularly shameful in that the structure looked in pretty good condition.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/end-of ... bd586.html

http://michaelfroio.com/blog/2013/06/06 ... a-division

It's also noteworthy that the Mars Candy Company has a very large factory east of the station; it shows up as the facility with large white roofs in the aerial and satellite photographs.

Charlie High · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2018 7:33 pm

Leviathan! Heere she is in all her glory moving on 120 feet of track. Steve Torrico was the Engineer. July 4, 2018 Elizabethtown PA Photo credit Debbie High

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2018 10:50 am

Wonderful!

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 06, 2018 3:45 am

Some videos of the display at Elizabethtown.

The first video, just jump to 1:40 to get past the title sequence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrmsAMBbiS4

The other two are by the same person, who for some reason pronounces Leviathan as "Lee-vee-ath-ian:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc4VEoOko28

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFtPkTECnYs

Charlie High · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2018 1:38 pm

More news on Leviathan. If you like covered bridges AND trains this will float your boat! The historic 1844 Herr's Mill Covered Bridge at Ronks, Lancaster County which is on the national Register of historic places has been acquired by the Star Barn Village. It will be dismantled and moved to Elizabethtown. It has 2 sets of twin wooden arches. It will be separated and made into 2 bridges. One will carry vehicle traffic and one will carry the Leviathan Steam Train!!! Here is a link to the story. https://www.facebook.com/PennLive/video ... 3NDk1NDM3/

p51 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2018 3:05 pm

I wish them luck, but am I the only person who can envision jumping ahead a few years to find Leviathan sitting next to a platform, not having moved in years (and with nobody who knows how to do the work). even before the 15-yrs runs out on the flues?

Dennis Storzek · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2018 3:47 pm

Going to an "accredited" museum (I put that in quotes, as few railroad museums have any sort of accreditation) is no guarantee that the same won't happen... Kentucky Railway Museum, Indiana Transportation Museum, and more others than I care to try to recall.

I assume this operation is going to be insular, and operate under state boiler code. In which case, there is no "fifteen years."

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1802

I can envision that happening anywhere. Steam is always going to be expensive to run.
An operation like this is marketing an entire event center around the history and charm of the historic barn, train, etc. They can't just replace the Leviathan with a diesel and expect people not to notice, so as long as the train ride itself proves popular with the clients, (and I can't imagine how it wouldn't...) I think we will see it continue to operate.

ColebrookdaleRailfan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2017 5:54 pm **Posts:** 84

I am not involved with the ongoing effort at the Star Barn, but I know from conversations with people who are that you need not worry about the problem of people not knowing how to work it. I am not going to share any names, but one person in particular is no stranger to rail preservation and has even worked as management on a well known Class III in upstate New York. It's in good hands, and I have no doubt that this is going to be a success.

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1802

That's great to hear. I like historic villages and I love the Leviathan, I think this will be a really neat place to watch grow over the years. It seems they really care about quality.

ColebrookdaleRailfan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2017 5:54 pm **Posts:** 84

The Star Barn is at it again. This just turned up on my Facebook feed: https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/national-christmas-center-will-reopen-in-in-reconstructed-belmont-barn/article_69db7cc0-c29e-11e8-87ff-57dc961c90b0.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share

Slightly OT, but there was a sizable LGB layout inside.

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 07, 2018 6:35 am

Ticket prices aren't set yet, but it looks like the Star Barn people have been busy.

From the Upcoming Events page:

Quote:

April 22 & 23, 2019
Abraham Lincoln
Funeral Train
First Time Ever Re-Enactment 154th Year Anniversary Same Date, Same Location
• Original Railbed (BLT 1832)
• Original Hand-Cut & Laid Stone Wall
• Original Funeral Train Route (April 22, 1865 12:05pm–12:30pm)
• Full Scale Replica of the Original 4-4-0 Steam Locomotive
• The only Full Scale Replica of the Original Lincoln Funeral Car, Fully Furnished as it was on April 22, 1865 Including a Replica of Lincoln’s Coffin • Period-Correct Band and Music
• Period-Correct 1860 Passenger Car to Carry the Troops
• Restored and Rebuilt Herr’s Mill Covered Bridge with Troops Crossing the Conoy Creek
• Hundreds of Re-Enactors in Period-Correct Dress
• Sutler’s Village
•Living Historic Lectures by Abraham Lincoln Presenter Fritz Klein
• Lincoln Funeral Train Art, Located in the Museum at The Star Barn
• Horse Drawn Wagon and Carriage Rides Available

https://thestarbarn.com/event-calendar/

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 22, 2018 1:01 am

We have more information on the coming out for the Leviathan:

Quote:

Abraham Lincoln Funeral Train Re-Enactment

Date And Time
Mon, Apr 22, 2019, 10:00 AM –
Tue, Apr 23, 2019, 1:00 PM EDT

Location
The Star Barn Village at Stone Gables Estate
1 Hollinger Lane
Elizabethtown, PA 17022

Description
ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S FUNERAL TRAIN passed through Stone Gables Estate on April 22, 1865
Join us for the First Re-Enactment at the 154th Year Anniversary Honoring One of America’s Greatest Presidents and Heroes

April 22nd & 23rd, 2019
Stone Gables Estate
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

2 Opportunities to Experience this Historical Event
1-Day General Admission or 2-Day VIP Experience

Both days will include seeing and experiencing:

• The only Full Scale Replica of the Original Lincoln Funeral Car, Fully Furnished as it was on April 22, 1865 including a Replica of Lincoln’s Coffin
• Original Railbed (Built 1832)
• Original Hand-Cut & Laid Stone Wall
• Original Funeral Train Route, April 22, 1865, 12:05pm–12:30pm (Re-Enactment Monday Only)
• Full Scale Replica of an Original 4-4-0 Steam Locomotive
• Period-Correct Band and Music
• Period-Correct 1860 Passenger Car to Carry the Troops
• Restored and Rebuilt Herr’s Mill Covered Bridge with Troops Crossing the Conoy Creek
• Re-Enactors in Period-Correct Dress
• Sutler’s Village
• Photo and History Displays
• Living Historic Lectures by Abraham Lincoln Presenter Fritz Klein and others
• Lincoln Funeral Train Art located in the Museum at The Star Barn
• Limited Tickets available for scheduled walk-thru of Lincoln Funeral Car & 1860 Passenger Car
• Tour the 1877 Star Barn Village
• Tour the 1860’s Ironstone Ranch
• Tractor Pulled Wagon Rides
• Food and gift items available to purchase

General Admission: choose your day(s) to attend
Monday, April 22, 2019 from 10am - 7:30pm
Tuesday, April 23, 2019 from 11am - 4pm

$25 Adults
$10 Military, Seniors 62 and older, Children 6-18
$35 Adults includes pre-scheduled walk-thru of Lincoln Funeral Car & 1860 Passenger Car at time of Check-in at Event
$20 Military, Seniors 62 and older, Children 6-18 includes pre-scheduled walk-thru of Lincoln Funeral Car & 1860 Passenger Car at time of Check-in at Event
Children 5 and under are FREE

2-Day VIP Experience: includes all general admission events PLUS
Monday, April 22, 2019 from 10am- 7:30pm
Tuesday, April 23, 2019 from 11am – 9pm

$150 per person
Commemorative Mourning Badge
Pre-scheduled Exclusive VIP Train Ride on 1860 Passenger Car on Tuesday from 2-6pm at time of purchasing VIP Experience tickets
VIP Cocktail Hour 6-7pm
VIP Dinner 7-9pm with special presentations

PLEASE NOTE: Lincoln Funeral Car & 1860 Passenger Car are not Handicap Accessible

Questions....Please call 717-902-9791, press 1, ext 202

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/abraham-li ... vG1URryehw