Interesting question on Trainorders about the GI 2-8-0 that the Army displayed in Utah during the 1969 Golden Spike celebration. One source says this engine came under its own steam from Virginia. Doesn't sound plausible to me, but does anyone really know the story?

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/r ... ?10,891162

Well the story I got......

Was that it never made it. 612 still sits at Cass with faded lettering that says something to the effect of "from the Virginia Pennsuila to the state of Utah"

Any way the story I got from Jack Showalter (who inspected all the s-160's at Eustis before selecting the one he wanted) was that 612 was sent to Newport News to be loaded on a ship and sent west. According to him, they burned up the main drivers before they got to Newport News.

More recently I spoke with a man who was part of the reservres at the time and told me they burned up the boxes before they got to Richmond...

Now I am starting to wonder if any of this is true...

Does any one have a picture of it in Utah that I don't have to register to see??

Yes, it made it to Utah. There is a photo of it in Utah in a 1969 issue of Trains magazine that had all of the Railroad news coverage of the May 1969 Golden Spike Ceremonies. If I remember correctly, it was stationed at a military base near Salt Lake City and fired up for the celebrations.

I'm pretty sure Trains magazine had a photo of the 2-8-0 in Utah in its news section, probably about June or so, 1969. Will check when I have more time.

where would a 20 somthing find a 1960's trains
My dad's collection only goes back to the 1960's

(not trying to make any one feel old, that just when he started getting and saving them)

Any body having this issue and willing to part with it, please feel free to email me...