Click on the link http://www.sfog.net/videos.php and then once on the page click on the railroad link. You will have to unzip the file.......but it's worth it to hear what a "steam locomotive" sounds like at Six Flags Over Georgia.
This is truly a shame, I had done all I could to prevent it. I came up with a written plan that would involve investing about $50,000 dollars into both locomotives that would have altered there construction to be like that of a more conventional loco, draft better, change type of fuel, restructure the operation/maint., put the locos on a 10 year maint.cycle(the were rebuilt every two years with nothing more than worn in) and ultimately reduce the operating cost by about $130,000 per year. I tried my best to arrange a meeting with the park manager to simply lay out some things to possibly consider....she would have none of it stateing that her maint. managment staff know as much about steam as anyone out there.
In an effort to get rid of steam(per SFOG park mechanics) the have spent a total of approximately $310,000. This breaks down to the transportation costs of "gretta"to and from six flags fiesta texas, replacing the prime mover three times in gretta while at SFOG and the butchering of the Texas.
The general needs only a set of tubes(1472 if under fra) and some mechanical restructuring to be suitable for service on a three foot tourist line.....if this info could be passed along to all of the "three footers" and private individuals wanting a toy out there it would great. Can't stand to see the General end up the same way....and she always was the better loco so at least they made the correct choice as to which loco got cut up.
I enjoyed running those locos for the two years I was there and it is greatly depressing to know the cause of this is waste, misinformation, lack of/ unreliable engine crew and personalities.....but then are not most of these tragedies.