Howdy all,

I was wondering what ever happened to that 2-6-2 that was for sale on railswap about a year ago. Does anyone know what happened to it and what its condition was/is? Thanks for any information you could provide.

Stathi Pappas

Do you have the engine's number ?

Bob H

Stathi,
The 2-6-2 you are referring to is the ex Lee Tidewater Cypress enging #4, owned by the Hardin Southern Railroad in Hardin KY.

After the preservation group failed and the railroad was sold, the engine was put up for sale by the owners of the railroad. As FAR AS I KNOW, the engine is STILL for sale. I saw it still in Hardin around Christmas when I was up there.

If you have any other questions regarding the loco, let me know. I am intimately familiar with the engine as I was involved heavily with what work was done on the engine while at Hardin.
Sincerely,
Bruce Pierce

It is my understanding that the engine has been sold. The owner didn't choose to reveal who the purchaser is.

John

This engine came from the Thompson "collection" at Monee, Illinois. And it brings up another question. A different Prairie from Monee went up to North Lake, Wisconsin where the original plans were to restore it and run in on the Kettle Moraine Railway there. The shutting down of the KMR cut short those plans. Anyone know for sure what happened to that particular 2-6-2? On the last day of operation, she was sitting in pieces on flat cars at the North Lake site.

Les

I have TOTALLY lost touch with the owners after the "falling out" between the preservation group and the railroad.
From my understanding, the prairie is the ONLY thing left on the property, which is now owned by the Economic Development commission of the neighboring county.
I am not sure whether or not any of the other former members have had any contact either, but I will ask around.

Having always wanted to operate a steam engine, I and others spent many hours working on the #4 in hopes of seeing it in operation, but as you all know that there has to be PLENTY of volunteers and money to make such a dream a reality. We were lacking on both fronts!

I was very lucky to have been there at THAT particular time in history. I was able to fulfill a dream of actually becoming an engineer, if only on a 10 mile Class I shortline railroad, handling a "powerful" aged SW1 switch engine pulling 3 coaches and a caboose. I would not trade those days of "highballing" down the main line at a blinding 10MPH, in the right hand seat, for anything!

Ok, enough of "memory lane"!

Sincerely,
Bruce Pierce

Hi Les. As far as the Wi prarie goes I cannot tell you exactly who bought it, but it went to Ill west of Chicago {Elgin or Aurora I think} to private owner from what I remember. I ask about that one from time to time, but don't have any concrete info other than from Northlake it went somewhere west of Chicago. Haven't heard anything new about that one is some time. Cheers, John.

Question about another piece of equipment at the Hardin Southern. What happened to the ex-NC&StL/F&C caboose that had been acquired from the Bluegrass RR Museum for restoration?

Excuse me Bill, but did you happen to mean ex-NC&StL/FEC caboose? I seem to recall that the Florida EAST Coast sold some cabooses to the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis. Or was it the other way around?

Les

Hi Les,

No, he meant NC&STL/FC caboose.... This one was sold to the Frankfort and Cincinnati RR back in the day before going to Bluegrass. As for where it went, I'm not sure. I do believe it went to a private individual.

Stuart

Stuart -

Thanks for the correction. I should have probably figured out the F&C stood for the Frankfort & Cincinnati Railroad. Somewhere, I have a slide of one of their GE diesels.

Les

Hello Bruce!

It's good to see you're still out there!

I can't elaborate too much on the fate of the #4, but what I do know is that a sale was arranged to an individual out here on the west coast. He wound up with his hands full with his business, and has since transferred "ownership" of the locomotive to another individual out here on the west coast. I know both parties and plan to check up on the whole thing to see if it's going anywhere. I sure don't want to see the #4 turned into Subaru's (although I really enjoy my Subaru).

Brian T. Wise

Brian,
Great to hear from you all the way down here in Nashville!

It is also good to hear that #4 COULD be getting a new home. I sure hope so. I would still love to see it under steam some day if the "steam Gods" would smile upon it!

Email me sometime and let me know how things are going for you.
bruce4501@hotmail.com

Bruce Pierce

You can still view the Hardin Southern's steam locomotive pages on the "Wayback Machine" at

http://web.archive.org/web/200408050543 ... /steam.htm

WOW! I had forgotten about that website and man is that dated information! I thought it was gone forever!
If you take a look at the following link, you will see a MUCH younger me on the back of the engine on the far right. I was the hogger that day.

Thanks for bringing back the memories!

Bruce Pierce