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America's newest standard gauge steam locomotive is up and running. The Leviathan built by Chicago business man David Kloke will make its public debut at TrainFestival 2009 in Owosso, MI next month. Come on up and check it out! http://www.trainfestival2009.com
The locomotive is fired by fuel oil. The pilot, lamp, and brass steam dome cover were off for the test.
Here is their release
Release from Stan Gentry and photos from Christine Funk
On June 23, 2009, a hot and humid afternoon in Elgin, IL, the Leviathan steam locomotive moved under its own power for the first time. With great anticipation and after 10 years of dreaming, planning and constructing, owner Dave Kloke pulled back on the throttle. With a hiss of steam exiting the cylinder cocks this beautiful piece of working history moved majestically down the track and a quest was completed.
This was a historical event in Steam railroading in the United States, with the Leviathan being the first new full size standard gauge steam locomotive built since the US Park service had O'Conner Engineering build the two locomotives for it's park in Promontory Utah in 1979. Overseeing this first short journey over the rails of the Fox River Trolley Museum was George Thagard III of the Sandstone Railroad and Chris DeWitt of the Nevada State Railroad Museum. Tending the duties of keeping the fire, watching the water levels and the steam pressure on the fireman’s side of the locomotive was Dave's son, Joe Kloke.
In the second run of the day Dave and Joe were joined in the cab by John H. White Jr a good friend and notable author of many technical and historical railroad books.
Mr. White's comments on the project;
“I have worked with many craftsmen over the years, artists, draftsman, model builders and restorers, but I can not think of any as individuals who attempted a project as large as the Leviathan. The construction of a full size operating locomotive is no small task. It requires thousands of hours of labor and the physical strength to handle large parts. At the same time the parts must be precise. Each piece must be faithful to the original to look right. A crudely fashioned handrail post can ruin the machines appearance. The lettering and ornamentation must be exact to be convincing. Some locomotive replicas of the past look fine at a distances but are rough and ready on closer inspection. It takes a good eye and an insistences on precision to finish each piece exactly so. I consider the Leviathan replica to be as perfect as such a recreation can be made. It is in my opinion a masterpiece.
The creator of Leviathan Dave Kloke, does not look or act like an artist. His manner is jocular and casual. Behind that facade lives a very serious and determined person who I have come to admire.”
John H White Jr.
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