2-6-0 Number 91 was fired up for the first time in 2009 on September 24 to test her newly installed mechanical lubrication system and ran light on an 11 mile round trip between Middletown and US Rte. 322. The cantankerous hydrostatic lubricator has been disconnected but remains for show. There is a mechanical lubricator attached to the valve gear which lubes the valves, cylinders and air pump while she is moving and a second one mounted in the cab by the fireman's seat for the fireman to crank once in a while to lube the air pump when she is in the station or sitting for long periods. The mechanicals are also antiques, patented in 1905 and 1913 respectively. She was tested with a passenger train over the same route as above the next day. All went well so she was placed in revenue service for the annual Civil War Remembered re-enactments on September 26. Two trips were run. The engine performed flawlessly and the re-enactors just loved her compared to the diesel. She will probably not run again this year. Some consideration is being given for a possible 100-year birthday celebration for her next year.

Charlie -

Got any photos? Anyone?

Les

Here are a few photos

Middletown


A lot of Civil War reenactors


Frey's Grove


- Jonathan

That's great news for the M&H crew!

Johathan -

Thanks for posting the photos. She sure looks good.

Les

Charlie, Is the steam operation continuing through october, now that she is ready, or was that a once-this-year trip?

Great photos, Jonathan.

Right now we expect to put her to bed for the winter. I was down to see her today and she cooled down nicely. She was not run on the 27th. I was called for passenger diesel engineer for Oct. 3. But nothing is certain in life but death and taxes.

Did M&H do any trips across the highway into Hummelstown in 2009?

Chris.

Ah, nothing quite screams “1860s in the Northeast” as a 1910 Canadian National locomotive and 1920s coaches. No slam on the equipment itself or the RR operation, but as a lifelong historical re-enactor, I never could suspend the disbelief between the two eras as there are next to no correct-looking sets of equipment for that time period that are in use today. Same with “train robbery” events, too. I did one as a robber (as I have full 1880s gear, clothing and firearms) and I never went back. I’ve even seen such 19th century-themed events taking place with diesels. I shudder every time I think of it…

It's hard to believe those Canadian National Moguls will be 100 years old next year.

I thought you might be interested in seeing a couple of pictures of 91 in her previously lives as GTR 1013 and CNR 915. A lot of changes to her since she was born at the Canadian Locomotive Company in Kingston, Ontario in 1910.

Actually, this doesn't bother me all that much. At just about any Civil War reenactment, you'll see SUV's towing the cannons into positions, reenactors using "plastic" outhouses, the ''mall" of vendor's tents, and lots of 1920's farm type kerosene lanterns. Anachronisms are present in just about all forms of preservation. What is important is giving both good entertainment and good education to the public, so they'll keep coming to see us. Although, I would love to see "Leviathian" make some trips east during the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Wouldn't the arrival of "Jackson's troop train" at the 150th "First Mannassas" be a glorious event?

I'm just envisioning the thousands of inconvenienced and indignant VRE riders setting up a third front.... and winning the battle.....

"Don't let Weaver see that GTR 1013 headlight!"

Hah! Too late, Mr. Musser! And I have a weekend standby shift coming up with all kinds of time to burn ... Let's see, if I can fab up the aceteylene light and bracket beforehand, and then mount it that week-end, it will be a fait accompli ...

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