As you may have heard, Steamtown's former Canadian Pacific 4-6-2 Pacific is due for it's federally mandated rebuild and it has been mentioned (assumed) that her career is to be officially ended, retired and set on permanent display.

In actuality, Steamtown plans to bring CN #3254 up to snuff over the Winter to assure she'll be in top shape for the NRHS Convention in Scranton next year. Consequently, there will be no Ice Harvest Train this year.

Work continues on the Baldwin switcher, an 0-6-0 #26, she may (or may not be ready by convention time).

CP #2317 will sit in the "rebuild queue" until AFTER the Museum restores Boston and Maine #3713, also a Pacific, and then finally, the Museum will have an American passenger steam engine.

I was at the Museum on it's last operating day for 2009 and bid adieu to both CP #2317 and CN #3254 until next year. I was surprised how few fans came out, despite the weather, to bid farewell to #2317 but the good news I was told is that "a few days were saved" for CP #2317 and she will likely be up and running one last time along with CN #3254 at the Convention. Make it a point to see her off - we may not see her again in our lifetime.

Here are some pics from that snowy day:
CP #2317 seen along with an overview of the city of Scranton from above in near blizzard like conditions

CP #2317 at the former DL&W Mattes Street Tower

CP #2317 passing by the loading platform heading off towards the former DL&W Station

CP #2317 in an action zoom pan - Engineer Chris LaBar gets a wave from the conductor signaling the all clear to proceed

/Mitch

I'm not holding my breath. But best of luck!

Mitch,

I was thinking of going up, but when I got the news a few weeks go of #2317 likely steaming in June, I decided to stay home and take care of family things.

We were too late in trying to get tickets to ride the holiday train. We usually do it every year. It is one of the best in the east and it sells out faster than Springsteen.

Rob

I'll always remember the double-header she did with the 425 back when 261 was visiting for the grand opening. What an incredible run they made.

Steve Barry and I both heard that "a few days were saved" with hopes of running her one more time. Steve implied it was a "done deal" but I was told the decision was not being made till later in the year. From what I understood, she'll need to pass an inspection and if she needs anything not economically feasible she may not run but I can't imagine a convention at Steamtown where all stops are not pulled to showcase the Museum in the best possible light.

Fingers crossed!

/Mitch

Mitch is correct.

The Park Service would like to have the 2317 in steam for the convention. Hopefully nothing too cost prohibitive will occur. It comes down to the same question the 1225 folks are facing, whether to spend the time and $$$ on an engine that will need extensive work shortly thereafter.

The site will nonetheless put on a good show as PART OF (but not the whole) Endless Mountain Rails Convention. We've just inked a deal for a major, day long steam excursion with multiple runbys that's not at Steamtown and are close to signing some other neat stuff. Announcements will be made as contracts are finalized, but of course prices, dates and so forth will be sent first to those who have registered for the convention at www.endlessmountainrails.com

I also believe we're the first NRHS Convention to have a Facebook Page.

Dave Crosby

Thanks for the confirmation, Dave.



Enticing! Birmingham? Jim Thorpe?



Good reasons to register BUT seems to me that making this info public as soon as a possible makes the most sense. We should be trying to entice people to go rather then exclude. Generate some hype. At the very least I would think this info should be available to paying members of the NRHS, such as myself.

A side note: Dave is probably too modest to post this link so I'll save him the trouble. While searching the Web, I found this site loaded with great photos from Steamtown and elsewhere which I had not come across before that you may all enjoy.

http://www.scrantontrains.com/gallerynps.html

/Mitch

Hmmm, a day-long steam excursion from NE Pennsylvania to Birmingham? Might need to add a jet engine to the locomotive.

- Chris

Mitch

I agree with you, publicize, publicize, publicize. There are a myriad of NRHS regs that are designed with a "members first" motif that sometimes conflicts with how I would normally promote things. Once the registration books are mailed out shortly after the new year, then all the info is out in the open. As a side note, about a month before the trips, any unsold seats will be opened to the (non NRHS) public.

As for the above mentioned trip. It is planned as a Duryea-Jim Thorpe-Port Clinton run over the R&N lead by 425 conditions permitting. There will be a layover in Jim Thorpe and photo runbys are planned during the day. We will then bus people the hour or so back from Port Clinton. This will be the first (only?) chance that passengers will have the chance to see that entire route in one day.

As for the dates/times/prices... That info I have to wait on until those who have pre-registered have received their books (as it rightfully should be). The R&N has been very helpful in putting this together and I believe the price will be well received when the time comes.

Dave

(again with the plug) http://www.endlessmountainrails.com

Wow, Dave. THAT's a great trip.

I would bet that will cover more former CNJ route miles in one day than any steam excursion since Ross's days. (Laurel Run - Bear Creek Jct and Coalport to Haucks which is a total of 52 miles or so).

Those who haven't seen her will be amazed by how loud she is. Hope Andy will agree to drop the diesels for some of it, though I have to say, even with growlers on the train, they let #425 work. It's a great show.


Rob

425 will put on one helluva good show for the people diesels or not, you are right she will do as much work as she feasibly can and trust me she can do alot of it. that would be a neat ride to take, i may just have to try to make it out for that. i hope all the planning goes well for the remainder of the events planned for the convention i do plan on going to steamtown for that.
Matt

Purely hypothetical, but if it so happened that the 425 would have diesel helpers:

would the NRHS (despite the 425 being the obvious star) give any attention to the diesels? Maybe give them their own photo run-by? SD40-2s and especially SD50s aren't the common birds they once were. Or will they be regulated to red-headed stepchild status? Then will they complain that the younger generation has no interest in preservation?

Just some food for thought.

Or they could assign a pair of Reading FP7's as helpers, you know.......... <:-)

Or some RS3s...

Isn't great that this convention will be held in a place where such speculation can be made? I'd say to look for green diesels, but the R&N does have a nifty blue one now.

As an aside, it's come to my attention that my words from a previous post could be taken as critical of the NRHS method of selling tickets. That surely was not the case, it was my poorly worded attempt to explain why things work the way the do.

So, again, if you want to get the juicy details on convention events, register with us at... wait for it...

http://www.endlessmountainrails.com