Here is a current article in a local magazine about Midwest and its efforts to get the 4070 up and running again. http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/the ... id=2966268 Hopefully things work out for them as they seem to be on the right track.

Thanks for posting that link. It is good to see that things are going in the right direction for Midwest once again. From what I have learned over the years, Midwest's problems started back when 4070 was still operational and the old CVL got behind on their lease payments to Midwest for the use of 4070 and train. It put them in a hole they are still working there way out of. I know from a reliable source that 4070 has a crack in the RH main frame behind the cylinders that was long a nagging problem. Overall she is pretty well worn out. Hopefully with new, smart leadership, they can start making some noticable progress and raise the needed money.

Rob Gardner

That's an interesting article. I hope they can get things going over there. It seems like it had been stagnant for awhile. The article referenced something about a caboose falling off a trestle. Does anybody have any more information on that event?

FTA: "When a caboose fell off a nearby trestle into the river and Midwest rescued it, the group became famous for an ignominious moment."

I don't know if this could be the same caboose that the article mentions but i have a good feeling it is! A good 15 years or so ago,myself,a friend of mine,and Doug Fink of Midwest went to the CSX Willard yard to look at 4 cabooses that were for sale.There were 3 extended cupolas and one bay window cab.My friend bought one extended cupola cab and Doug/or the Midwest group bought the remaining 2 extended cabs plus the bay window cab.All the cabooses had roller bearing wheelsets/trucks.The 3 extended cupolas were shipped out of there by rail to Cleveland.

The bay window cab had a problem and had a mismatched truck at one end with some end cab damage and CSX would not allow it to be shippped by rail and this cab had to be trucked out wich it was.The story that i heard from Doug was that the bay window cab had been in some kind of a incident at Cleveland,Ohio somewhere on a bridge where the rear wheelset/truck fell into the river where the caboose also recieved some damage.The caboose did not fall into the river but something happened.I'm guessing this has to be the same cab the article mentions but it's been so long i can't remember all the specifics.I'm sure Doug know's the rest of the story!