Climax in Denver?

Tails · **Joined:** Fri Mar 29, 2013 11:14 pm **Posts:** 139

Got a text message from a friend today saying he saw a Climax on a Truck in Denver today. Don't know where its headed or what it is, nor do I have a picture. But curious if anyone knows anything about it.

Jason Midyette · **Posted:** Thu Apr 28, 2016 1:03 pm

A good candidate would be the Climax owned by Steven Butler that was last used on the Arizona Eastern and then brought to Alamosa being moved to the Mt. Rainer Scenic Railroad to rejoin its owner.

Don't know for sure though.

Jason Midyette

tom moungovan · **Posted:** Thu Apr 28, 2016 1:30 pm

Quite possible, but that is a 2T Heisler and not a Climax.

Jason Midyette · **Posted:** Thu Apr 28, 2016 2:04 pm

That's what I get for responding in haste without checking the thought out! Just stuck in my mind that there was a geared locomotive hanging out in Alamosa that would have a reason to be on the move.

Oh well. Now I have no possible clue what a Climax locomotive would be doing on a truck in Denver. A Shay on the other hand... (don't know of any moving but there are a few Shays in the area)

Jason Midyette

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3010

How good is the person who saw it at geared loco ID's?

A Shay is easy (unless you encounter a Willamette, which 99% get wrong, thinking it's a Shay)

Heisler and Climax aren't as common, and I've encountered plenty of folks who get them mixed up.

Charlie · **Posted:** Thu Apr 28, 2016 4:25 pm

Any chance of it being confused with a cog locomotive? I believe that the Pikes Peak railway will be operating steam this year and it's conceivable that they might be trucking their locomotive to or from a repair shop.

Steven Butler · **Joined:** Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:38 pm **Posts:** 49

Craig Mt. Lumber Co. Heisler #3 is on its way to the west coast. It was loaded in Alamosa on Monday.

Kimball · **Joined:** Fri Jan 10, 2014 5:00 pm **Posts:** 71

Arrived today at the Oregon Coast Scenic RR for almost immediate operation.

tom moungovan · **Posted:** Sat Apr 30, 2016 8:31 am

I should know better, you can get into trouble citing memory alone, but IIRC, this Heisler is a 60 ton machine and has nearly as much t.e. as smaller 3T models like the one built new for Hetch Hetchy and later sold to Pickering Lbr. and used as their number 2. Something around 25,000 lbs. sound right?

mmichaud · **Joined:** Sun Jul 01, 2012 11:03 pm **Posts:** 14

Here are a couple of videos when it was out at the Kettle Moraine Railroad in North Lake Wisconsin. Dates back to the early 1990's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggVU02XR2Zg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9EbXjUcTIc

eze240 · **Joined:** Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:29 am **Posts:** 319

Did it finally get repaired from the thrown rod incident in '08?
That was the most excitement I've ever had on a steam engine...and I was only riding...

shay2305 · **Joined:** Wed May 12, 2010 7:03 pm **Posts:** 19

Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad will make the repairs to the Heisler and return it to service. It is hoped that the repairs can be made before Curtiss Lumber #2 is taken out of service for its 15 year boiler work. If that can happen look for a Heisler double header this summer.

John Risley · **Joined:** Tue Aug 24, 2004 10:34 pm **Posts:** 965

Remember hearing about the "malfunction". Just how serious a repair is required? Steven gave me a very nice cab ride in that locomotive, my first in a geared locomotive. Not to mention first in quite a few years being in a "hot" locomotive, probably 10 years ago already at least? Congrats on the new delivery. Regards, John.