In 1981, High Green - the newsletter of the Chesapeake Div. RRE reported in its April newsletter that Tom Thumb was en route to the Sacramento Railfair, towing the Imlay coaches under its own power. The report stated that the little train had made it over Sand Patch without help and was safely into Ohio. Chessie System had to issue a press release to deny the April Fools story

Curiously, the same newsletter also reported that SP 4449 was to run excursions over BN in an SP-inspired BN green and white paint scheme. The trips last year came close enough with the engine in black.

Happy April Fools!