We regret to announce that NKP 765 will not make an appearance at the Ohio Central's TrainFestival 2004 in July. While the reassembly of the 765 is progressing very well, production delays in the manufacture of several new parts have put us about 6 weeks behind schedule.

The 765's overhaul has proven to be one of the most extensive of any steam locomotive since the end of steam. It is also the most extensive overhaul ever performed by an all volunteer, non-profit organization. Over the last 3 years our overhaul crew has carefully brought the 765 back to Lima blueprint specifications in almost every area.

If we were to do an all-out "rush job" over the next two months, we could conceivably be ready for the TrainFestival. However, after almost 3 years of painstakingly accurate work, we would be foolish to compromise the integrity of the entire project with several weeks of hastily performed work.

The 765 is on the home stretch towards completion. The boiler work is done and it has already passed the required hydrostatic pressure test. The driving wheels and axles, with brand-new driver tires, are resting on the rails behind the 765, ready to go back under her. All the various appliances have been rebuilt and are ready to be installed when we get her back on her wheels. The cab has a new roof and a new wood-lined interior. We are about to purchase a new Motorola Astro Clean Cab radio which will be installed soon.

We know that many of you had hoped to see us at TrainFestival, and we were looking forward to seeing you there, too! But the reality of the situation is that we are simply not going to be ready in time to get there. If you feel the need to complain to someone about this, please send your complaints to me, rich@765.org, not the Ohio Central Railroad. The railroad did nothing wrong in announcing that we would be at Trainfestival. They asked us to come and we said we would be there. It is this recent delay with a vendor that pushed our completion date beyond the point where we could attend.

We will operate the 765 this year, and may still go to the Ohio Central for a couple "Photo Freight" weekends in September. If and when that announcement can be made with certainty, we will post the details here.

Thanks for your continuing support of our organization and the 765.

Rich Melvin
NKP765 Operations Officer/Engineer
Fort Wayne RR Historical Society, Inc.


NKP 765's Web Site

We were notified earlier this week that the 765 would not be able to make Train Festival 2004 this coming July. We are disappointed but fully understand the situation. We know that it is a first class restoration and we fully expect to host the 765 on the Ohio Central in the near future.

We wish them the best,

Jason Johnson
Operations Manager
Ohio Central Steam

www.TrainFestival2004.com
jmjohnson@ohiocentral.com

I just bought my tickets for the excursion, and while I am a little saddened, given that more and more operators (Steamtown!) aren't operating big steam at all, I fully understand the circumstances. Although I've not yet been to a 765 event, my understanding is that they've done enough great excursions in the past to make up for this about a thousand times over!

Moving on:

A) Will the Columbus-Dennison excursion still take place?

B) Will the power still be steam at least one way? Seems like it would be with all those steamers roaming around, but I don't know all the operating details.

Regards,

JPS


ironandsteam@msn.com

The 6325 will be handling the trips that the 765 was to pull. This means the 6325 will handle the Dennison to Columbus move on Saturday and the Columbus to Dennison move on Sunday.

rich@765.org

It's Ok Rich, not your fault, just send us the name of the vendor who is tardy with the parts and we will decend on them with burning torches and pitchforks. Seriously though, the only problem I have with this cancellation is that the three hour trip incl. the shop tour were suppose to be handled by the 6325, that's why I paid the extra to have it. Now the 6325 will be one the Columbus trip, and I'll get? Suddenly my April fools joke about bringing in 3751 almost seems like it would have been a good idea. Oh well, maybe there is hope that the 1225 can run the Columbus trip, right? She is coming?, oh, screw it bring the 3751 or 4449 or 261 and we'll all be happy.

> It's Ok Rich, not your fault, just send us
> the name of the vendor who is tardy with the
> parts and we will decend on them with
> burning torches and pitchforks. Seriously
> though, the only problem I have with this
> cancellation is that the three hour trip
> incl. the shop tour were suppose to be
> handled by the 6325, that's why I paid the
> extra to have it. Now the 6325 will be one
> the Columbus trip, and I'll get?

1293 or 33 both are scheduled to be there.

> Suddenly my
> April fools joke about bringing in 3751
> almost seems like it would have been a good
> idea. Oh well, maybe there is hope that the
> 1225 can run the Columbus trip, right? She
> is coming?, oh, screw it bring the 3751 or
> 4449 or 261 and we'll all be happy.

I think we should be happy we have an entity as the Ohio Central to do what's being done. In this day and age I think we should be looking more optomistic at things such as Train Festival instead of whining about what we're NOT getting.

Would it be nice to see the 765? Sure. 1225? certainly and I hope things are proceeding so they can attend but if things fall through? There's still MULTIPLE OC power there. How many other railroads offer the fan-friendly atmosphere the Ohio Central crew does? Where else can you show up and roam the engine facilities without having the Bull called on you?

Listen here fellows (and gals), these are the good old days. Stop complaining about what's not there and appreciate what IS. Support Train Festival with or without the 765, 1225, 3751, 4449, 261 or any other locomotive 100%. If we don't maybe we won't have the 6325, 1293, 1551, 33 or any other steam around much longer.

Saturated Steam

saturated_steam@yahoo.com

Finderskeeprs,

Where did you hear that 6325 was pulling the 3 hour trips anyway? Everything I've seen and heard has said that motive power would not be announced until June. I also specifically remember Jason Johnson posting that 6325 would handle the Columbus trips if 765 could not be done on time. If you heard that 6325 was pulling the 3 hour trips, then I think you were mis-informed.

> I need to add a thought or two to the above post.

True, it is very easy as the arm chair railfan to complain about what motive power may or may not be at any event, regardless of the size, location or type of event. It is easy to host steam on a model railroad where....you are king. In our world (that of large steam operators) we deal with a host of problems and challenges every day.

This said, we need to take a minute and thank Jerry Joe Jacobson for one major thing. As he purchased his first railroad, he made it very clear to the employees of the railroad that "steam would always have a home on the Ohio Central."

This said......the Ohio Central has a very nice collection of steam. A collection that is still growing. Further more, though 765 is faced with the reality of working with third party shops, as manager of the Ohio Central Steam Program, I have made it very clear to our employees as well as to ALL groups who have been invited to Train Festival that regardless of who comes, or what comes, we will, in every way possible keep all of the doors open to ALL steam motive power regardless of location, size or shape. Now I ask, how many other class one's or regional's have this attitude?

Train Festival, as posted above, will be a wonderful event. There will be plenty to see and do. Support the Ohio Central and Jerry's fight to preserve a home for steam by doing the following:

1. Do not complain to groups that may or may not come. Until you walk 1 mile in their shoes, you have no idea what challenges they face.

2. If you feel you need to complain, fine, go to their shop on a volunteer work day, grab some tools lend a hand and you can complain all you want!

3 Support your local group by posting a note on the web....like on RYPN thanking your local home town favorite for the work they do. Thanks 261 for being out there and operating. Thanks 4449 for painting daylight back to orange. Thanks UP for keeping the 3985 out there and pushing as hard as you are on the 844 (which is going very well by the way)

4 If you do not agree with anything I have suggested, do this: Go buy your own steam locomotive and railroad and front the millions it takes to maintain each......then, you too can complain about anything you want.

Interesting that Jerry never seems to complain about the money he spends......

See you all at Train Festival 2004. The greatest railroading event of the year!

John E. Rimmasch
CMO/ OC Steam

1293 or 33 both are scheduled to be there.

> I think we should be happy we have an entity
> as the Ohio Central to do what's being done.
> In this day and age I think we should be
> looking more optomistic at things such as
> Train Festival instead of whining about what
> we're NOT getting.

> Would it be nice to see the 765? Sure. 1225?
> certainly and I hope things are proceeding
> so they can attend but if things fall
> through? There's still MULTIPLE OC power
> there. How many other railroads offer the
> fan-friendly atmosphere the Ohio Central
> crew does? Where else can you show up and
> roam the engine facilities without having
> the Bull called on you?

> Listen here fellows (and gals), these are
> the good old days. Stop complaining about
> what's not there and appreciate what IS.
> Support Train Festival with or without the
> 765, 1225, 3751, 4449, 261 or any other
> locomotive 100%. If we don't maybe we won't
> have the 6325, 1293, 1551, 33 or any other
> steam around much longer.

> Saturated Steam


jerimmasch@ohiocentral.com

John, all I can add to your well written post is...AMEN!



NKP 765's Web Site

> John, all I can add to your well written
> post is...AMEN!

Mike Schur seconds this.

Dear John, seeing as I was chastised for posting on more than one board, I won't repeat the post here ( if anyone is interested in the long version they can read it on the chaski railfan board). Obviously my post was taken way out of context. Good, now that it's out of the way, I can tell you from one railroader to another that I understand the great lengths OC goes through to put on a production such as Trainfest2004. That your organization is one of only 3 in North America to stable steam engines is commendable (and the fact that you are the smallest of the three and have the largest number is even more commendable!). I look forward to meeting you and the rest of the OC crew at trainfest.

AMEN to Mr. Rimmaschs post! I must add that I learned a long time ago that our hobby/industry has a tiny but vociferous core of what I call theP&M (as in piss&moan) gang, and that no matter what one does all they'll do is nit-pick,complain and tell the world how it should have been done( and would have been if only THEY were in charge)!

IGNORE them and carry on as the overwhelming majority are truly supportive and gratefull.

I think it's important for all of us steam lovers to realize how much is riding on making Trainfestival 2004 a resounding success in every respect. It's my read that if this first one gets wide spread support from our community that this will encourage Mr. Jacobson&Co. to not only repeat it but to improve/expand it in future years. It's entirely possible that it could grow into an annual important NATIONAL event with players from accross the nation participating!This will only happen if we all put our personal/petty concerns aside and REALLY get behind this!

I'm on the record with the OHC team to use me as a volunteer wherever they need help(i.e. garbage patrol,porta john tidy-up,parking attendant etc. etc.) and hope as many of you that can will also pitch in in every way possible!

This is our big chance folks-let's not blow it over petty concerns!

Ross Rowland
> >
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>
> , >

>
> >>
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rrowland@weidel.com

> AMEN to Mr. Rimmaschs post! I must add that
> I learned a long time ago that our
> hobby/industry has a tiny but vociferous
> core of what I call theP&M (as in
> piss&moan) gang, and that no matter what
> one does all they'll do is nit-pick,complain
> and tell the world how it should have been
> done( and would have been if only THEY were
> in charge)!

> IGNORE them and carry on as the overwhelming
> majority are truly supportive and gratefull.

> I think it's important for all of us steam
> lovers to realize how much is riding on
> making Trainfestival 2004 a resounding
> success in every respect. It's my read that
> if this first one gets wide spread support
> from our community that this will encourage
> Mr. Jacobson&Co. to not only repeat it
> but to improve/expand it in future years.
> It's entirely possible that it could grow
> into an annual important NATIONAL event with
> players from accross the nation
> participating!This will only happen if we
> all put our personal/petty concerns aside
> and REALLY get behind this!

> I'm on the record with the OHC team to use
> me as a volunteer wherever they need
> help(i.e. garbage patrol,porta john
> tidy-up,parking attendant etc. etc.) and
> hope as many of you that can will also pitch
> in in every way possible!

> This is our big chance folks-let's not blow
> it over petty concerns!

> Ross Rowland
Ross Rowland picking trash? Cleanin johns? Parking
cars? Get real Your job Ross is to make lots of
smoke and noise on the runbys. I'll do the above.

dmzlalo@aol.com