I just want to clear some things up. So far I've heard rumors about 31 that she'll be running this summer quite a few times and I've also heard that shes not going to be running until Jan 2005 because she is Strasburgs's 5th operationial steam engine needs special FRA certification???. Doesn't seem right to me since shes had a recent overhaul as of '99 and hasn't really run that much to do any substantial wear and tear on her.

PRRsteam4lyfe@aol.com

Your information sounds like a mangled rumor, but I don't know the current status.

31 will likely be in service for a long time, for a number of reasons: she is compact, powerful, and has a minimum of parts to maintain. On the negative side, she is rough riding and you have to keep the fire at optimum to maintain schedule.

There is also nostalgia because she is the first SRR steam locomotive.

I was a fireman for the 1986 season.

a2soft@aol.com

This quote is what set me off and I hardly believe that it is true but what do I know:

"The reason you will not see 31 at all in the 2004 year is because even though Strasburg has almost completed inspection on 31, they still havent test fired her. This test firing will not take place until January of 2005, mostly because they do not need a 4th running engine and to certify 31 now would waste over a half a year of running time while 31 just sits. It's similar to 972's condition, execpt that 972 is the 5th engine, and when you don't need the 4th one, there is no reason to look at the 972."

Someone please elaborate

P.S Steven thanks for your info I really appreciate it, I hope your right and that this is just some random railfan's rumor.

PRRsteam4lyfe@aol.com

We hope to hold #31 out of service this year to save inspection costs. She will most likely go into service in Jan. 2005. If we have a problem with one of the other locomotives, #31 is ready to go in a few days. #31 has never been overhauled to the extent of the other locomotives, but she is in pretty good shape and should serve us well into the future.

> This quote is what set me off and I hardly
> believe that it is true but what do I know:

> "The reason you will not see 31 at all
> in the 2004 year is because even though
> Strasburg has almost completed inspection on
> 31, they still havent test fired her. This
> test firing will not take place until
> January of 2005, mostly because they do not
> need a 4th running engine and to certify 31
> now would waste over a half a year of
> running time while 31 just sits. It's
> similar to 972's condition, execpt that 972
> is the 5th engine, and when you don't need
> the 4th one, there is no reason to look at
> the 972."

> Someone please elaborate

> P.S Steven thanks for your info I really
> appreciate it, I hope your right and that
> this is just some random railfan's rumor.


Strasburg Rail Road
linnwm@supernet.com