Bob Yuill is in your backyard.

dave

Outside of pragmatic issues around the condition of the surviving engines, has anyone ever looked into restoring one of the surviving AT&SF 2-6-2s that are still around? On paper (yes, I know that real world considerations take precedence; I don't pretend to be a steam guru) these look to be decent locomotives-trailing trucks for backing movements, reasonable tractive effort, the virtues of six-coupled locomotives (per Erik L's excellent article in TRAINS a while back), and available in either coal or oil burning varieties.

I believe Cal-State's 1010 is actually mobile on air.

Les, none of the 2-6-2's are available that I am aware of. I haven't checked either. I had a chance this weekend to take a quick glance at 1129 in Las Vegas, New Mexico. She wasn't in terrible shape for being stuffed and mounted. I didn't climb under her to check brasses and running gear. Her issue would be abatement first. The running gear showed to be last inspected in October of 1957. She is an oil burner which makes life a bit easier. See was fitted with a larger tender.

John D, I would love to see one of the ATSF 2-6-2's restored. I have often wondered why no one has restored one of them. In my opinion (that's all this is really worth anyways) it would be a very practical choice for a shortline operation to tinker with. This is factoring in weight on drivers, short rigid wheel base, etc. This engine could be run on lighter rail without too many issues. If you had a chunk of track good for 40ish MPH,. it would have no problem with it. There are several of them around. Availability would ultimately be the issue. How many cities really want to part with their engine?

If there was an all around "Jack of all Trades" tourist RR locomotive, in my opinion, it would be the CPR G5 class. Light enough for branchline work, powerful enough to pull a decent sized train. They're able to sprint along the mainline at a decent speed while being somewhat fuel-frugal. Relatively modern construction and well maintained by the folks up north.

The 1246 in CT has a good home. Maybe one day the OC will rebuild the 1278 to run with their 1293.

To this end my vore would be the two G5's stored in Virginia, or the 1201 in Canada.

Dave Crosby

Seems B&H #11 fits Supe's bill, and as proof, she is currently being rehabbed. I would suspect that Jack Showalter's 4-6-2's make the list, too.

Rob

I looked at your website but was unable to find the information I was looking for so I did the best I could. I was hoping someone from WRC would step in and set the story straight.

Thanks for the information.

John Bohon

Information about the S-160 and other equipment has been reposted to the file library at http://files.wasatch-rr-contractors.com/

Folks,

Nobody in this string has mentioned the narrow gauges. In colorado, the D&RGW 315 was just given a massive restoration, as was the D&RGW 346.

Also at the Colorado Railroad Museum, the RGS 20 has beeb sent to Strasburg ,PA to get boiler and running gear worked on.

In Maine the oldest of the 5 Two Footers is getting a new boiler and frame because lap seams are no longer acceptable to the Feds.

I think I read that one of the East Broadtop RR locomotives is getting worked on.

Narrow guage in museums is as good as it was in the 19th century: light track, low speed, maintainable and people friendly.

I would love to see the D&RGW 463 running again. And the C&TS has 60 miles for her to show off on.

Ted Miles

I'll nominate #108's sister, #208. She last steamed in 1996, although FRA 230 intervened since then, with its consequences for the boiler/running-gear, et al.. Rebuild or replace the tender, and she's good to go.

~Trinity Valley RR Historical Association

Mosts of the posts here speak of std. gauge (or is it gage?). Don't overlook narrow gauge, and not in Colorado!

Look at SVRy 19 and you will see what SVRy 20 can be. We are anxious to rebuild 20. we just need $$. She has few original components, but neither did 19. Most of the appliances and all the brass on 19 were obtained during rebuild. Only the air pump is original.

19 is an example of what can be done, just as laying rail where there was none is an example set by SVRy and now duplicated by other restorations.

Long live SVRy 19 & 20! Think narrow mindedly!

dan

These type of situations are rare and getting rarer, but the last one I knew of that came about was the aquisition of the Rayonier Willamette geared locomotive #2 by the Mt Rainier Scenic RR 5 years ago. The loco has been stored covered and secured for over 40 years, and not only came complete with all parts, also came with a nice selection of spare parts including a spare crankshaft and full set of spare tires. Granted this is an exception.

A local group got a 2' gauge Davenport 0-4-0 that is fairly complete (needs new wood cab), that also was stored in a barn for 40 years prior to aquisition.

You do have to do your home work to find these tresures however!

For those interested, the Rayonier duce is scheduled for restoration starting with in a few months. This locomotive added to their line up allows one to inspect the apex of geared logging locomotive design side by side, and is the only place on the planet you can do so. They have a PC Shay, the sole remaining 90 West coast special Heisler, the last modern Climax with cast steel trucks and piston valves, and the only surviving class 75-3 Willamette (which is the only Willamette left with the redesigned trucks).


Doug.

Western Coal & Coke #1