Attention Those With Steam Fever:

As most of you know in early July the ex LS&I / GCRY 18 was brought back to life in Hood River, OR. I operated the locomotive in six day a week service from July 18th until August 31st. The locomotive performed flawlessly pulling the railroads 415 ton train up as steep as a 3.5% grade. The reason for the service ending so soon was not to be blamed on the locomotive but pure economics.

18 has only around 50 Days on a Fresh 1472-Day inspection and good wheel profiles.
Below are listed the major specifications

Wheels: 2-8-0
Builder: Alco (Pittsburgh)
Date: 01/1910
Const. # 46941
Empty Weight: 189,360
Weight on Drivers: 168,000
Driver Dia. 55”
TE 42,000
PSI 200
Cylinders 22X28
Fuel Oil
Gauge Standard

I would be willing to sell #18 along with its sister engine #20 for $725,000.00 OBO

I would also be willing to lease # 18 or # 20 for $250,000.00 per year maintained.

20 has not yet been restored and is a coal burner but will get the locomotive ready for operation if the call for service arises.

For Photos please go to my web-site www.fleminglocomotive.com

You can email me at anacondalocomotiveco@yahoo.com
Serious inquiries only please.

Thank You,
Brian Fleming

"The reason for the service ending so soon was not to be blamed on the locomotive but pure economics."

And herein lies the problem. Here's a locomotive that should be perfect for just about any tourist operation. I hope it finds a home (preferably near me) but I suspect that the market is thin, for reasons of economics.

The best places I can think of either have no imminent need or no capacity to drop a couple hundred thousand bucks. Am I wrong?

My first response was going to be (is), what's the milage?

But, in all seriousness - you just never know when someone may need a steam engine - I recall last year out of the blue a tourist operation in upper NY was soliciting for a steam engine for a start up (or to replace a diesel?). There are several tourist operations that may may benefit from the switch from diesel to steam, or from a current engine to a larger engine. Look at the Grand Canyon with thier recent acquistion.

I would question efforts to restore #20 just yet, however, I wish you, Brian, the best of luck and aplaud your efforts. Maybe you and Harry Posner can get together and "play" ; )

As was mentioned earlier, there are several sucessful steam operations in the country - obviously they are doing things differently then Mt Hood was, espescially in the advertising department.

Everitt RR and M&H both in PA are, or will be, operating steam shortly, so the market exists for new steam operations.

I wonder if Strasburg would be interested in a larger engine such as the #18 to supplement #90? I suppose #475 might cover that, but who knows.

In fact, it was mentioned that Steamtown could benefit from a smaller, yet powerful steamer (though I'd hate to miss out on seeing the larger steam engines run there).

So, who knows - but best of luck!

/Mitch