http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?20071 ... TRING=1246

This is shot of exCP 1246 at the Valley Railroad a few days ago, apparently it was moved soon after to the RRMNE who own it. Anyone know what the plans for it are - just trying to get everything in one spot or something bigger?

-Justin Franz

Justin,

RMNE was originally (IIRC) part of Essex Steam/Valley Railroad. As such they collected many pieces of equipment and stored them in a yard near the Old Saybrook/Essex town line. Some of the nicer looking items were kept in Essex for the Valley to use as display items. In the 1980s they decided they needed to have a place of their own, so they came to Willimantic and Danbury Connecticut, but didn't find situations that matched their needs, but luckily they sparked restoration groups in both locations that in turn formed museums (Connecticut Eastern RR Museum and Danbury Railroad Museum respectively).

RMNE did find a location that matched their needs in Thomaston, Ct, where they have created something similar to the Valley Railroad. They run on former NY,NH&H RR Trackage from Thomaston south to Waterville, and for specials down to Waterbury. Their station is in the center of Thomaston where they have the old station as a store/office/museum, with a display siding alongside, and in lower Thomaston they recently built a shop for maintenance and restoration (see front page of RYPN). When the group decided on Thomaston, they either re-organized and became the Naugatuck Valley Railroad, or they created an operations division of the group that was named Naugatuck Valley RR, I am not positive. Hopefully HP or one of the other Naugy people will come in a clarify this and correct any errors in my message.

As time and money allows they are moving all of their equipment from Essex/Old Saybrook to Thomaston.

Regards,

Rich C.

...perhaps we'll be seeing scenes like this again in New England :-)
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 22&nseq=22
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 072&nseq=1

As a fan of these G5s, I have to ask in whatmechanical condition 1246 is? When was the 1246 last operated? 1980-ish?

KL

1246 last operated for Steamtown Foundation in about 1985-86. It was retired due to poor side sheet conditions in the firebox. It was sold to the RMNE at the Steamtown Auction before takeover by the NPS. I remember it well, because it came up shortly after the Diesel SD-24's; which I had sucessfully bid in for an out-of-town buyer. About the time the festivities were beginning (with HP encouraged by Big Al bidding for RMNE) I was stung by a bee in the neck and missed the thrill of the bid!

Steve

Goodness, gracious, lots of interest in good 'ol 1246....

First, a bit of history about RMNE and VRR--- in 1969-70, there were two "founding organizations", Connecticut Valley Railroad Association and Empire State Railway Museum that joined with a group of private "investors" (some of who were involved in one or both of CVRA and ESRM) to form the Valley Railroad Company. ESRM soon faded away after the July 29, 1971 opening of VRR, and CVRA morphed into CVR Museum, with a 501 (c) 3 status being granted in 1974.

CVRM members were very active in VRR operations up to about 1986; some CVRM equipment was used in VRR passenger service. In late 1986, CVRM started looking for a home of its own, due to space limitations and some philosophical differences. As Rich C. states, CVRM's search spawned groups in Danbury and Willimantic, locations that CVRM decided would not be suitable for the group for various reasons. CVRM changed its name to RMNE about 1988, to better reflect the group's focus.

In 1995, RMNE leased the Waterbury-Torrington line from CDOT (former New Haven, opened 1849 by the original Naugatuck Railroad). The railroad is a wholly-owned subsidary of RMNE; in Connecticut, a legislative charter must be obtained in order to operate a railroad-- NAUG's was granted in June 1995, 150 years to the month from the original NAUG charter. Note that it is not "Naugatuck Valley".

OK, on to 1246. Yes, Stephen, we hope to be able to have similar scenes in the future. No Tuscan Red panels on cab or tender, though. I think 1246 should sound real sweet on the 1.1% going up across Thomaston Dam and through the deep rock cuts.

Steve Z. is correct, 1246 is in need of some serious firebox work, plus the usual "general repairs to machinery and tender" as the phrase goes. The boiler jacket and lagging (non-A) have been removed for many years, and the coal space has had a roof over it, keeping out the weather. An RMNE crew has regularly greased and oiled the locomotive during its 11 year display stint at Essex.

Justin, yes we are trying to "get everything into one place". We expect that 1246 will go on display at Thomaston after it arrives.

We have been asked many times over the last 10+ years, "(When) Are you going to restore 1246?" In our opinion, there are at least two things needed to consider restoring 1246 for operation-- sufficient funding and an adequate facility. We now have the facility; at some future point, we may have the funding. One step at a time...

Howard P.
Slotted Drypipe, CT

Well that takes care of my next question - would it be restored to its CP black or the Steamtown tuscan red (which the G5's never had). Anyway seeing a CP G5 under steam in New England again would be great. I would be making the trip south to Conn allot, although I must say with everything you guys have done it already is worth it.

-Justin Franz

Hi Justin

They were exceptions,,in 1947 CPR painted G-5 # 1206 and # 5209 a

2-8-2 were given the CPR tricolor paint ,,too haul CPR president

W.N.Neal special train,,this information is out of book Canadian Pacific

Steam Locomotives by Omer Lavallee...

But you are right in regular service the G-5's were in black,,,Pat.

Learn something new everyday - And Lavalle knew his stuff. Bytown up in Canada just came out with his Canadian Pacific International Of Maine book, which I've heard is pretty good.

-Justin