Knox and Kane RR To Valley RR.

SteveRG · **Joined:** Fri Sep 15, 2006 3:28 am **Posts:** 270

After the fire in western PA, Valley RR was to acquire their Mikado for restoration back to active service.
Just wondering if she has been delivered yet and if work as begun or not.
The Mrs. and I are spending our Anniversary in CT in October and will be my first time back to Valley RR since 1976; I was 4 years old!!!! Sure would like to see the "Mike" there at that time.
Also, do they ever plan on restoring that Prairie (2-6-2) Loco that is there as well?

Stephen Hussar · **Posted:** Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:14 pm

Steve, I don't know if any work has begun, but the locomotive is definitely in CT -- I shot this picture a couple of weeks ago in Essex. As for the little 2-6-2, hopefully someone with more info will chime in.

Stephen

elecuyer · **Posted:** Wed Jun 24, 2009 5:12 pm

The 2-6-2, Sumter & Choctaw RR No. 103, according to recent reports, has been pulled from the display track at the Valley RR and will soon be trucked to its new home at the Railroad Museum of New England in Thomaston, CT. The RR Museum of New England has owned #103 since 1985 and will join their other steamer, Canadian Pacific RR No. 1246, a 4-6-2.

Alan Maples · **Posted:** Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:59 pm

The Valley Railroad maintains a nice "Enginehouse Blog" which is linked to their web page (http://www.essexsteamtrain.com) or can be found at http://theenginehouse.blogspot.com/. Scroll down through the blog for details on the move of the 2-8-2 to Connecticut.

Alan Maples

junior · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 1:58 am

I was under the impression that RMNE has owned the 103 since "day one." That was the reason the Valley acquired the 97.... 103 was too light and also not owned by the Valley RR.

I may be wrong.

uboat2525 · **Joined:** Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:24 am **Posts:** 57

boo boo here!

CVRA 7 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:51 am

Just a short note concerning the earlier post by uboat2525 - the poster does not speak for the RMNE or its Board of Trustees.
Regarding the history of #103's ownership, operation, and future perhaps Mr Harry F Malone will share his knowledge on the subject.

uboat2525 · **Joined:** Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:24 am **Posts:** 57

To all who have read the earlier post I do stand to be corrected to the point that I am stating that my last post needs a retraction please do as I had bad information and was inccorect on some of it and would like to also add that I am in no way shape or form a decision maker for the rmne my appologies to any who may have been offened or angered in any way

Howard P. · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 1:37 am

At the start of the Valley Railroad in 1969-70, VRR owned little if any equipment. GE 44-tonner #400 and 2-8-0 #97, and one CNJ coach and a New Haven "copper-clad" coach were owned by VP and co-founder Steve Bogen; 2-6-2 #103, CNW combine 7409, LNE gon, the DL&W troop sleeper bunk car, a CNJ outside-braced boxcar were all owned by Empire State Rwy Museum; other cars were owned by individuals or "consortiums". I think the first locomotive to be 100% VRR owned was #40, when it arrived in 1977 from the Aberdeen & Rockfish (there was a local bank's equipment trust for #40, complete with trust plate on the tender).

Ownership of various pieces was sorted out and changed during the 1980s, with some of the ESRM equipment being transferred to RMNE, and some to VRR. That is when #103 became RMNE property. The GE 44-tonner (by then renumbered 0800) was sold to VRR by Bogen. When Bogen died in March 2004, he was in-process of selling #97 to VRR, and that sale was concluded by his estate.

More info and maybe some pics will be posted soon, about the move of #103 to the Naugy on Thursday June 25.

Howard P.
Long Strange Trip, CT