This video came across through one of my sources. Ignore the heavy wind noise, and it's a delight, especially at the one-minute mark:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhkwmUuXxWU

Anyone know what the story was behind this trip?

This is the 17th year of this operation. The trips are restricted to NS employees/retirees and families, and for the families of a couple of NS's large customers located in Decatur, IL. Santa rides on the train, and visits with all the children. It is a real hit with all the kids and employees. This year even saw a marriage proposal on the train! (She said yes.)

The equipment includes ex-Wabash F7 1189, ex-CN FPA4 6789, IC office car #7, IC heavyweight coach #2920, IC lightweight coach #2612, ex-Roanoke Chapter coach #1827 (nee Wabash coach #1420, nee B&M coach, number which slips my mind at this moment), and ex-CN Steam Generator Unit #15421. The office car and 1827 are electrically heated, but the two IC coaches are still equipped with functioning steam heat, hence the wisps of steam seen in the video. The steam generator car is equiped with one Vapor-Clarkson 4625 boiler in one end, and the other end has been converted to house an HEP genset to provide electrical power to the trainset.

While we agree the steam vapor certainly adds to the "atmosphere" of the event, those who have worked with it will likely agree it's a real battle to maintain, eating up an inordinate amount of man-hours for the short amount of time it's used. There's also the issue of a dwindling supply of parts for the cars available.

MRM is honored to be able to supply this equipment to NS, which allows them to give their employees a chance to take their families for a ride to see what it's like out on the railroad. The equipment is loaned to NS at no cost, and generally Deadheads to Decatur on the Friday before the event mid-day, and returns after the last train on Sunday afternoon or evening, depending on traffic.

Kent

That would be my video, I uploaded another of the train heading the other way with the FA leading.

Monticello is an amazing operation and it is great to see this stuff on the rails. I look forward to lending a hand there more often in the next few weeks.

Paul

I'm guessing that you have a good relationship with NS, and that this sort of operation helps NS see that cooperating with railroad preservation organizations is a good thing for NS in the communities it serves.

Are there any other examples of museums providing historic trains/equipment/assistance to Class Ones/Regionals/Transit Agencies?

Howard P.

For Operation Lifesaver trains there have been several cases of Class 1 RRs leasing equipment from local groups, in recent years both CSX and UP have. And I know the regionals in Michigan have leased equipment from their local NRHS Chapter for shippers' specials and similar trains over the years as well.

Chris.

It's refreshing and encouraging to see NS' partnership with local preservation groups and even moreso that they do not seem to mind some of the equipment being of non-NS heritage (CN FA and steam heat cars and IC cars) not to mention the recent agreement to help move C&O 614 to Roanoke!

Rob Gardner

Bravo on keeping the steam heat equipment going. Marvelous!

Does anyone out there run a working steam-ejector A/C car?

Steve