Thanks John! So may I ask why #2 has bounced around a lot and is she still owned by the same person? Thanks!

Why certainly you can ask. Just remember my answers are like all answers, perspective and not cast in concrete. Truth is really spelled with small "t" and is a short spelling for "perspective".

The #2 once sold from the Cadillac and Lake City RR in Mi went to three or four owners finally ending up as a group purchase from various members at Mid Continent RR museum at North Freedom Wi. The ram rod behind the purchase at MC is the sole owner at this time. The reason why it bounced around is that it was sold to different people. You can go on MC web site and research in some more detail of who and possibly why. Being that I am not or was never involved in ownership I do not feel confident to go into more detail on why people sold the engine or bought it. I do recall MC as a museum had the chance to buy the locomotive for cheap at the CLC auction, but dropped the ball on that one. Just call it managerial buffoonism on the BOD at the time.

The current owner is deep into restoration on his own. It is not a MC project. The boiler is about done, but the running gear needs reassembly and some more work. The original plan of restoration has changed a number of times and time lines have changed as situations have changed. Currently a new tank has been built in Milw and might be done at this time? Was near completion last I heard. Not the tender project as a whole, just the tank itself. Don't want to go into the ownership thing to much. His rights to privacy. At this time the project has been funded solely by the owner not MC or grants of any kind. No time line on a completion of project. Not my drama, but help when I can. Have made the mistake of saying when I thought it might be ready to roll in the past and I really regret doing that.

There is some history of the locomotive on MC web page. Do not have the link handy I am not at home, but you can find it easy enough by looking there. A great locomotive and I am totally impatient in seeing this thing get done. But it is not mine or my project. Hope this helps. John.

edit:http://www.midcontinent.org/1385/pl2.html.

Sorry for rather non detailed history of ownership on website. Most steam details/pics on progress are pretty outdated. In recent "Raileay Gazette" {MC publication} they had a fairly detailed account of ownership from beginning to present. Not sure how to access it to share. If the OP is truely interested it would be just what was asked for. Don't have a scanner to copy. Pretty challenged in computer skills. Hope this helps. John.

John -

Thanks for that explanation on 2-8-2 number 2. It seems like the Cadillac & Lake City operation was a million years ago now.

Les

John, are you associated with MC? Cause we're all wondering when #2 will return to the rails. Thanks for the info!

Am a member and friends with the owner. Read my post above about time lines and predicting when it will again operate. Can't and won't attempt it. I learned the hard way as I tried in the past to pass along projected plans. Things kept changing, scope of work changed, and contractors got busy and so on. There is a lot of behind the scenes things going on and am not at liberty to discuss.

Things at this moment and all winter have pretty much ground to a halt. As already mentioned the new tank is probably done as far as fabricating goes, Will probably need blasting and painting inside and out. That is most recent work being done. A new axle is ready to be installed on wheels. Just waiting for someone to finish the installation. The owner is calling the shots not me. He is well aware of my impatience on getting the last driver set back to the locomotive. New crown brass is ready and in boxes, front and rear trucks have been reprofiled and re-worked. I think we are very nearly ready to start reassembly of running gear once we get the driver set back. All driving wheels have been reprofiled. There is a lot of work to be done yet and I do not see this happening in the next year. As stated before there are things going on behind the scenes that are not pubilic or have the need to be public unless the owner chooses to share. No one is more impatient then me on this project. But not my locomotive and have no control what so ever on what, when or where. Cheers, John.

So is the boiler done? Thank you very much for everything! Always nice to have an insider.
Sorry to bombard you with questions but do LS&I #22's owners plan to someday try to restore her back to operation again? Thanks!

Just returned from my first visit to KMRR at North Lake. I was supposed to meet with Steven to see Engine #9 - he suggested meeting today, and I suggested a 10:00 AM meeting time via email but he never responded. I emailed him two more times, first asking what time he would like to meet and then sending him my cell phone number in case he hadn't decided on a meeting time. I also asked for his cell number. Again, he never responded so I mistakenly assumed that 10:00 was an okay meeting time. I even got there at 9:15 in case he was early. When it got to be just past noon, I gave up and went home. Since I had implied consent via email to meet him on the property, I did walk around and I shot photos of what was outside. I think I saw bits of #9 through a couple of windows on the large shed, but couldn't be sure of that. I just wish Steven would have let me know when - or even if - he planned to be there - it was an 80-mile round trip from my house. It was nice to see what was on the property, but I am still frustrated and more than a little upset about it....

No reason to be upset.

You traveled the distance without final confirmation from him that he would be there to meet you.

Disappointed, I'd agree, but upset?

I guess you are right, Junior - I just wish Steven would have responded in some fashion. He and I have already exchanged emails about it and he apologized for the misunderstanding, and I apologized for sounding upset about it. I was quite disappointed about it though - no question. I hope I get to see it (#9) at some future point before it is moved off the site.