Magma Arizona #7 restoration is COMPLETE!

elueck · **Posted:** Tue May 06, 2014 8:08 am

The Texas State Railroad shop crew, headed up by Steven Butler, have completed the restoration and backdating of Magma Arizona #7. At the desire of TSRR General Manager Earl Knoob, and with the concurrence of the Texas State Railroad Authority, Texas State RR #400, has been restored to its correct 1962-3 appearance and number.

On Saturday, May 3, #7 powered the TSRR's annual photo special. This year the train was a Magma Arizona mixed train.

Enclosed are three pictures by three different photographers of that special train.

The first is by Bradley Linda and shows the east bound train pulling into the Palestind depot to board passengers for Rusk.

The second is by Brian Jansky, and is a close up of #7 hitting its stride starting up the 2% grade of Fairchild hill, and the last is mine, from the other end of the clearing, as the flues are sanded.

dinwitty · **Joined:** Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:18 pm **Posts:** 2226

Thanx for the amazing surprise and your hiding the restoration effectively. Looks great!. Rustoleum smokebox?...heh

Alan Maples · **Posted:** Tue May 06, 2014 10:00 am

elueck wrote:

The Texas State Railroad shop crew, headed up by Steven Butler, have completed the restoration and backdating of Magma Arizona #7. At the desire of TSRR General Manager Earl Knoob, and with the concurrence of the Texas State Railroad Authority, Texas State RR #400, has been restored to its correct 1962-3 appearance and number.

On Saturday, May 3, #7 powered the TSRR's annual photo special. This year the train was a Magma Arizona mixed train.

As one who was there, I will add my kudos - this was a well organized, well run trip at a reasonable price with perfect weather. The whole event was a real credit to the staff and volunteers at the Texas State Railroad.

Alan Maples

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Tue May 06, 2014 10:18 am

Healthy beginning to our steam preservation year. Thanks to all involved, and thank you for posting these pictures.

Frisco1522 · **Posted:** Tue May 06, 2014 10:24 am

I'm very happy to see what Earl is doing with the TSRR. When he is finished working things over, it will again resemble a real RR. Hope to see the ATSF 4-6-2 back some day.
Keep up the good work Earl!

elueck · **Posted:** Tue May 06, 2014 10:37 am

On the Magma Arizona, the smokebox and firebox were painted with high temp copper paint. Earl himself painted the smokebox and firebox to match.

QJdriver · **Posted:** Tue May 06, 2014 12:43 pm

I really must admit, I'd like to see TSRR 500 disguised as AT&SF 1316.

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Tue May 06, 2014 6:37 pm

QJdriver wrote:

I really must admit, I'd like to see TSRR 500 disguised as AT&SF 1316.

The same from me. . .

Richard Glueck wrote:

Healthy beginning to our steam preservation year. Thanks to all involved, and thank you for posting these pictures.

About the only thing that might be better now would be that C&O 1309 would be confirmed for operation on the WM (yeah, I know :-D )--and the only thing that would top that would be CSX having a change of heart and allowing steam and other vintage equipment back (:-!). . .

In regard to the photos--for some reason, the "feel" of No. 7 in those woods reminds me of the Reader in Arkansas. . .