As a follow up, Steamtown's Baldwin 26 is back in the roundhouse as of today, with a fresh fire started after lunch. Steam tests will take place tomorrow.

Yes 5002 is safely home in Pennsylvania after a near half century hiatus. This year parts have been removed and restored. It's a slow process but one that is the most fulfilling thing I've ever taken on.


For the Colebrookdale Railroad, a third coach has been added to our regular trains. The railroad received a new open window coach (thanks Maples) and our Maine Central car just left on its way home this morning.

Southern Michigan Railroad Society completed a major road crossing replacement, as well as Western Maryland GE 44 Tonner #75 getting some fresh WM lettering and logos and the Friends of SMRS continue to ready the new site to begin operations out of in the future.

*raises hand*

Please, remember I'm not involved, this is just what I see between visits and Facebook.

In the past 365 days, the Altoona Railroader's Memorial Museum has occupied the four complete stalls of its quarter-roundhouse. GG1 #4913, Sleeper/Lounge Observation #8419 Mountain View, Berwind-White Coal Company 0-4-0T Vulcan "Nancy." Chas. Schwab private car (2nd) Loretto, and a certain 110P65a tender are now all sheltered from further exposure.

PRR 1361's boiler was returned from its extended layover in Rockhill Furnace in July and now occupies the majority of stall #4 along with her tender and several components. Progress is slow, but forward momentum is forward momentum.

Ashpan and hopper are complete (Photo credit: Mike Reindl, the project's welder and pipefitter), and under a coat of primer:


The grates and rockers have also been repaired and organized.


For 'accomplishments' outside Altoona, the remains of a PRR 8-axle tender were found in a mill in Coatesville, PA with possibility of use on the T1 project.

Anyways, we forgot 2 major things. 765 got an enlarged coal Bunker, and Southern 4501 operated 2 excursions for the NS. Been a long time since that has happened.

Good, positive news regarding the locomotive which shall not be named. Thanks for adding the comment.

This past year, The Conrail Historical Society has
-Finished floor installation in our G36 class gondola
-Finished panel repair in our G36 gondola
-Painted our F41 flat car oxide red (and it's been converted for use as an open air car)
-Applied for grants to paint our G36 Gondola in spring
-Assisted our host railroad (Allentown&Auburn) in getting on its feet by installing ties, assisting as train crew, and working in the shop.

On tap for next year:
-40th Birthday event at Railroad Museum of PA
-Complete Gondola project
-Convert F30 flat car back in a flat car (remove camp car body)
-Possible mainline excursion (s)
Happy 2016 all!

Forgive what may be a bit of a stretch here, but I don't think that this has gotten much press at all.

On November 23, the first revenue train from Plymouth, WI out to the Bemis factory just west of Sheboygan Falls ran with 2 cars of plastic pellets for Bemis.

This was on a former C&NW ROW that had been completely torn out for a number of years and is now operated by Wisconsin & Southern. The rebuild of the line, including bridges was accomplished with state and private money. The project contractor was
North Shore Track of MN. Early ballast trains accomplished with a Trackmobile and later ones using WSOR power and gons. A couple of those later ones were 45 cars.

Line runs West to East and in theory, joins the UP in Kohler although their rail in that area has not been used in years and has at least one gap where a road has been paved over.

Nice to see a new line go in these days.

And, another one from new Hope Valley RR: 2599 out of 2600 tickets for the Santa Trains have sold in advance. I think we need more seats or more trains........

One very positive thing done at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum this year, was the repainting of our 44-ton Whitcomb by Mark Knebel. The unit was also given one of the numbers it wore when in regular service after long carrying a number (27) applied before we knew the locomotives complete history.

Les

My sources report that it has arrived today and is being unloaded as we speak.

Northern Ohio Railway Museum

WIRE!

More info coming in another post.

The C&NW #1385 of Mid-Continent Railway has seen the completion driving boxes, spring rigging, footplate replacement & side rods. The drivers are now rejoined to the frame with side rods and spring rigging in place. Cylinders and one valve cage have been bored and the material is on hand for the other valve cage replacement. Cab pieces are being painted as I type and nearing final assembly. The front truck rebuild is under way.

I know there have been fine accomplishments made in the car department and I'm hoping someone closer to the restoration crew can lend some details.

I'll also mention a privately owned steam loco has undergone some steam tests with more refinements to come.

mld

Wilmington & Western RR's former B&O SW-1 No. 8408 has been restored by McHugh Locomotive and Crane and will return to service in her B&O livery. W&W's former B&O I-5D caboose No. C-2013 has also been given some overdue attention to return to active service in B&O livery to go with No. 8408. Countless other less glamorous projects have been completed too.

One of the things to keep in mind, restoring something is huge endeavor unto itself. Restoring something while getting multiple trains out the door every week plus doing regular maintenance and repair on a small operating fleet, station facilities, and 10 miles of track is pretty amazing.

If you are anywhere in our neighborhood, please stop by and see what we are up to.

From the project blog and videos, restoration of Southern Pacific narrow gauge #18 is getting close. Restoration began in 2010.

Project videos -
August 2015. Boiler steam-up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhkwmAmVDXs
November 2015. Loco is coming together: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx4p9moZtqI

Project blog -
http://carsoncolorado.com/