I stopped by to see the Carson & Colorado / Southern Pacific 18 in Independence, California yesterday. It's basically finished! very impressive. Thanks to Rick Cromer for opening up the compound for me to take a look.

http://carsoncolorado.com/

TH

This is one awesome locomotive. It was one of the first few equipped with Walschaerts valve gear, and was a medium high drivered 10-wheeler, made for medium fast running and could accelerate a full train quickly, all along with a stable ride and predictable turn in on the curves. Passenger and freight, this one di it all. Sounds extraordinary, but many 3' gauge locos were just great all around locomotives. Built to burn bunker "C" oil (basically asphalt). She was one good looking and even better performing steam locomotive.

She has Pyle-National headlights, possibly p-n classification lps also. Brakes are 6ET, with a S-6 automatic, and an H-6 Independant valve. with a 8" or 9.5" compressor.

More to follow later.

Here it is yesterday, Saturday October 15th 2016 in steam and moving......

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLmR2qLhNdI/

Have no idea on the nuts and bolts of this restoration. But I do know how much work it takes to go from static to live especially after sitting for so long. The endless details go on forever. A hearty congrats to all involved.

Regards, John.

Looks like they will be locating the museum and engine on the original C&C right of way in Independence, which is a big deal to me. Also looks like room to expand in an area with reasonable property values and scant NIMBY problems, all pluses.

This is a really nice restoration, by a well organized group.

A few years ago they gave a presentation at the SPng Historical Society meeting in Lone Pine... I was surprised and pleased to see that their "restoration" plan (and budget) included a building for long term indoor storage and public access as a core part of the plan... They were not just making the locomotive go... they were making sure that it was preserved forever.

Too often we see a locomotive rebuilt/restored without a plan to care for it beyond "make it go"

During the presentation, they discussed that their organization might not exist when the locomotive needed to be rehabilitated again, and they had to plan for that.

Randy

I want to congratulate the SP 18 crew. I also want to point out that part of the crew is a person vilified as wanting to close the museum in Ely, NV. It amazes me who one person is the devil in one organization and a contributor in another organization.

Robby Peartree

It was an exciting day for everyone involved with the project. The locomotive performed very well despite the usual handful of minor problems: leaky valve packing, temperamental injector and compressor governor to name the bigger ones. We still have a handful of other things still to be completed before we will call the restoration done, but we're close.
For those not familiar, the real rebuild began in April 2010 and has included a wrapper sheet flush patch, 60 or so flexi bolts and sleeves, a new driver axle, reconed drivers, some new crown brasses and everything else you need to do for a part 230 compliant loco. As an interesting side note, as best we can tell this is the first locomotive restoration since the updated part 230 to have been entirely done in a park and then operated right out of its display spot. Yes we would like to take it to one of the NG railroads out west for a trip or two at some point in the future but currently have no plans to do so. From the start this was largely a community project and as such it operating in Independence, CA and as an ambassador for Inyo County - one of CA's least populated counties and the locos owner - is what it was all about. We will be updated things on our website in the coming weeks showing more pictures and videos of the weekend.
Our building project is also getting close to having equipment start moving dirt, like in the next couple weeks. We have the funds in hand (although we still need money for some track laying) along with the building and grading permits. The structure and track will be located in Independence at the Eastern California Museum.
If you have supported us already, Thank You! If not, we are always looking for more.

Randy Babcock
CCRW VP and project leader

Rigtigt godt!

Just a couple of trivial questions. From the Trains item
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2016/10/17-sp-narrow-gauge-steam

a) What are those guys doing with the torch behind the speaker?

b) Is it really "the first" movement under steam? Would you have had at least some testing before the big public display?