Rail Tours CPR 972

R.L.Kennedy · **Joined:** Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:37 pm **Posts:** 242

Looking for a few photos (scans) of ex CPR 972 out of York Pa on the old Ma&Pa. Want something including the train.

Post here or email oldtimetrains at gmail.com

TIA

RLK

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2018 12:53 am

The Maryland Rail Heritage Library at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum has some.

Is this for curiosity, publication, or what?

Pat Fahey · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2018 9:50 am

Hi
I found a shot of CPR #972 in Pennsylvania, off the Web, the photo is on the Ma & Pa according to the Web site.

Attachment:

File comment: PHOTO FROM OLD TIME TRAINS, OFF WEB

Old Time Trains # 2.jpg [ 43.23 KiB | Viewed 10095 times ]

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2018 10:36 am

There is NO place on the Ma & Pa in Pa. that looks even remotely like that; I'm inclined to guess that's a photo of it in service for CP in Canada.

Howard P. · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2018 10:55 am

George Hart's long-time boilermaker was Ben Kantner, RDG Co. shops at Reading. Hart had his close group of professional railroad people (both retired and "active duty"). Joe Karal was a Nickel Plate Road boilermaker out of Conneaut Shops in Ohio; Joe was involved with the 1968 refurbishment of NKP 759, and was always more associated with High Iron Co. projects (and their "affiliates").

972 ran its last years in the Canadian great plains with a auxiliary water car, as seen behind the tender.

Howard P.

Pat Fahey · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2018 2:08 pm

Hi
I did find a photo of CPR # 972 on the Ma & Pa, the scan is taken from the book
Steam in the Sixties written by Ron Ziel and George H. Foster. The photo was taken on the Ma & Pa by George H. Foster.
In the book, they are five (5) pages dealing with Mr. George Hart and the Ma & Pa.
The photo is as noted.

Attachment:

File comment: Photo by George H. Foster from Book Steam in the Sixties

CPR 972 (2)a.jpg [ 131.32 KiB | Viewed 9842 times ]

R.L.Kennedy · **Joined:** Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:37 pm **Posts:** 242

Howard P. wrote:

George Hart's long-time boilermaker was Ben Kantner,

972 ran its last years in the Canadian great plains with a auxiliary water car, as seen behind the tender.

Howard P.

Ben! Yes, got names mixed up. What is not known is that 972 was NOT the first choice. It was 975 however, by the time Ben got to Weston, the main shops in Winnipeg, it was already being scrapped! But, 2 or 3 down the line was 972 which although a higher mileage engine (not worn out) it had a very good boiler. I was working at CPR motive power and had given George detailed records of all remaining steam engines, their mileage, tube time, condition etc. He had asked me for a smaller engine and I recommended a D-10 as a very dependable and capable class.

Yes, a Western Lines engine for sure as the caption says.

http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/p ... am/D10.htm

I am looking for some Ma&Pa photos to go with this regular service photo which I just added to my website.

WVNorthern · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2018 5:13 pm

October 2, 1983 - somewhere between Birdsboro, PA & Pottstown, Pa taken through our AMTRAK coach window. I was on a circle excursion sponsored by the Philadelphia Chapter NRHS over mostly freight-only trackage. It was announced that we would be passing by a another excursion train powered by George Hart's engine on the left-hand side. Not the greatest shot, but certainly not an every-day occurrence.

rlsteam · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2018 5:35 pm

My late brother, David V. Leonard, got this color shot of 972 at Reading, PA on October 9, 1983, around the time of the excursion in the previous post. The tender is lettered "P. & R."

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2018 11:06 pm

First time I've tried this with Dropbox, so it may go badly.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/252beytwhl8s ... Urz8a?dl=0

I was a kid with a Brownie camera, tagging along with Ron Ziel and friend, Jim Guthrie.
The prints say 1966 on the back, so where this is might be identifiable. I didn't get a decent camera (Yashica A) until Chistmas that year. Despite the quality, they do bring back some good memories.
I note all the people riding and chasing these trains, with cameras in their hands, and wondering where those pictures are today? It's been 52 years!

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Dick -

I'd say for only having a Brownie camera, you did very well!

Les

G. W. Laepple · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1182

I know exactly where these photos were taken. Most of them are at Delta, Pa. on the south end of the Maryland & Pennsylvania. The engines are being turned on the classic William Sellers turntable. The reason I know this is that's me on the step on the pilot of No. 1251 in the last photo. Brings back many fond memories.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Thu Dec 06, 2018 10:46 am

Great! I'm glad to have made a contribution! The 972 has always been one of my favorites, which is why I'd love to see Strasburg fast-track her into the shops and run her. The 1251 is just a beautiful little shop switcher with so much color and history to her. So sorry she won't feel heat again. Was she retired to the museum because of necessary repairs, or just because she's Reading?

Dave Stephenson · **Posted:** Thu Dec 06, 2018 11:55 am

As best I can determine from the photos Dave Dunlap was running 972 and Ray Lecates was firing 1251. Can't make out the engineer on 1251. On one of the 972-Delta runs (not this one), I got the chance to ride the cab Delta to York and, as was my usual job, flag the crossings. Good memories indeed!!