Does anyone know if Middletown & Hummelstown has fired up their CNR 2-6-0 #91 yet? Their website says steam will run in July & Aug. It must be getting close. Any eyewitnesses?

Hello

Talked to a friend of mine who works there part time and he said they were looking at the Aug/Sept time frame. No fire up yet.

Dave Crosby

bing@epix.net

We are in the home stretch on the 91 for sure. The last repairs to the boiler have been completed (some work on the throat sheet), and we have one last hydro to do. The valve gear is going back on as I write. The tender repairs are in their final phases. Some rod work is now underway. There's lots of painting to do, and of course, after a successful hydro, there will be lagging and jacketing to put on. There is still some miscellaneous reassembly to do here and there. Meanwhile, the crew qualification training program has been stepped up.

Ideally, we would like to see her return in the latter half of summer or early fall at the latest, and the push is on for that. But, because of the many unpredictable variables involved,and because alot of the labor is volunteer, I don't think anyone on the crew will commit to a definite fire-up date. But rest assured, 91's coming, sooner rather than later. I'll post when that day does arrive, so look for us.

Steve Zarick
volunteer on the 91 project
conductor and fireman, M&H RR

smzarick@hotmail.com