The WW&F Railroad Museum in Maine extended their rails over 2000 feet to make a total of about 3.5 miles over the original right-of-way. This two-foot gauge line also has an operational steam engine that briefly ran over this line just before abandonment.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44041

I know UP 4014 has already been mentioned, I feel like I should add a few things of note. I saw it in action across four days spread across two of its journey's. The crowds all four times were insane, and credit has to be given to the massive amount of exposure in person and on social media UP 4014 generated for rail preservation this year.

As for some smaller news; at my local museum the Tooele Valley Museum and Historic park we finally finished replacing the freight dock around the station; and re-instated the board for the museum. The local high school band and an Eagle Scout project cleared up some track from the Tooele Valley Railway that had been on our property that had been previously hidden by grass; making the rails visible to the public again. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going to begin tackling some of the bigger projects.

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Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway returned Denver and Rio Grande 168 to the rails

Probably the smallest standard gauge restoration this year. The IRM's Sheffield Velocipede.
Yours truly in the bowler hat.

Northeastern Pennsylvania continued its reputation as a rail preservation center in 2019, with quite a few new activities taking place to keep it all interesting. One of the bigger changes for the year was a chartered excursion on the North Shore Railroad, instigated by the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Chapter of the NRHS and the Ontario & Western Railway Historical Society. This was the first train on the full length allowable by the track owners since 1988. Leading the train were the GP35s painted in Erie Lackawanna and Reading liveries. Along for the ride were members of the Western Maryland Historical Society, who were holding their own convention that same weekend in early October. The train was close to a sell-out.

The year was not a great starter for the National Park Service at Steamtown. A 35-day nationwide government shut-down stopped any work on regular maintenance, much less restoration of Boston & Maine no. 3713. However, about a month after the shut-down ended, the park was delivered the rebuilt roller-bearing wheelsets for the pilot wheels, and soon after, the 80-inch drive wheels were returned after repairs, and crafting of a replacement axle for the number 2 drive wheel set. The brand new tender tank and coal burning area of the firebox, also brand new, arrived at the locomotive shop in the Fall. 2020 will be a busy year in putting all of these parts in place.

Another dilemma for Steamtown is that we experienced a change-over in leadership. Debbie Conway left for the regional office in Philadelphia. While the acting superintendents, Matt Carroll and Rob Parrish, kept the park going, they could not provide long-term leadership during their 3 month appointments. Especially during the shut-down, a lot of what Matt Carroll wanted to accomplish was stopped until the government reopened. One area of concern was a multiple year contract with the rail partners at the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Rail Authority. Around the time of our beginning the season in April, we wound up with a month by month agreement to use the railroad line for excursions. Some of our trips were cancelled because we did not have adequate time to sell tickets to passengers. The long term contract was signed shortly after arrival of our new superintendent, Cheri Shepherd in the Summer.

Nonetheless, our trains began operation in April, during National Park Week, as we often do, and Baldwin 0-6-0 no. 26 led the season. Some bearing work on her drive rods was taken care of, and she runs like a Swiss watch. Nickel Plate Road GP9 no. 514 also came back in service in the spring, and led the first excursion to Moscow on Mother's Day. She has run several trips on the line, and sometimes is assisted by F3 no. 663 in Lackawanna Railroad colors, and sometimes with an Alco helper from local railroad the Delaware-Lackawanna RR.

Much of the warmer weather months in 2019 were spent with a combination of employees and volunteers combining talents to clean up, and touch up paint on Reading 4-8-4 no. 2124. This included updating this steam loco to her 1959 appearance as she looked for the Reading Rambles in 1959-1962. A "Reading Lines" diamond shaped plate was donated to the locomotive, and she was a stand-out for Steamtown's Railfest during the Labor Day weekend. A night photo session featured this steamer and the Reading FP7s during Railfest. Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 also got some cab attention during the year, and was a prominent display for Railfest also. Not to be outdone by all of these big steamers, our biggest, Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 no. 4012 was taken off display in October to begin asbestos abatment and stabilization work, which includes a new paint job.

New activities for the park were to feature Baldwin no. 26 at the nearby Arts On Fire exhibit in Scranton's Iron Furnaces state park. This industrial art fair gave us a chance to show off historic industrial work, which is an artform in its own right. Steamtown's staff returned to the Scranton Santa Parade in November, and also debuted a food drive called "Stuff the Caboose" later that evening as a part of kicking off the holiday season. The post-Thanksgiving Holiday Express trains to Santa's Station in Moscow were also sell-outs once again. Adding to this, the Iron Horse Society at Steamtown chartered the Steamtown train set to run short trips to Nay Aug Park while Santa Claus spent time with the young ones on board the train. The annual Santa Train with Baldwin no. 26 running on the former D&H with multiple Santa parties on the line, was also a big hit for the year.

At least two trolley restoration projects have taken big leaps this year, too. The Scranton Transit Osgood-Bradley car no. 505 was trucked to Honesdale, PA for some body work to be taken on by the Delaware Lackawaxen & Stourbridge RR. Much work has progressed on this. Also, Wilkes-Barre car no. 790 is being restored by a new group, Anthracite Trolleys, Inc. and was removed from the house where it has resided since the 1940s. It literally was part of a house, and is in process of becoming a streetcar again. If I heard right, this will come back as a 5-foot gauge car, which will need its own line to run on.

I have not kept up as heavily with other local railroads or preservation in the area as much as I used to, but rest assured, the Stourbridge Railroad, Delaware-Lackawanna, Reading and Northern, Luzerne & Susquehanna and the Norfolk Southern are still humming along. If anyone in my town wants to add to this, go right ahead.

In addition to previous items about the New Hope Railroad already covered in this topic, here are two other interesting things to note. First off, this past spring, the railroad returned outer doors and diaphragms to former Reading Company commuter coach turned parlor car No. 1430.
Also, the railroad’s most recent addition, former Boston & Maine caboose C127, has arrived at the NHRR from its previous home in New York’s Adirondack region. This car was originally built with wood sides by the Laconia Car Company in 1921, later rebuilt with steel sides in 1959 by Morrison International upon the original frame.

Tim, Wilkes-barre #790 will be standard gauge when it’s finished. I’m not sure where the broad gauge rumor came from. I believe the group is using ex-Toronto trucks which may need to be regauged. The Anthracite Trolley group deserves a big pat on the back for pulling this one off and are worthy of your support. Once restored, the car will be donated to the Electric City Trolley Museum for operation.

Scranton Transit #505 is progressing at Stourbridge and with any luck will start looking more like a trolley in 2020. We had to go forward with side sheet replacement but it’s being done the right way with full sheets hot riveted at factory seams. Much time and effort was spent in 2019 locating parts, getting quotes and planning for the next phase of work.

Stay tuned for updates on both of these projects.

From the Mechanical Dept. of Mid-Continent Railway Museum, North Freedom, Wi. the new boiler for C&NW 1385 was delivered in late September and work continues to bring Domtar Paper #1001 into service.
Many good things have also happened in our Restoration Dept. and I'm hoping Bill Buhrmaster will chime in with details........mld

Northern Ohio Railway Museum put our substation into service. You can read the full story here.

https://heritagerail.org/2019/09/power- ... ubstation/

Steve Heister
Northern Ohio Railway Museum

The New Hope Valley Railway in NC had a near record breaking year in terms of attendance (2nd best ever). Work progresses on the 1472 inspection of steam locomotive 17; we completed the initial engineering survey of 17's boiler and are actively procuring parts including a new smokebox, liner and ring, and new safety valves. We've saved two historic pieces of rail equipment for future restoration; a former Southern railway 1930s era Pullman low side gondola and a 1974 Seaboard M8 caboose. Progress is being made on the Goldston Depot restoration, with Seaboard caboose 5228 and Nickel Plate bay window caboose 468 receiving cosmetic restorations.

Things happen slowly at Bonsal... but they happen. Thanks to everyone in the railroad preservation community who have assisted us; this is truly a group effort. I wish you all the best in 2020.

Happy New Year!
Mike MacLean
New Hope Valley Railway
http://www.triangletrain.com

The Colfax Railroad Museum, Colfax, WI completed acquisition of its entire property. We also finished laying 950' of 7.5" gauge track for our new miniature train ride and installed a new parking area for our 1898 depot and train ride.