Perhaps Brian Fritz knows the answer, but there is supposedly an NP S-4 4-6-0 being rebuilt in Yakima, WA. The website of the Yakima group hasn't been updated or touched for over a year. I'm curious if anyone knows the fate of this engine. The S-4 class would make great excursion engines as they are easy to operate and thrifty for "branch" type operations. I believe this engine was once at Point Defiance Park and has been disassembled since 1975 or so. Anyone know anything?

shawsinoly@msn.com

> Perhaps Brian Fritz knows the answer, but
> there is supposedly an NP S-4 4-6-0 being
> rebuilt in Yakima, WA. The website of the
> Yakima group hasn't been updated or touched
> for over a year. I'm curious if anyone knows
> the fate of this engine. The S-4 class would
> make great excursion engines as they are
> easy to operate and thrifty for
> "branch" type operations. I
> believe this engine was once at Point
> Defiance Park and has been disassembled
> since 1975 or so. Anyone know anything?

I wasn't aware there was one in Yakima, or at least I don't remember it from my 1990 visit doing the 700 and 4449 up there. You are right about this class. They (NP) used #1372 on some of the final excursions out of Seattle on the North Bend line in 56-57, before scrapping the engine later. We were fortunate enough to get some footage of these runs on 16mm from a Seattle area resident. Also a few glimpses of the Timken engine (first 4-8-4 with roller bearings) #2626.
Image below shows 1372(Painting)in freight service.
I saw another S-4 in 1999 at the depot in Helena. It was sister 1382. Would like to have seen it tackle Mullan Pass with a passenger train!
Steamingly,
Greg Scholl


Videos

Sales@gregschollvideo.com

> Perhaps Brian Fritz knows the answer, but
> there is supposedly an NP S-4 4-6-0 being
> rebuilt in Yakima, WA.

Just one small detail... The locomotive is in Toppenish, which is a few miles southeast of Yakima.

Washington Steam Locomotives and Railroads
brianfr@speakeasy.org

> Just one small detail... The locomotive is
> in Toppenish, which is a few miles southeast
> of Yakima.

Is this the outfit that operated the Great Western 51 during the Washington Steamfests, when 700 and 4449 were up there? Isn't that BNSF trackage now? Where do they plan to run?
Greg Scholl


Videos
Sales@gregschollvideo.com

> Is this the outfit that operated the Great
> Western 51 during the Washington Steamfests,
> when 700 and 4449 were up there? Isn't that
> BNSF trackage now? Where do they plan to
> run?
> Greg Scholl

I don't know whether they operated the the GW 51 or not.

Here's an Altamount News article that may be of interest though. http://railroadnews.net/archives/1-23.html

It's not the article I remember reading about the restoration of service to the White Swan mill, but it covers the same territory.

Here's the URL to the Yakima Valley Rail and Steam Museum and Toppenish, Simcoe & Western Railroad page:

http://www.halcyon.com/awoolf/yvrs.html


Washington Steam Railroads and Locomotives
brianfr@speakeasy.org