In the link below, three steam locomotives lie in the mud of the Kansas (Kaw) River, to one side (the right, I think) of the black line that is the Santa Fe bridge. Two 2-8-2s and one 2-6-2 were lost when the river flooded badly in 1951, taking out one section. Dead engines had been placed on the bridge to try to save it. About 1956, workers from the nearby shops were sent into the nearly dry river bed to cut off what still stuck up above the river bottom, but one of the 2-8-2s did not protrude and was not found. Presumably, it still lies there, intact, the only Santa Fe Mikado extant.

Now that there are various modern devices for locating objects under water and underground, what would be best to find it with? What kind of image would it produce?

http://terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com/image.aspx?S=11&T=1&X=674&Y=10816&Z=15&W=2
ryarger@rypn.org

In all likelihood, an environmental impact statement would have to be filed before anyone could strat poking about for the locos, but...
A rather unsophisticed magnetometer would easily locate something the size of a Santa Fe Mike. Subterranean radar would produce a fairly good image of what is beneath the sediment. My guess is that if the riverbed is mud particles, little rust decay has impacted the locos vital organs, but the jacketing would be shot. Asbestos would be water saturated by now, improving the removal of such substance. Probably the cab got mangled in the fall, maybe the tender as well. Still, it would make a fabulous archaeological project for a museum in that region. There are precedents for return similar "drowned" engines to service, mostly out of New Zealand. The project might make some excellent sense, considering that the locomotive is unique as a class survivor. The parts of the two others might have service life as well. Riverbeds go dry periodically. Anyone wishing to undertake such a project should get all the paperwork out of the way and watch the water tables. If the opportunity to salvage it comes around,the time to act will be fleeting.


Aurora7@Juno.com

In Kansas the land owners also "own" the rivers that run thru their property. If they say you can take something out you may not need to involve the goverment. Last summer I saw a steam tractor that was pulled out of a Kansas river. After 50 years in the river some new tubes, some stays and a little pad welding and the boiler was good to go. More dammage was done by pervious attempts to remove it than by rust.

M. Nix

2rivers@upstel.net

> In Kansas the land owners also
> "own" the rivers that run thru
> their property. If they say you can take
> something out you may not need to involve
> the goverment. Last summer I saw a steam
> tractor that was pulled out of a Kansas
> river. After 50 years in the river some new
> tubes, some stays and a little pad welding
> and the boiler was good to go. More dammage
> was done by pervious attempts to remove it
> than by rust.

> M. Nix

Wasn't their a rather lengthy notation in one of the back issues of the old RYPN on just these very locos? My guess is it had to be ten years ago or more now....

TJ


Port Huron Museum
tjgaffney@phmuseum.org

> Wasn't their a rather lengthy notation in
> one of the back issues of the old RYPN on
> just these very locos? My guess is it had to
> be ten years ago or more now....

That would be Locomotive and Railway Preservation Magazine--no direct relation to RyPN, as L&RP's owner Pentrex would be quick to assure you. That said, Bob Yarger might remember which issue of L&RP, or I can check when I get home tonight.

eledbetter@rypn.org

> That would be Locomotive and Railway
> Preservation Magazine--no direct relation to
> RyPN, as L&RP's owner Pentrex would be
> quick to assure you. That said, Bob Yarger
> might remember which issue of L&RP, or I
> can check when I get home tonight.

Sorry Erik, my bad. I would argue though, that RYPN has picked up VERY nicley where the old L&RP left off, even if there is no DIRECT connection. Its sad that Mark, Bob and others didn't have a crystal ball to see that Pentrex would buy it only to eliminate it for their "own" publication, but such is the way of the world....

TJ


Port Huron Museum
tjgaffney@phmuseum.org