Saw the new Railfan with a list of operatble steam engines in Jeff Terry's column. Jeff makes a good point about the dwindling number of operable steam locomotives in the US.

Upon reading the list, it gets even sadder, as there are at least 5 engines listed that have not or will not run in 2004.

Rob

trains@robertjohndavis.com

Hey Rob,

I wonder how many engines not on the list are in serviceable - albeit not legal, condition. While I'm only familiar with a small segment of the operators, I've noticed quite a few engines that had flue time left, but were either sidelined or taken down for rebuild to meet the new FRA regs. Also with govt funding and private sector giving at very low levels right now, hoepfully we can expect to see the ranks of the living rise when the economy picks up again.

See ya - Mike

TWVRPS

yenko117@yahoo.com

Thanks for the nice comments, Rob, but Jim Wrinn deserves the credit for writing the excellent introduction. Between the two of us, dozens of calls were made to verify that the locomotives listed would be running in ‘04. What are the five engines you speak of?

Jeff Terry


jterry618@earthlink.net

Not sure what five are on Rob's list, but I did notice that under New Jersey the ex-Surry Sussex & Southhampton 3' gauge 2-6-2 26 is listed as operational at the Pine Creek RR. Unfortunately that is not the case. 26 hasn't been operational in several years.

The only operational steam locomotive currently running in the Garden State is the Susquehanna Chinese 2-8-2 142 on the Bel-Del excursions at Phillipsburg.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

I saw Pine Creek's website and it is misleading. According to their schedule they make it sounds like steam is running on the weekends and diesel during the week. We went there two weeks ago, drove over a hundred miles and no steam...in fact the gift shop person said they haven't run steam since 2001 (#26)!! I was very upset. Their web master needs to get on the ball or I'm not going back ever.

> Not sure what five are on Rob's list, but I
> did notice that under New Jersey the
> ex-Surry Sussex & Southhampton 3' gauge
> 2-6-2 26 is listed as operational at the
> Pine Creek RR. Unfortunately that is not the
> case. 26 hasn't been operational in several
> years.

> The only operational steam locomotive
> currently running in the Garden State is the
> Susquehanna Chinese 2-8-2 142 on the Bel-Del
> excursions at Phillipsburg.

> Regards,
> Jim Robinson

Is that railroad museums need money to fix their steam locos, and when they aren't running steam there are less rider off which to make money to fix the engines that they'd like to be running. Do you see a death spiral? What to do?

mrcooltrains@yahoo.com

Jeff,

I commented in general about this Steam Train a couple of weeks ago when it first arrived in the mail.

Now I will say again, Great Work!! your tabulation will teach a lot of rail fans just what is out there and where the steam trains can be ridden.

And a lot of them are narrow gauge, which always appeals to me.

Ted Miles

ted_miles@nps.gov

>What are the five engines you speak of?

Hi Jeff,

I don't have the magazine with me, but I think the list had Pine Creek 26, Steamtown 3254, NKP 765, White Mountain Central Climax and Heisler. Hopefully, 765 will break out.

The WMC actually has 4 operable steamers, though it is questionable how many, if any, will run this year, from hwat I have been hearing.

Rob

> Hi Jeff,

> I don't have the magazine with me, but I
> think the list had Pine Creek 26, Steamtown
> 3254, NKP 765, White Mountain Central Climax
> and Heisler. Hopefully, 765 will break out.

> The WMC actually has 4 operable steamers,
> though it is questionable how many, if any,
> will run this year, from hwat I have been
> hearing.

> Rob
Dear Rob i hear the heisler is runing this year. The climax next year, #5 may or may not also run next year.bb