SRI Purchases Steam Locomotive

The Steam Railroading Institute (SRI) announces the purchase of steam locomotive
No. 76 (2-8-0) from Jerry J. Jacobson. The locomotive was part of the Ohio Central Railroad Steam Department’s collection. A history of that locomotive can be viewed at the website of the Ohio Central Railroad Steam Department.

SRI will fulfill the original plan of the Ohio Central Steam Department by restoring and operating this locomotive for passenger activities. No. 76’s lower operating costs, compared to the museum’s 400 ton Pere Marquette No. 1225, will allow SRI to offer its visitors regularly scheduled steam train rides and the chance to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the steam era.

This purchase furthers the SRI’s mission to educate the public about steam era railroad technology and its impact on the culture and economy of the Great Lakes region.

SRI will begin restoration of the locomotive at its Owosso site in June and expects to have Locomotive No. 76 back in service for the 2006 operating season.

Kevin Mayer
Locomotive Manager
SRI

Congrats to both parties --- here's hoping that we see another engine in steam in the not too distant future, and kudos to SRI for bellying-up to the bar to get a "middle-of-the-road" engine. Also kudos to OC for realizing this engine was not high-enough on their own priority list to see its operation in the near future, and instead transferring it to a group who most likely will. What a great move all around.

Hmm, it may not be six-wheeled, but me-thinks you guys are-thinking along the same lines as Mr. Ledbetter's recent article in Trains.....

And before those people who would fire speculation willy-nilly get to it --- NO, my guess would be that this does not mean the end of the Ohio Central Steam Program, or that SRI is not going to run #1225, or that the world is coming to end tomorrow! Hmmm......does sthat cover enough of the potential rumor-mills in the offing? Its just an honest transaction among to organizations operating steam.

And a dandy one at that! Hmm, an Ann Arbor #2100-series look-alike maybe?

TJ Gaffney

That's very good news. Two class organizations dealing with each other, probably for the betterment of both.

I certainly hope not. She looks just fine with "MISSISSIPPIAN RY" on her cab, and a big ol' "76" on her tender flanks. (Kevin, I have lettering patterns filed away if you need them.) OK, maybe that's too much to ask, but then again, there was that "photo special" thread below, and Mississippian engines hold a spot in my heart, so . . .


No. 76 was featured on the Mississippian's letterhead in a rather modern engraving. Not sure what inspired Mr. Puckett, but it certainly stood out . . .

Best of luck with the restoration and return to service.

JAC

I couldn't be more pleased. When I was general manager of the Gettysburg Railway, poor 76 sat neglected out in back of the shop, and I was very pleased when Jerry Jacobsen purchased her, along with 1278. Although Gettysburg Railway never owned either of those locomotives, I tried to keep an eye on them. I stood by as the cranes lifted her from the rails in Biglerville and placed her gently atop a heavy-haul trailer for the circuitous highway trip to Ohio.

I must say, however, I think a return to service in 2006 is very optimistic. The running gear needs attention, and the engine needs a new smokebox, as well as everything necessary for a new Form 4. That's an awful lot of work to be accomplished in a year. Best of luck, guys. She'll be a fine little lokie.

johnacraft wrote: She looks just fine with "MISSISSIPPIAN RY" on her cab, and a big ol' "76" on her tender flanks. (Kevin, I have lettering patterns filed away if you need them.) OK, maybe that's too much to ask, but then again, there was that "photo special" thread below, and Mississippian engines hold a spot in my heart, so . . .

As do Frisco engines hold a spot in my heart, so it could go back one more generation and be lettered Frisco 76. The important thing is that she will live again!

That sounds fine to me ;)

(Kevin, I also have some dimensions for the brakeman's shanty if you're so inclined.)



This is 76 switching the bentonite plant at White Springs, MS, in 1964. James Carlisle is at the throttle. Photo by Gil Hoffman.

JAC

Nice photo John!

Now, if we can only get them to collect the proper steam era freight cars to go behind it! Then they would have a real steam railroading experience!

Michael Allen

The first time I was ever aware of 76 was in Ziel's "Twilight of Steam", which was my favorite train book as a youngster. I first met it 'in person' down on the Gettysburg in the 70's.

OK, so lets see.... Frisco -> Mississippian -> ? -> Gettysburg -> Ohio Central -> SRI? Who am I missing in there, anybody?

I still love to look at that classic book. It's worth reviewing because of so many people, so much hard work on so many projects, that have preserved and are still operating stuff that was being recorded as 'dead men walking' at that point in time now - just think - perilously close to 50 years ago. I'll always think of it as the "Mississipian" engine with the "Frisco" number board, but that's just my personal impression.

Mike --
I take it that its been a while since you've been to Owosso. To my knowledge, the following are now there:

FREIGHT EQUIPMENT
1.) Pere Marquette Caboose #A909
2.) Pere Marquette 40' single-sheathed boxcar #88000-series or 89700-
series boxcar , later M of W SB-305
3.) Pere Marquette 50' boxcar #72332
4.) Ann Arbor Caboose #28??

PASSENGER EQUIPMENT
4.) Pere Marquette baggage #361 (originally a troop sleeper)
5.) Detroit & Mackinac baggage/ 300KW Power Car (orig. troop sleeper) 6.) C & O Combine Car (# I forget)
7.) C & O "City of Ashland" Pullman Sleeper
8.) C & O Pullman Passenger Coach #1615

M of W EQUIPMENT
9.) GTW Burro Crane
10.) Hand Car

And that just what they OWN. There is other equipment there as well with AA, C&O, D&M & NYC heritage still privately held I believe (Kevin could say for sure). I know it isn't a Mid-Continent or an IRM in terms of size, but its a start, and its pretty specific to Michigan. I suppose it can always grow, but to me they are doing it right ---they think BEFORE they leap. Look --- they have a great site, an operating turntable, plenty of room to grow; thing is, they realize it has to be a SUSTAINABLE pace; it serves NO ONE to have equipment scattered around like a glorified junk yard, with not enough money or help to get the equipment in presentable, operating order.

TJ Gaffney

We also own an old Wabash boxcar and an old Ann Arbor boxcar. We also have 2 ex-GTW flats permanently stored on are site. We also now own 4 refurbished VIA cars.

Kevin Mayer

Well actually, it was originally owned by the Jonesboro Lake City and Eastern in Arkansas, which was bought up by the Frisco. The 77 was the sister engine which passed along to the Mississippian Ry. I think she is operating up in Canada?
My first experience with the 76 was in Spring of '63 when my very pregnant (8 months) wife and I were enroute to Ft. Rucker, AL. We stopped and were invited up in the cab to ride around while she switched the consist at Amory. The fireman perched my wife on the seatbox and was very nervous as he probably expected the bouncing around to throw her into labor. The operation there was really neat (especially to a Frisco fan, what with the ex-Frisco engines and caboose) and the Carlisle brothers were very hospitable.
We visited again in Dec. of '65 en route from Rucker back to St. Louis. I had spent two years in Germany and was assigned back to Ft. Rucker for 5 months and then discharged from the Army there.
Man that's a long time ago!

Don't know what kind of fellow he is in person, but you'll find this board is chock-a-block with people whose lives were changed in their impressionable years by "Twight"--including me.

"The Twilight of Steam" definitely shaped my view of things. It's not an exaggeration to say that it changed my life, reading it as I did a year before encountering PM 1225 at Michigan State University. I never imagined that I'd wind up scavenging steam stuff from the scrapyard in which CB&Q 6316 was cut up in that series of photos (and getting in the cab of the remains of another Q 2-10-4 used as a stationary boiler there). Neither did I expect when I made a pilgrimage to Athens(?) Alabama to see Mississippian No. 77 in the mid 1970's that we'd wind up working with its twin 30 years later. You never know. Incidentally, there's a nice photo of No. 76 in Ziel's "Steam in the Sixties."

That photo emphasizes the tender doghouse, and we would indeed be interested in any documentation on the brakeman's cab that exists. Looks like prime revenue seating to me. ("Get the money!" - Honest Nick.) Lettering diagrams would be helpful, too, but what will really be needed are engineering drawings of its boiler and running gear. Do any exist? I imagine this engine will be restored to its Mississippian appearance, although it would be nice to see a photo of it labeled Frisco. We're grateful for the offers of material concerning this engine.

Now, is that a rotating flasher I see on top of the Pyle headlight in those 1960's photos? Who says strobe lights don't belong on steam engines?