This weekend I was looking at one of my old Steam Passenger Service Directories and noticed something strange in Huckleberry's listing. This directory was the 1976 edition and Huckleberry's listing stated that 1976 was the inaugural season.The listing of locomotives was:#2 4-6-0 1920 Baldwin ex-Alaska RR #3 2-6-0 1911 Porter ex-United Fruit Co. (Guatemala)#4 2-8-0 1904 Baldwin ex-Potosi & Rio Verde (Mexico)The photo was a front view of a locomotive carrying the number 3 and it was obvious that it was not completely restored but it was under steam. I seem to remember that service was started with #2. Did either of the other two locomotives ever operate at Huckleberry before the arrival and restoration of the 464. steamlocomotive.info lists the #4 as being on display with a logging train but it does not list #3 at all. Instead it lists #3 2-6-0 1894 Brooks ex-Quincy & Torch Lake RR. What became of the #3 1911 Porter that appeared to be under steam?Just curious.

Here is a cut-and-paste from the narrow gage board:Porter #3 at the Otaru Transportation Museum in JapanNumber 3 was too small to handle the Huck's trains, and was only used when #2 was in boiler wash. In 1980 it was pushed so hard in this service(oil burner) the tubes were leaking every night and I, being young and skinny, was sent into the firebox in the morning while the boiler maker (not skinny), sat on the deck and ran the air motor to roll tubes using extensions and universal joints! After a week of that, they got the United Gypsum diesel, and that ran service during boiler washes until it blew a cylinder and was retired.Presently the Huck has two steamers to cover boiler washes, and a GE 45 tonner for diesel backup.Steve Zuiderveen[/quote]

From a postcard they used to sell at the Huck:Steve Zuiderveen