Info gathered from Trains.com Golden Pacific Railroads former Reading 4-8-4 # 2100 is finally on the move to it's new home in Tacoma, according to GPRR VP MIchael Pierce. The engine, and a tender and auxiliary tender are travelling west on CP RR train 115-06 bound for Vancouver, B.C. Current wschedule is to have the loco off-loaded in Vancouver, B.C. and then steamed to Tacoma said Pierce, who explained that this way it is merely foreign power coming into the U.S. If moved as freight, he says, additional regulations come into play. The 2100 is scheduled to ride BNSF rails between Vancouver, and Tacoma. However, he says, even this part of the plan has problems. Pierce says that although a crane crew had been hired to remove the loco and tender from their respective flat cars in Vancouver, the GPRR is still checking with the Canadian city to ensure there are cranes heavy enough to offload the engine. Alternatives, he says, including the building of an unloading ramp, or if necessary, taking the locomotive and tender across the border on flat cars. Expected to be in Tacoma by mid-October, the 2100 was reportedly held up by routing complications (owing to on-line clearance problems) and obtaining proper insurance. The steam locomotive was originally hoped to be on Washington property in June. The locomotive, a former coal-burner, converted to oil, is slated to power weekend excursions on former Milwaukee Road trackage betwen Tacoma Freight House Square, and Frederickson, Washington, a distance of about 12 miles. The line is currently owned by Tacoma Rail, a municipally owned 200 mile short-line. Pierce says that after a planned series of test runs on Oct 15th and 16th to train operating crews supplied by Tacoma Rail, Golden Pacific is shooting for it's first revenue trip on Oct 22nd. The current schedule is to operate most weekends through the end of December.

Any news on this move?Wesley

Someone on the CP SIG modeling lyahoo list was just asking about a "big engine" on a flatcar in Swift Current, Sask., so it's almost to the Rockies.

She's in BC now, heading for Vancouver:http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=86062&highlight=2100#post86062

Thanks for the up-date on the 2100. I must admit that it confuses me that the CP handled this move as a regular piece of freight positioning her amongst regular freight cars, in lieu of a special move, etc. I was just as confused on an earlier posting of two tank cars with friction bearing trucks being moved (presumably) on a class-one with seemingly no-restrictions. My experience on moving two de-powered, de-axled, RDC's a few years ago, was one of almost total frustration with the procedures of two class-ones involved with the move. ( One had basically no restrictions, the other a myriad). And I recall distinctly that CP's were totally out of the question. Seems like anything goes lately.

To be technical, the line may be owned by a transit authority, so they could have been moved BY a Class 1, but not ON a Class 1. Let's speak softly until they reach their destination.