Famous 38 at Hoquiam, Wahington, June 1956:http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?may04/05-06-04/ray38.jpgThe 45, said to be at Humptulips, Washington, August 1955:http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?may04/05-06-04/ray45.jpgThe 70 at Hoquiam, June 1956:http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?may04/05-06-04/ray70.jpgThe 14 (later scrapped) at Hoquiam, March 1961:http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?may04/05-06-04/ray14.jpg

I found the application of what had once been a section of boiler course most interesting. The smokebox on this locomotive is a good example of just how resourceful smaller railroads could be if they had someone creative on or in charge of their mechanical staff. Now the question in my mind is what locomotive was the donor of that partial course applied to the 45?Have another look if you need tohttp://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi ... /ray45.jpg

I have been told that the smoke box on #45 is the shell from a steam donkey. The picture of #45 is actually at Rayonier's Railroad Camp. The picture is used in the book "Railroad Camp" by Adolf Hungry Wolf.#45 currently resides in Mineral, Wa at the Mount Rainier Scenic RR. She is in very bad condition, but at least under cover.

Just how bad is she? I am just curious as I had read somewhere that the plan was to restore her, then cancelled because of scope of work needed. I have always thought she was a real sexy locomotive and just wanted too know the gory details on what exactly is sour. Like most old logging engines probably everything below the stack cover. Hope my asking isn't too personal, I just like the engine and would like to see her run someday. Thanks, John.

Here is a photo of 45 at Mineral Washington at the MRSR Shops. Fall of 1999 I believe.http://www.traincds.com/photopage.html

Greetings John! From what their CMO said she needs only a little less then everything below the stack cap. It would seem that another contributing factor to the decision of not putting money into the loco is that of the construction. That is the engine was built rather "lightly" in the frame department, as was common to some porters (versus other makers), and as a result of this and the overall poor condition it is not at the top of their priority list.......from what I have been told.

#45 is a 1906 Baldwin, and shows her many years of sitting near the Pacific Ocean on display near Hoquiam, WA. When I last saw her she was sitting in one of the MRSR storage buildings with out tender. The tender was disassembled several years ago and the parts sit in various piles around the MRSR shop complex. The biggest problem with 45 is the boiler. Most of the rivet heads on the boiler are corroded even with the boiler plate. These would need to be replace to make the boiler safe. I don't know what the rest of the boiler is like. In addition most of the running gear would need to be rebuilt as is common with most restorations of this type. I myself would like to see 45 run again. At about 45 tons she would sound good hauling the MRSR train up Mineral Hill. She is also well proprotioned like many of Baldwin's products. In the past 45 was usually passed up for restoration due to larger and easier projects. One can only hope to see a fire in the boiler someday. Here is a dark picture I took of 45 about two or three weeks ago at Mineral. Rayonier #45 Nov 2005I have not been involved at MRSR for several years and some of my information may be out of date. Hope this helps.Aaron ZorkoOregon Coast Scenic RR

Hi yourself Jason. Kind of hoped we would get a chance to work outside together this winter! It is downright cold here for this time of year.I feel the pain of the #45. As you well know we have some engines that fit that discription, just about all of them actually. That lagging left on the tube sure raises hell with things. The D&R #9 has some bad corrosion on the rivets too and it happened quickly. I think fibreglass is worse then the forbidden white stuff by far. That #45 is in the same realm as the Lousiana Cypress #2, real sexy. Be good and come back soon, we need your type around the shop. John.