Pokey Smokey On-Site Equipment Evaluation

Wasatch Railroad Contractors recently visited Portsmouth, VA in June 2006 for the purpose of doing an on-site evaluation of the 24-inch gauge Crown locomotive known as Pokey Smokey. Pokey Smokey has been shut down since early 2005 when concerns were brought up about safety and maintenance of the equipment.

This on-site evaluation was the result of WRC’s response to a RFP given out by the city of Portsmouth in early 2006.

Proposers were required to review an earlier evaluation made by an amusement ride contractor from Nevada, who not only cited a number of safety issues with the train, but also deemed the little steamer “obsolete” and “near the end of its useful design life.” The contractor recommended that the City purchase a brand new Chance-Morgan gasolene powered train set.

WRC reviewed the contractor’s findings– which cited various rules and standards for FRA, ASTM, and ASME– and after the on-site evaluation was able to clarify the problems for the city. WRC CEO John Rimmasch also participated in a question and answer session with city officials and local citizens to further explain the condition of the locomotive. WRC believes that Pokey Smokey is an excellent candidate for rehabilitation, and if properly maintained and operated will be enjoyed by the city for many years to come.

WRC has submitted a revised report based on the on-site evaluation and is awaiting the city’s review. Updates on the status of this project will be posted here and on wasatch-rr-contractors.com.



It's June 2006, and Pokey Smokey is brought out for inspection by Wasatch Railroad Contractors.

One of the photos in the caption discusses gates, chains, or doors for coach seating. We just returned from Disney, and it just occurred to me that the seating on the Disney trains is open, with no chains, gates, or doors. Same is true on the Wildcat RR in Los Gatos, CA.

Sorry to see the advice to switch from coal to propane. They are already used to the coal, and the train is called "smokey", why change now?

Change the name to "Pokey 'Paneful?"

dave

Thank you very much for the note. Here are few insights that may help.

Pokey Smokey the train is unloaded and loaded from the same side each time. As you may well know the train runs in a circle. It is believed that the passengers would be safer if they have only one entrance on one side of the car as opposed to two. As you may recall from the Disney train, passengers load and unload from the same side. The opposite side is secure. In other words, you can not enter or exit from the other side of the car. The idea is the same. Eliminating the entrance on the “inner” side of the train eliminates the temptation to use the entrance.

Propane as opposed to coal?! I have to tell you that we enjoy coal and prefer it as a source of heat. The truth is; the city has considered using a gas powered internal combustion train as opposed to keeping Pokey Smokey Going. Further, through our evaluation we have determined that the coal firing is difficult for some operators to handle while at the same time trying to handle passengers and the train. In today’s world of simplification, it is easier for one single operator to deal with propane, the train and the passengers than it is to handle coal, passengers and the train. The question is……if Pokey Smokey keeps running, what can be done to make training and handling easier while keeping the train in operation. Propane is one of ways of simplifying the operation.

Many Crown locomotives were converted to propane. In fact, the majority of them burn propane and operate in parks like that of the Portsmouth Park. I have operated 24” gauge Crown’s fired on propane and had very good luck. The operation is simple, it is fail safe and it is clean.

Best regards,

John E. Rimmasch

www.wasatch-rr-contractors.com

Doesn't appear that this story has a happy ending yet. Looks like Pokey is going to be on the market:


http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=110154&ran=98443

Heck, why not just tear up the track and put in a bus, you could save even more money! Or better yet, since the whole thing just runs in a circle, why not replace it with a merry-go-round.

Meanwhile, why is "how much will it cost" always the determining factor? I guess they don't realize the difference between real steam and a new CP Huntington loco...

Why not restore and keep Pokey at the ready, but only bring her out for special occasions? The rest of the time some other type of 'motive power' could be employed...

Money... Or lack thereof. The article says the city isn't even sure it can come up with the funding for the new CPH. To buy it AND restore Pokey Smokey both would require even more money, and they're short to start with.

It certainly appears it's an either/or choice, and since it's a public agency making the funding decision, rather than a group of railfans, it most likely will mean the end of steam and the acquisition of a loco that a city mechanic can fix, and a bus driver can run.

(I never said the choice wasn't logical from a financial point of view, I only said I didn't like it...)