Hello all, looking for info on the Finnish locomotive that is now located in Junction City Oregon. From what I've been able to gather the locomotive was donated to Portland via a sister city program and was to be placed in a museum proposed in Oaks Park, along with SP 4449, SP&S 700, and UP 3203, in 1960. The museum, as we all know, never came to be. Like the other locomotives at Oaks Park, it fell into disrepair. From what I recall there was an effort to return the locomotive to Finland by Finnish enthusiasts in the 80's. From there it somehow ended up in Junction City, home to a large Finnish population.

I'm looking for info on the sister city, the attempt to have it returned home, and how it ended up in Junction City. Also pics of it in Oaks Park. All info welcomed about this locomotive.

Thanks,

Smokebox

This is the one, I take it?
http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomo ... isplay=983
Hmmm, I never knew about this one...
The site says it's 60 inch gauge, so restoring it to operate would be pointless.

60 inch? Not impossible considering the many 5 foot gauge Russian decapods that were regauged and operated successfully by many US Railroads. (And remain in preserved states at more than one site.)

Bob Kutella

Yes, that is the one.

Smokebox

Just by chance, a Finnish relative sent me a news clipping from Oregon some years back containing a letter from the Finnish consul in that territory complaining about the maltreatment of this gift locomotive. Evidently the shelter over it in the picture has been erected since, so maybe the complaint had some effect. The photos in the clipping showed a typical derelict, exposed park chooch.