Hello;

I have a photo of the Passumpsic heisler in my study that I took, oh, 15 years ago. Can anyone tell me what it has been doing since then? Is it still operating? If so, when/where?

At that time, the Passumpsic consisted of a simple oval of track, with a couple of tracks to store equipment on. I had a good talk with Dr Marvin Kendal (sp?) who own(s/ed) it. Nice gentleman.

Thanks;

John Stewart.

john.stewart@crc.ca

According to my records, the Heisler is still there, still operational. It made an appearance at Railfair a couple of years ago, where the photograph of it that appears in my database was taken.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

> Hello;

> I have a photo of the Passumpsic heisler in
> my study that I took, oh, 15 years ago. Can
> anyone tell me what it has been doing since
> then? Is it still operating? If so,
> when/where?

> At that time, the Passumpsic consisted of a
> simple oval of track, with a couple of
> tracks to store equipment on. I had a good
> talk with Dr Marvin Kendal (sp?) who
> own(s/ed) it. Nice gentleman.

> Thanks;

> John Stewart.


Surviving World Steam Locomotives
james1@pernet.net

The Passumpsic RR Heisler is still alive and well. When I lived in Vermont about eleven years ago, while working at L&RP and assisting with production of the Steam Passenger Service Directory, Mark Smith and I volunteered numerous times to help lay track around the Kendall's farm. They also owned a second Heisler which was used as a parts source. I talked with the Kendalls at Railfair '99 and they are still very much keeping the old girl limber. Interestingly, the late Phil Hastings was interred in a cemetary not far from the Passumpsic. I recall Mark pointed out the location on one of our trips back to Richmond.

K.R. Bell

> According to my records, the Heisler is
> still there, still operational. It made an
> appearance at Railfair a couple of years
> ago, where the photograph of it that appears
> in my database was taken.

> -James Hefner
> Hebrews 10:20a

> ...They also
> owned a second Heisler which was used as a
> parts source. I talked with the Kendalls at
> Railfair '99 and they are still very much
> keeping the old girl limber.

Is the second Heisler Holly Ridge Lumber #3?

I guess my Railfair picture is from 1999. My how time flies.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Locomotives
james1@pernet.net

Yes, Marvin's other Heisler is the Holly Ridge loco, from Louisiana, still a pile of pieces last I knew. I haven't talked to Marvin in some time, but friends in Vermont say he has had some health problems lately, which have slowed progress on the RR. Last I knew, the loop of track had not been finished. Interestingly, there was still an abandoned "mountain railroad" more-or-less intact just across the river from his property. This was built by New England Power to build and service its huge Wilder Dam generating station many decades ago, and was complete save for a switch to CP until just a few years ago. The power company still used a rail crane to lift the gate boards on the dam, and also maintained a Plymouth gasoline locomotive and some odd maintenance flatcars on top of the dam, which had an enginehouse of sorts. Marvin later acquired all the rail equipment and moved it to his property and the damtop trackage was removed or paved over. The heavy bridge over the Passumpsic River (seemingly capable of holding a Big Boy)was later removed also. Last I knew, the trackage in between was still in place, though unused for years. The line had switchbacks and was the perfect place to show off a geared locomotive, plus a very impressive power dam at the top.

Is the second Heisler Holly Ridge Lumber #3?

> I guess my Railfair picture is from 1999. My
> how time flies.

> -James Hefner
> Hebrews 10:20a


bobyar2001@yahoo.com

The doc is still active. He owns all the remaining equipment of the Aroostook Valley, and just added a wooden Central Vermont milk car tot he collection.

Very nice to have such things!

Rob Davis

PS: Of course, with Clark's trading post an hour away, you have two operational Hieslers, an operational Climax, a stored Shay, the Hiseler "parts" Holly Ridge engine, an operable 0-4-0T, a soon to be operable 2-4-2T , a display 0-4-0T and an oepration 2' 0-4-0. Add in the Cog Railway engines and the Conway Scenic and that's a lot of steam in the woods!

Rob Davis

superc@monmouth.com

Bob,

I had heard there was a Shay locomotive in Holly Ridge, LA. I wonder if it was confused with this Heisler, or is another locomotive from the same operation.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

> Yes, Marvin's other Heisler is the Holly
> Ridge loco, from Louisiana, still a pile of
> pieces last I knew. I haven't talked to
> Marvin in some time, but friends in Vermont
> say he has had some health problems lately,
> which have slowed progress on the RR. Last I
> knew, the loop of track had not been
> finished. Interestingly, there was still an
> abandoned "mountain railroad"
> more-or-less intact just across the river
> from his property. This was built by New
> England Power to build and service its huge
> Wilder Dam generating station many decades
> ago, and was complete save for a switch to
> CP until just a few years ago. The power
> company still used a rail crane to lift the
> gate boards on the dam, and also maintained
> a Plymouth gasoline locomotive and some odd
> maintenance flatcars on top of the dam,
> which had an enginehouse of sorts. Marvin
> later acquired all the rail equipment and
> moved it to his property and the damtop
> trackage was removed or paved over. The
> heavy bridge over the Passumpsic River
> (seemingly capable of holding a Big Boy)was
> later removed also. Last I knew, the
> trackage in between was still in place,
> though unused for years. The line had
> switchbacks and was the perfect place to
> show off a geared locomotive, plus a very
> impressive power dam at the top.

> Is the second Heisler Holly Ridge Lumber #3?


Surviving World Steam Locomotives
james1@pernet.net

Don't know of any Shays in Louisiana, though there may still be another Heisler at Ferriday, long stored under cover in fairly good condition.

> Bob,

> I had heard there was a Shay locomotive in
> Holly Ridge, LA. I wonder if it was confused
> with this Heisler, or is another locomotive
> from the same operation.

> -James Hefner
> Hebrews 10:20a


bobyar2001@yahoo.com