svsfilm.com
August 2016 Newsletter

DVD PRICE CUTS FOR US CUSTOMERS!
We are pleased to offer five of our most popular DVD titles to United States customers at a special reduced price of just US$19.95 postfree for a limited time. Titles (in NTSC TV standard) are:

Ride the Milwaukee Road with 261
Espee Xtras
Fall Cab Ride to Cumbres
Chama to Cumbres Pass - a steam classic
Challenger on Tour 2003
For full details please see http://svsfilm.com/video.htm

RECENTLY RELEASED!!
For fans of Britain's railways - 'Surrey Railway Archive' - DVD If you are familiar with the County of Surrey and have an interest in trains, then this silent DVD will allow you a fascinating look back to a lost period of Surrey's railways. The programme is compiled from a broad array of still photos dating from 1867. Colour slides, black/white and colour prints illustrate almost every station and railway line within the modern boundaries of Surrey. In addition, where possible, archive silent 8mm colour cine film from the 1960's and 1970's has been included. The latter part of the steam era in Surrey is well represented in this DVD. Details about the photography are shown on captions within the programme. In addition a printed guide is enclosed, giving details of each picture and cine film sequence. Where known, the date, place, photographer and observations are noted to better explain the scenes. A narration is NOT included - the pictures speak for themselves!
The DVD has been researched, produced and edited by Bob Bridger.
Currently available only in UK PAL DVD format.
For full details see http://svsfilm.com/sra.htm

RAMBLING RAILWAYMAN'S BOOKS
For 2016, Geoff Burch has issued a fully revised edition of his 'The Ramblings of a Railwayman - second edition'. This book features further memories from the footplate at Guildford Motive Power Depot from 1961 to closure in 1967. The fully revised book is lavishly illustrated with over 300 photographs, many previously unpublished kindly supplied by Peter Trinder, the late Dave Salmon and Richard S. Greenwood MBE.
More details can be found by visiting http://www.ramblingrailwayman.co.uk/

Steam news updates -

In the US:
(Largely thanks to Tom Schultz and John Biehn ...) As it has been some time since our previous Newsletter, this is an edited compilation of news items from the last few months, with a few new updates.

Arizona
Grand Canyon Railway News
The Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel, based in Williams Arizona, has put locomotive No. 29 back into service this year. Locomotive No. 29 is a 2-8-0 1906 ALCO product and has been converted to burn waste vegetable oil. This August, the National Park Service celebrates its 100th year. The Grand Canyon Railway is celebrating this milestone by rolling out two of their historic steam locomotives for a special steam spectacular. On August 24, 25, and 26, either 2-8-2 No. 4960 or the recently restored 2-8-0 No.29 will pull Train #1 departing at 9:30 a.m. for Grand Canyon National Park. On Saturday August 27, both No. 4960 and No.29 will pull the train. Tickets will be available in all classes of passenger service. #29 will be in action again heading the 'Man vs Machine' special on September 24. For more information, go to https://www.thetrain.com/special-events/steam/

California
San Francisco Steam
No.4 is an 0-6-0 switching steam locomotive built by the Vulcan Iron Works (of Pa) for the State Board of Harbor Commissioners for use on the State Belt Railroad of California along the San Francisco waterfront The locomotive is currently being restored by San Francisco Trains, a group of volunteers working to preserve the steam locomotive, railroad flat cars and the Bayshore Roundhouse. Their purpose is to educate the public of the past and future potential of railroads. To do this, they perform presentations on San Francisco railroading history and on the State Belt No.4 at public meetings, community groups and schools. For more info, email mailto:cris@sanfranciscotrains.org

Knotts Berry Farm Steam - Buena Vista, California
In 1951, Walter Knott purchased two steam locomotives for use at his new frontier railroad at Knotts Berry Farm at Buena Vista, California. These locomotives were C-19 2-8-0 Consolidation types built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1881. Locomotive No. 340 had been down for the past few years while its boiler tubes were replaced and new staybolts were applied. Locomotive No. 41 has been pulling all the trains but it has leaky tubes. When No. 340 is fully back, No. 41 will go into the shop.
(Thanks to Mr. Bill Beverly)

California State Railroad Museum
Recently volunteer Sacramento Southern Railroad crews moved the two historic Santa Fe steam locomotives that had been sitting on a museum siding into Old Sacramento. There workers will clean and paint them for use as outdoor interpretive displays. The move has been nearly a year in planning which involved track work and the repositioning of some of the maintenance of way equipment. Locomotive #5021 is the last steam engine purchased by the Santa Fe in 1944. It is a 2-10-4 Texas class. Locomotive. No. 2925 is a 4-8-4 Northern class locomotive that operated from 1944-1956. Both were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.

Colorado
Durango & Silverton News
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad had its best year ever in 2015 after seeing high ridership and achieving better efficiency. "If the economy stays generally where it is we should have another great year," said train spokesman Christian Robbins about 2016. Ridership on trains without special events increased about 10 per cent from 136,000 in 2014 to 149,000 in 2015. Special event trains such as the Polar Express, Blues train and others saw an increase of about 3 percent from 30,000 in 2014 to about 31,000 in 2015. "Operationally, it was challenging. We were pushing our steam locomotives to the max," Robbins said. The ridership in 2015 was not the highest the train has ever had, but the train is running more efficiently than in the past. Some special events could offer the train a chance to grow, but the company does not have plans to introduce any new events this year. Among the special event trains, the Polar Express Trains are the most popular. These trains attracted 29,000 of the 31,000 people who rode special event trains in 2015.
(Thanks to Mary Shinn, Durango Herald, via Alex Mayes)

Georgia
Former Western & Atlantic Locomotive Restoration Late last year, workers at the Atlanta History Center dug a trench, laid temporary tracks and removed a wall. They then pulled No. 49, a former Western & Atlantic 4-4-0 famously known as the Texas into the sunshine for the first time since 1982. The Texas and its tender were then hoisted onto flatbed trucks for the 286 mile journey to the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer. The history center has budgeted $500,000 for the engine's restoration. Famed for its role, along with the locomotive General in the Civil War's Great Locomotive Chase in 1862, the Texas is expected to return to the Atlanta History Center by 2017. It will be permanently featured in a custom built glass-walled enclosure that will put the prized artifact of Atlanta's rich railroading past on prominent display.
(Thanks to David Abata via Tom Schultz)

Indiana
Nickel Plate 2-8-4 No 765
August saw the cosmetic renumbering of Berkshire 765 as number 767 for the rest of 2016. This is to commemorate the role sister Berkshire 767 played in the celebrations marking the opening of the new elevated NKP tracks through Fort Wayne in 1955. This project resulted in the economic rebirth of downtown Fort Wayne, eliminating many grade crossings which had previously crippled road traffic movement in the town.

Future Kentucky Steam
A new non-profit corporation wants to bring a steam locomotive from Nelson County to Lexington, restore it and then run passenger excursions in the area. The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. is launching a campaign to raise money for restoration of the locomotive owned by the Kentucky Railroad Museum in New Haven. Working in cooperation with the railway museum, the nonprofit hopes to restore, maintain and operate the former Chesapeake & Ohio Railway locomotive No. 2716. The idea is to raise enough money so the engine could be moved to Lexington in 2017, and then rehabilitate and operate it as a piece of living history beginning in 2020. The total fundraising goal is $1.3 million. A similar restoration effort in Roanoke, Virginia, returned a 65 year old engine to excursion service and resulted in more than $6 million in economic impact, said Chad Harpole of Georgetown, a member of the nonprofit. For more information, go to http://www.kentuckysteam.org/
(Thanks to Greg Kocher, Lexington herald-leader.com via Mike Biehn)

Future Kentucky Steam
The Kentucky Railway Museum, owner and operator of former Louisville & Nashville Railway steam locomotive No. 152, has engaged the Coalition for Sustainable Rail (CSR) to serve as consulting engineers in returning the 110 year old locomotive to operation. Locomotive 152, built in 1905 by Rogers Locomotive Works, is a 4-6-2 Pacific, and was the first artifact acquired by KRM upon its founding in 1954. For more information, go to http://www.kyrail.org/ (Thanks to the Kentucky Railway Museum)

Louisiana Steam
Southern Pacific steam engine No. 745 rests quietly outside next to a hospital parking lot, the huge machine towering over automobiles near it. No. 745 is a 2-8-2 built in 1921 at the Algiers shops in New Orleans. Upon being retired in 1956, the locomotive was placed in Audubon Park. Thirty years later the almost forgotten locomotive was completely restored by the Louisiana Steam Train Association. The group is currently seeking property near the Public Belt Railroad where they can build an engine house to protect the locomotive and one day turn it into a museum and tourist attraction. For more information go to hrttp://www.lasta.org (Thanks to Bill Capo via Tom Schultz)

Future Maine Steam
In cooperation with the City of Waterville, New England Steam Corporation's goal is to bring steam locomotive No. 470 back to how it appeared in its service years, and restore the locomotive to operating status once more. Maine Central 4-6-2 "pacific" type locomotive No. 470 was built in 1924 by the ALCO and was the last steam locomotive operated by Maine Central. Last month, the Mystic Valley Railway Society announced that a portion of a grant of $6,200 will be used to renovate the frame and trucks of Maine Central 470's tender in preparation to receive a historically accurate replica of the original tender tank and coal bunker. Renovation of the frame will involve scrapping the old paint, rebuilding the trucks and brakes, priming and repainting the frame and trucks, and applying a new deck. This grant, in addition to funds being accrued to replace the tender tank and bunker, will advance the whole project significantly in the first year of relocation to the Downeaster Scenic Railroad. Donations designed to support the tank rebuild are also being accepted. They can be sent to NE Steam Corp. PO Box 302 Winterport, Maine 04498

Maine Steam
The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum was created in 1989. The museum has restored several privately owned pieces of former WW&F rolling stock and rebuilt about two miles of the former WW&F track in Alna, Maine. The museum operates 2-foot gauge steam and diesel locomotives and other historic equipment. The museum has recently completed restoration work on No. 9, a vintage steam locomotive which has come to life for the first time in 82 years. No. 9 is a 0-4-4RT steam locomotive and is the only surviving locomotive that operated on three different Maine two foot gauge railroads: the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes, the Kennebec Central and Wiscasset,Waterville & Farmington. It is the oldest of the surviving Maine two-footer locomotives built in 1891, and only one of possibly two locomotives surviving from its builder, the Portland Company of Portland, Maine. (Thanks to Stuart Lovell, via Tom Schultz)

Minnesota Steam
This fall, the Friends of the 261, in cooperation with the Twin Cities & Western Railroad and its subsidiary Minnesota Prairie Line, will operate steam excursion trains featuring the Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261. These trips will originate out of Chanhassen and Minneapolis Junction. On October 7, a dinner train will operate from Chanhassen. On October 8, the excursion will head west from Minneapolis Junction towards Glencoe, on what was the route of the Milwaukee Road's famed Olympian. This line has not seen regularly scheduled passenger train service since 1969. On October 9, the excursion will include a rare mileage trip over the Minnesota Prairie Line. a former Minneapolis & St. Louis track that has not seen passenger service since 1960. This trip will run from Minneapolis Junction to Gibbon or Winthrop, depending upon time available. There will be no diesel assist westbound. A diesel will pull the train backwards since there are no turning facilities on these routes. The trips will also include photo runbys so passengers can capture photos and video of the 261 in action. For more information, go to https://261.com/excursions/2016-fall-colors/
The Friends of 261 will also operate non-steam fund raising trips for #261 in conjunction with Amtrak with some of their 'premier' passenger cars between St Paul and Chicago on September 10 and 12.

Future Minnesota Steam
During this year's operating season, locomotive No. 28 may be steamed up and pulling excursions on the North Shore Scenic Railroad. The train would run from the museum's site in Duluth, Minnesota to Two Harbors, Minnesota and return. Following FRA approval, the engine will be reassembled, a boiler jacket built and installed with testing to follow. Pending everything going to plan, the museum anticipates that the engine will go for test runs in the spring with the maiden voyage and donor appreciation excursion happening soon afterwards. Locomotive No. 28 is a 2-8-0 Consolidation type constructed by the Pittsburgh Locomotive Works in 1906 for the Duluth, Missabe & Northern as their No. 332. It was last under steam in 1965. If you would like to help with a donation, go to http//northshorescenicrailroad.org/fireupthe28.html

Future Missouri Steam
The St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad is working to return their 70 year old steam locomotive back to operation. They are located in downtown Jackson, Missouri and operate scenic tourist trains throughout the year. Their steam locomotive has not operated in nearly 15 years. Locomotive No. 5, also called "Shelby Brown", is a 2-4-2 "Columbia" type built by H.K.Porter in 1946. In order to get the ball rolling and have the initial engine inspection done in preparation for the boiler work, the group needs to raise about $5,000. This is so that the contractor can do a thorough evaluation of the locomotive and work up a plan of work that will systematically rebuild the engine a section at a time. To do this and ensure that it is done properly, it is estimated that the cost could be around $200,000 or maybe more to get the engine back under steam. If you would like to help with a donation, please go to http://www.slimrr.com/5
(Thanks to Jim Greathouse)

Nevada Steam
Locomotive No. 81, a 1917 Baldwin built 2-8-0 was purchased new by the Nevada Northern railway to serve as the mainline freight locomotive from East Ely to Cobre, where the Nevada Northern interchanged with the Southern Pacific Railroad When diesels arrived, locomotive No. 81 and 93 were kept as back up power. In 1960, both locomotives were donated to the White Pine Public Museum for outdoor display. In 1990, the two engines were reacquired. Locomotive 81 moved to the enginehouse, while 93 was returned to service. The current plan is to do a ground up restoration on locomotive 81. The museum is run mostly on donations and grants. If you would like to help them restore the 81, please go to http://www.nnry.com

North Carolina
Smoky Mountain Steam
Steam locomotive No. 1702, the "Steam of the Smokies" has returned to service powering the Nantahala Gorge and Tuckasegee River excursions departing Bryson City, North Carolina. Locomotive 1702 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1942 for the U.S. Army during the Second World War. It is a 2-8-0 Consolidation that was originally acquired by Great Smoky Mountain Railroad around 1994. A new shop was built especially for the restoration and a new turntable was built at Dillsboro to turn the locomotive for its return to Bryson City. A new turntable was also constructed at Bryson City.
For trip and schedule information, go to http://www.gsmr.com/train-schedule

Ohio
Steam In The Valley
This fall, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will welcome back the Nickel Plate Road No. 765. The 2-8-4 will operate over the weekends of September 17-18 and 24-25. Passengers will be able to enjoy a three hour round trip through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park behind one of the largest operating steam locomotives in the United States. They will also have the opportunity to get off the train at a secure location for an extensive photo opportunity. Train times for Saturday September 17, departing from Rockside Station: 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m Sunday, September 18, departing Akron's Northside Station: 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Departure times and locations are the same for the weekend of September 24-25.
For ticket information, go to http://www.cvsr.com/buy-tickets

Oregon Steam
Craig Mountain Lumber No. 3, a two truck Heisler steam locomotive will join the active roster on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad as soon as she is set up and some minor repairs are made to her. This locomotive was constructed by Heisler Locomotive Works in September, 1917. The railroad is planning a Heisler double-header with Curtis Lumber #2 and Craig Mountain #3 later this summer. For more info, go to http://oregoncoastscenic.org/ (Thanks to Martin Hansen)

SP&S 700 Rebuild
The Pacific Railroad Preservation Association is rebuilding the SP&S 4-8-4 number 700 in preparation for the locomotive's 15 year inspection by the Federal Railroad Administration in Portland, Oregon. Recent reports on the locomotive work said that the jacketing and lagging have been removed. Crew members are clearing rust off of the surfaces in preparation for the ultrasound measurements. Fixtures on the backhead in the cab have been removed and the throttle is now disassembled. Firebrick will be removed soon and then comes pulling the tubes. The plan is to be back in service mid-2019. For more information, go to http://www.sps700.org (Thanks to Steve Sedaker, via Randy Olson)

Future Pennsylvania Steam
The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad has begun work on restoring No. 2102. The RBMN T-1, with a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement, originally was constructed in Reading, Pa in 1945. The tender was split from the locomotive on January 7 followed by work commencing on January 9. The front end is out and work has started in the cab. The cab, along with jacketing, piping, superheater units, tubes and flues will be removed. The locomotive will be dissembled far enough to perform complete ultrasonic testing and inspection. Andy Muller, Jr., owner and CEO of the rail company anticipates the T-1 to be operational by mid-2017. The steam locomotive is housed at the Port Clinton shops less than 20 miles north of Reading on the former Reading Company mainline. "The opportunities are endless to use No. 2102 in special excursion service on both the RBMN and related tourist railroad Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway," said Fisher. More information and official news updates about this project can be found at http://www.rbmnrr.com/ and http://www.lgsry.com/ (Thanks to the Blue Mountain and Northern Railway via Bob Kaplan)

Steamtown, Scranton PA
Steamtown National Historic Site is working to restore Boston & Maine No.3713 and it will become the first American-built mainline steam engine in regular operation at the park. The historic site is turning its attention to the B&M 3713 after completing a lengthy restoration of its Baldwin Locomotive Works, No. 26. That engine went back into service in April, returning steam to the park for the first time since 2012. Steamtown partnered with the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society on the 3713 restoration, and both parties acknowledge the project will not be a quick turnaround. " I think three years is probably the earliest we could hope for," said Steamtown Superintendent Debbie Conway.
( Thanks to David Singleton, thetimes-tribune.com)

Future South Dakota Steam
Prairie Village is a living museum of the past. Located near Madison, South Dakota. Recently, volunteers at Prairie Village worked to place the 35-ton, "Deadwood Special" steam locomotive onto a flatbed semi and sent the engine to a Wyoming repair facility. The 91 year old No. 11 steam engine was sent on its way to a repair shop operated by the Wasatch Railcar Repair Contractors, a Cheyenne, Wyoming based company. According to Bob Gehringer, a Prairie Village railroad enthusiast, the locomotive will have its inner workings restored to operational status so that No. 11 can run again on the rails. Gehringer said the restoration work will include " repairs to the boiler and tubes, including hydro-testing and replacement of safety valves. Leaks in the water tanks were one of the reasons the locomotive was parked." Gehringer added that mechanics also plan to improve No. 11's brake system.
(Thanks to Chuck Clement, via Tom Schultz)

Future South Dakota Steam
For more than 40 years the Northwest Railway Museum at Snoqualmie, Washington had custody or ownership of three Mallet type 2-6-6-2 steam locomotives. They all had previously operated in the Pacific Northwest. They also were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works and are nearly identical in design and size. The Museum Board of Trustees and staff reached a consensus to let one of the locomotives go to another heritage railroad that also runs a Mallet locomotive that is nearly identical. The Black Hills Central Railroad in Hill City and Keystone, South Dakota operates their 2-6-6-2T No. 110 in daily service on a more than 4% grade. Their long term plan called for an acquisition of a second similar locomotive to allow for expansion and better operational coverage in the event of a mechanical problem or other issues. The Northwest Railway Museum decided to remove from their collection and send 2-6-6-2T No. 108. This locomotive was built in 1926 and worked for the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company until 1954. Shortly following closure of the deal that was reached by the Northwest Railway Museum and Black Hills Central, the Central's President Meg Warder stated, " The BHCR is honored to have the opportunity to acquire and restore Weyerhaeuser Timber Company No. 108. Our knowledgeable and dedicated crew will restore the engine back to its glory with the intention of having the engine in service by 2018. The 108 will proudly work alongside BHCR's restored 110 Mallet, the current powerhouse of the Black Hills line."
(Thanks to Stathi Pappas, NRM, via Tim Daubert)

Possible Future Tennessee Steam
Steam locomotive No. 576 4-8-4 sits motionless at Centennial Park in Nashville,Tennessee. A group of about 18 locomotive restoration professionals and enthusiasts hope to restore the 74 year old steam locomotive to working order. The Metro Council have just granted the lease of the locomotive, so it will be moved to the Tennessee Central Railway Museum near Rolling Hill Mill. While similar attempts have been made to operate No. 576, Nashville Steam decided the time was fitting since, due to Centennial Park's renovation, the train would have to be moved anyway. The roughly $3 million project will take four to five years to complete. Nashville Steam has already received pledges up to $200,000.
(Thanks to Jen Todd, The Tennessean via Alex Mayes)

Steam in Tennessee
The 2016 Three Rivers Rambler season will feature steam locomotive No. 154 on all steam excursions. Engine 154 is a 2-8-0 Consolidation type steam engine built by the Schenectady Locomotive Works in Schenectady, New York in 1890. The locomotive has been running with the Three Rivers Rambler since 2010 after being restored and is the only operational coal-powered engine in the Rambler fleet.
For trip information, go to http://www.threeriversrambler.com/

Future Texas Steam
The Friends of the SP 794, a division of the San Antonio Railroad Heritage Museum, is dedicated to the operational restoration of the former Southern Pacific steam locomotive, No. 794. Built by ALCO, the 794 is one of the four remaining Texas & New Orleans (SP's subsidiary in Texas and Louisiana) Class MK-5, 2-8-2 steam locomotives in existence. Constructed in 1916, the 794 was placed into service in October of that year. SP 794 was donated to the City of San Antonio in 1957. It is currently on display at the San Antonio Amtrak Station. The goal is to have No. 794 rebuilt and ready to participate in the 2018 City of San Antonio Tricentennial celebrations. The group has established a gofundme account to accept much needed donations. If you would like to help, go to http://www.gofundme.com/sp794

Future Steam in Utah
The Golden Spike Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society has taken on the effort of restoring D&RGW Railroad steam locomotive No. 223 to an operational engine. Work is being done in the former Trainsmen Building at the north end of the Ogden Union Station. D&RGW No. 223 is one of two surviving C-16 class locomotives. For more information on this restoration or make a donation, go to http://www.trainweb.org/goldenspikelrhs/page34/223project.html

Virginia
Locomotive Receives Cosmetic Restoration Locomotive No. 2756, a 2-8-4 "Kanawha" used by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway is on display at Huntington Park in Newport News, Virginia. Recently, the Lee Hall Train Station Foundation has partnered with the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company and CSX to assist with the cosmetic restoration of the train, including on-site repair of corroded metal, painting and lettering. The engine and tender are also undergoing lead and asbestos abatement.The locomotive is now covered with a light grey primer paint. Final painting is expected to require 60 gallons of paint and be completed in 2017. Eventually, the plan is to move the train to the Lee Hall Depot, located in a neighborhood of Newport News where a 250 foot siding has been built to accommodate it.
(Thanks to Theresa Clift, Daily Press)

Washington Steam
Northern Pacific 924 News
The Emery Rail Heritage Trust has awarded a second grant in support of the former Northern Pacific Railway steam locomotive No. 924's rehabilitation. The matching grant will support fabrication of a fuel bunker, new bearing materials for the running gear, and a new white oak pilot beam. Locomotive 924 is a class L-5 0-6-0 built in 1899. It is currently under restoration at the Conservation & Restoration Center in Snoqualmie, Washington, where the museum's full time and volunteer staff perform collection care on large objects.

The New Mt. Rainier Railroad
Recently negotiations have been finalized between Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad founder Tom Murray and Al Harper, owner of two other scenic and historic railroads, and Wayne Rankin, president of the new company. Harper and Rankin are taking over the Elbe-based steam train company. "Exciting changes are taking place," Rankin said in a press release. The word "scenic" is being dropped from the title as new owners plan to boost the profile of the enterprise. Along with the name change, Harper is planning to rebrand the railroad. "Visitors can expect a whole new production. We're taking what we know works and applying those best practices to operations," Harper said. He also said payroll will be doubled and the guest experience will be completely rebuilt. For more information, go to http://www.mtrainierrailroad.com/ (Thanks to The Chronicle, Centralia Washington, via Alex Mayes)

Landslide at Western Maryland Scenic
The route of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad will be shorter by two miles for at least a few months because of a landslide. The slide- a drop in the earth on one side of the tracks that renders them unusable - is being investigated by the Bureau of Mines, which will determine if it's related to a coal mine. If it is, the agency could cover the cost of repairs, which the railroad says wouldn't be completed until mid-summer. In the meantime, excursion trains from Cumberland will stop at Switch No. 9, about two miles outside of Frostburg. The railroad is installing new tracks there so engines can move from one end of the train to another for the return trip. Previously, engines were turned around on a turntable in Frostburg, where several businesses count on train- riding tourists. In the meantime, the railroad is pushing forward with a rebuild of its steam engine the C&O No.1309.
(Thanks to Bob Batz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Future Wisconsin Steam
More than two years after one of ALCO's locomotives was taken apart and shipped 37 miles from North Freedom to a rural machine shop north of Middleton, Wisconsin, nearly two years of work still remain on the $2 million rebuild. The No.1385, a 4-6-0, built for the Chicago & North Western Railroad and owned for over 50 years by the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in central Sauk County, is starting to look like its old self again. But the engine that used to pull the Great Circus Train from Baraboo to Milwaukee and back might not hit the Mid-Continent tracks until 2018. The 1385 is tied to the future of Mid-Continent, a non-profit museum that showcases railroad equipment. For more information on locomotive 1385, go to http://www.midcontinent.org/ (Thanks to Barry Adams, StarTribune, via Tom Schultz)

Wyoming
Union Pacific 844 Returns
After a three year long overhaul, 4-8-4 locomotive No. 844 returned to service hauling the Cheyenne Frontier Days special from Denver on July 23. This year marked the 25th anniversary of the revival of the Cheyenne Frontier Days train whose history dated back to 1908.

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