Branch Line News 8/17/2020 (Age of Steam Buys 1187, R&GN Roster News, Save the Chessie)
Note from the Manager: Apologies for the long time between posts. Due to events outside of my control, I have not been able to post in a while. Fear not, I shall persevere on. Thank you for waiting with us.
Welcome back to Branch Line News, your source for summarized stories of train related topics.
This week we catch up on several events in preservation, ranging from Age of Steam and Ohio Railway Museum in Ohio, to the Riverside & Great Northern in Wisconsin. Grab your tickets, the Branch Line News for the week of 8/17/2020 is now departing!
But before we begin, a moment of memorial. Scott of Scott's Train Service has sadly passed away. For those who do not know, Scott built and sold miniature locomotives, underneath 15" gauge, in what is sometimes called Backyard Railroading or Live Steam. I was in a group with Scott, and while I didn't know him personally, Scott always seemed very professional and kind in his posts.
To respect the privacy of Scott and his family, plus the cause of death and the group where I learned of the news, names shall be withheld. My condolences go out to Scott's friends and family. Rest in Peace Scott.
Age of Steam Purchases/Moves Reading 1187
Our first story takes us to Sugar Creek, Ohio. The Age of Steam Roundhouse, a museum founded by the late Jerry Jacobson according to the AoSRM website, recently acquired their 23rd locomotive. Reading 1187, an 0-4-0 camelback locomotive, has found a new home in Ohio.
1187 was built in 1903, and designed to burn anthracite coal, which required a larger firebox, according to the AoS website. 1187 worked for the Reading until 1946, when she was sold to the E&G Brooke Iron Company in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, according to Locomotive Fandom.
1187 was renumbered to No. 4, and worked until 1962, when she was retired. The Strasburg Railroad, a preserved railroad in Pennsylvania, purchased No. 4, who arrived on the line under her own power. Unfortunately, 1187/No. 4 was a poor steamer, and was withdrawn in 1967.
Afterwards, 1187 sat outside for decades, and her condition began to deteriorate. Thankfully, fate found the camelback heading to Sugarcreek Ohio. Age of Steam announced on July 16th, 2020 that they purchased 1187 for an undisclosed amount in a "closed bid auction." Her purchase makes 1187 the 23rd member of the locomotives owned by Age of Steam.
1187 was moved out on three trucks, according to the Age of Steam newsletter the Roundhouse Reports.
On August 3rd, 2020, 1187 arrived at the Age of Steam Roundhouse. William Strawn, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jerry and Laura Jacobson Foundation, Inc., said “[1187] is a unique, unusual and significant type of steam locomotive that is a welcome addition to the Age of Steam Roundhouse,” on the Age of Steam Roundhouse's Roundhouse Report.
Despite her appearances, Age of Steam volunteers stated 1187 is in good condition. The deal, according to the Roundhouse Report, includes 1187's original drawings. "That will be a huge help in AoSRM’s cosmetic restoration of this rare little switcher," said Tim Sposato, Age of Steam's Chief Mechanical Officer.
For images of 1187's move to Ohio, please visit Age of Steam's website in the sources below.
Sources:
"23rd Steamer." Age of Steam Roundhouse. 3rd August, 2020. Accessed 8/18/2020.
www.ageofsteamroundhouse.org/23rd-steamer
"About us." Age of Steam Roundhouse. Accessed 8/18/2020.
www.ageofsteamroundhouse.org/about-us
"Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum acquires a rare steam locomotive." Age of Steam Roundhouse. 16 July, 2020. Accessed 18 August, 2020.
www.ageofsteamroundhouse.org/aosrhm-acquires-1187
"Reading No. 1187." Locomotive Fandom. Accessed 8/18/2020
https://locomotive.fandom.com/wiki/Reading_No._1187
Riverside and Great Northern Purchases New Locomotive & Old Loco Returns to Steam
-Dells, Wisconsin. The Riverside & Great Northern Railroad, a 15" nonprofit railway museum, has seen exciting developments in their locomotive fleet.
On Saturday, March 21st, 2020, the R&GN's Board of Directors authorized the purchase of a new steam locomotive. The engine was built in 1992 by Frank Catanzariti, who built it for his Mile High & Western Railroad in Prescott, Arizona, according to the R&GN Facebook page. In 1997 he sold the unnumbered locomotive to Chuck Kinkade in Michigan.
Mr. Frank Catanzariti with the Atlantic that he built in 1992, posing in 1997 when he sold the engine. Image Credit: R&GN, used with permission. www.facebook.com/Dellstrains/photos/a.3168224843271384/3182495408510994/?type=3
Sadly, Mr. Kinkade was not able to operate the engine due to health issues. The locomotive, a 4-4-2 Atlantic, has sat in dry storage for 23 years. The R&GN purchased the engine for $50,000, a bargain according to trusted sources who advised the R&GN on the purchase. The atlantic will be numbered 129, keeping in tradition of Sandley Locomotive Works Atlantics 127 and 128.
The purchase of the engine breaks an unofficial tradition of the R&GN of running Sandley Locomotive Works engines, the site of which the R&GN is based on and preserves. However, the R&GN explained the purchase by being able to show another era of locomotive technology to their fleet, along with adding a needed powerful locomotive.
The (at the time) unnumbered Atlantic arriving at the Riverside & Great Northern in Wisconsin, August 7, 2020. Image Credit: R&GN, used with permission. www.facebook.com/Dellstrains/photos/a.3168224843271384/3188218607938674/?type=3
"We currently have two steam locomotives and a diesel locomotive that can be used in regular revenue service," said the R&GN's announcement post. "55 was never intended to be used in regular revenue service. 82 and 98 are smaller locomotives that from time-to-time are stretched to the limit of their pulling capability when longer trains are needed."
Also, as coal burners there is a higher risk of fire danger along the right-of-way during high fire danger days," the announcement said. "129 is a larger, more powerful, diesel-fired locomotive that will allow us to pull longer trains as well as operate during high fire danger days to reduce the risk of causing a fire along the right-of-way."
No. 129 arrived on a trailer hauled by a pick up truck. She was eased onto the R&GN rails using flatbed cars, pulled by diesel No. 55. R&GN volunteers were concerned that 129 may not fit on the points, according to a video by the R&GN of the unloading process. Thankfully, 129 rolled smoothly on the R&GN rails.
129 also ran under air pressure, which can be seen on the R&GN Facebook page here. As of August 16th, 2020, No. 129 is in the shops being prepared for operation on the Riverside & Great Northern.
129 in the workshop of the R&GN, being prepared for service on the R&GN. Image Credit: R&GN, used with Permission. www.facebook.com/Dellstrains/photos/a.3168224843271384/3212750468818821/?type=3&theater
In other news at the R&GN, an established member of the fleet returned to steam after a long overhaul. No. 82, a 4-40 American locomotive, was withdrawn for a long overhaul, which included a new boiler that was ordered in 2019 from a boilermaker in Minnesota, according to the R&GN Facebook page.
The American steam locomotive was built for the Milwaukee County Zoo from 1957-59. In the 1980's, No. 82 was withdrawn due to her small size. She was bought by the preserved Riverside & Great Northern, and became the first engine to operate excursions on the reopened R&GN in 1989, according to the R&GN Facebook page.
82 pulling the first train on the preserved Riverside & Great Northern in 1989. The wagons seen in the photo are now used as flatbeds, according to the R&GN Facebook page. Image Credit: R&GN, used with permission. www.facebook.com/Dellstrains/photos/a.2368406706586539/2368550426572167/?type=3
On August 14, 2020, No. 82 returned to full service on the R&GN. She joins her twin No. 98, No. 1 Tom Thumb, and Diesel locomotive No. 55 as the power behind the excursions on the 15" railway in the Dells. No. 128, also owned by the R&GN, is still under restoration off site.
No. 82 posing following her restoration, August 14th, 2020. Image Credit: R&GN. Used with permission. www.facebook.com/Dellstrains/photos/a.2368406706586539/3208342472592954/?type=3
The R&GN are open, with social distance guidelines, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 9:30am to 4:00pm. Special thanks to the Riverside & Great Northern for permission to use the above photos. To follow the R&GN, you can find them on Facebook and dellstrain.com. If you visit in person, please make sure to follow Wisconsin's Social Distance Guidelines.
Sources:
"82 is back..." Riverside & Great Northern. Facebook. 14 August, 2020. Accessed 18 August, 2020.
www.facebook.com/Dellstrains/photos/a.2368406706586539/3208342472592954/?type=3
"82 is ready..." Riverside & Great Northern. Facebook. 2 September, 2019. Accessed 18 August, 2020.
www.facebook.com/Dellstrains/photos/a.2368406706586539/2428553650571844/?type=3
"129 on R&GN Rails." Riverside & Great Northern. Facebook. 2 August, 2020. Accessed 18 August, 2020.
www.facebook.com/Dellstrains/videos/305364307372930
"After nearly 60..." Riverside & Great Northern. Facebook. 28 July, 2019. Accessed 18 August, 2020.
www.facebook.com/Dellstrains/photos/a.2368406706586539/2368554246571785/?type=3
"Locomotive No. 82." Riverside & Great Northern. Facebook. Accessed 18 August, 2020.
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2368406706586539&type=3
"Locomotive No. 129." Riverside & Great Northern. Facebook. 7 August, 2020. Accessed 18 August, 2020.
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3168224843271384&type=3
"Meanwhile..." Riverside & Great Northern. Facebook. Accessed 18 August, 2020.
www.facebook.com/Dellstrains/photos/a.3168224843271384/3212750468818821/?type=3
"We are open..." Riverside & Great Northern. Facebook.18 August, 2020. Accessed 18 August, 2020.
www.facebook.com/Dellstrains/posts/3220647218029146
Save the Chessie Fundraiser
Sources:
"About Us." Cincinnati Scenic Railway. Accessed 18 August, 2020.
www.cincinnatiscenicrailway.org/about-us
"History." SavetheChessie.org. https://savethechessie.org/history
"Save the Chessie." Cincinnati Scenic Railway. 9 August, 2020. Accessed 18 August, 2020.
Thank you for reading this week's edition of Branch Line News. What story are you most excited about? Please let us know in the comments on Blogger, Facebook or Twitter.
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