This is going to be interesting. I may have to motor over to the wiles of northeast Oregon to once again ride behind our own Ironhorseman's steed, the Yreka Western 19, "Pancho." This engine is basically a twin to ex-McCloud 18, now operating on the Virginia & Truckee in Nevada. I miss both of them. :tb-sad:
Isn't the person doing this new operation the same one with Yreka Western and some of the legal arguments there?
I'll be suprised if it, (the 19) sees any service this year. She needs a lot of work before she can stand up to FRA requirements. In my humble opinion, the 19 will not last very long up there. There's no facility to service the main driver friction bearings and there's already been evidence of bearing wear and future failure by brass filings observed in and around the grease cellars at the frame. When she breaks down from the lack of proper maintenance, I expect she will be sold for scrap. It's a sad thing. Pancho was a wonderful experience for me and many others over the years. I sincerely hope that my opinion(s) will be proven wrong.
