Any GN Steam Fans Out There?

I almost forgot I shot this photo of GN Class S-2 4-8-4 Northern at Havre, MT, on my return trip, Amtrak, from the great 4449 transfer adventure. Everyone can get off the Empire Builder for a few minutes there, and I had missed the photo on the eastbound trip. There are still Christmas lights visible in the photo, long time gone. I never liked the "flying pumps" appearance that GN seemed to employ, but apparently it was functionally efficient.

 

I model (in n-scale) GN... steam included. And class S2 4-8-4s have always been at the top of my list. Right now I am working on 'bashing' together a Con Cor S2 vandy tender to a Kato Mikado thus closely representing a GN class O3 2-8-2 (the only USRA Mikes GN ever had and without Belpaire fireboxes).

In May of this year I took a trip to Vancouver, WA to see my daughter. My return trip home was via AMTRAK Empire Builder. And as you did, I also took photos on 2584 at Havre, MT.





And, NO, I do NOT like all those 'Christmas' light strung out along her left side. Despite how this might look at night, in the daylight it looks gaudy... to state it kindly.

But 2584 has it very, very nice compared to GN P2 class 4-8-2 #2507... this poor loco has been consigned to "solitary confinement" at Wishram, WA!!



My "If I were a mulit-billionaire!" dream would be to see these two GN Ladies fully restored.... What a sight that would be!!

 

I am a steam fan, and a fan of GN, so I guess I fit the bill, too.

I have the Pentrex video with GN steam on the Missabe Iron Range. Great stuff. I love watching those big steamers handle those ore cars out on the trestles.

Have I ever seen a GN steamer in action? I don't think so. I have seen the SP&S 700 in action, so I come close.

 

I hate it when I misspell words, like "stem" vs "Steam." It is a shame what they did with that shelter over 2507 in Wishram. She's hardly viewable. I never saw a GN steamer run, either, but as you said, have ridden in and behind SP&S 700. :tb-biggrin:

 

I knew what you meant, Fitz. I make most of my typos in titles, too.

I tried to fix it using my moderator powers, but I think you need to be an admin to do it.

Adam

 

I give up. I just managed to create a new thread without the typo and merge them to fix the problem of the thread title, but it's still "stem" in your first post, in the part that I cannot edit.

Oh well.

 

I'm particular to the F8 stuffed and mounted in Wenatchee, the 1147. I've seen a photo of her in service at Douglas on the Mansfield branch.

 

There was once a Great Northern steam engine sitting near the entrance to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. I first saw it as a child around 1952 and again the following year when our school took us out to the park. I live in California now and I've not been back to the zoo in many years. However I heard that it has since been moved... Is there any truth to that story and if so, does anyone know what became of it?

 

My quick research isn't helping. If my faulty memory serves, it went to Wenatchee, and is on display in their City Park. Does #1147 (second loco from the top) http://www.greatnorthernempire.net/index2.htm?GNEGNSteamRosterF8.htm look familiar?

Mike

 

The 1147at Wenatchee is from the same F8 class of 2-8-0s as the 1246 at Woodland Park was. The 1246 is now in pieces in Merrill Oregon, but I read somewhere that folks are trying to purchase it and put it back together. Someday...

 

I am gladly corrected.

 

I read that it was the group from Skykomish that wants it back, since it operated up there. Someday...

 

Looks like they are buttoning things up for winter.

Skykomish Cleanup - Home


I'll visit again when the whole project is done. I made a visit during the cleanup last year. What a mess.

 

The Skykomish Historical Society is a pretty progressive group, with Bob Kelly as the manager. Bob is quite a whirlwind when it comes to GN stuff. If he was really behind this (I don't know for sure), then I could see it happening.