Ex Grand Canyon Steam Spotted

Today I found out that ex Grand Canyon engine #20 and ex Lake Superior & Ishpening engine #18 were in the Grand Junction yard on 1/2/08 and I had missed them. As it turns out they were stopped at Winter Park due to the engines being to high to fit through one or more of the Moffat Route tunnels. As I headed to the local hobby shop today I was shocked to have saw that the engines had returned.
#18


#20


Tenders

 

The units were later seen headed west towards Salt Lake City, UT around noon.





From what I gather they are headed for the San Luis & Rio Grande RR and are being rerouted back through Salt Lake City, UT. Hopefully some of you along the route will get a chance to get some better shots than I did.

Ben

 

Here is an article about the engines courtesy of the Pueblo Chieftain.

http://www.chieftain.com/business/1198742399/2

Ben

 

WOW - Great Catch!!!!!!!

Thanks for the Chieftain link too!!!!!!!

:thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:
​

 

So, why was the Grand Canyon RR getting rid of a steam engine?

 

I have been keeping up with the engines at DRGW.NET - Dedicated to Preserving the Memory of the Rio Grande . My guess is that someone didn't get their measurements correct.

Ben

 

It's my understanding that both engines were bought by Mt. Hood RR in April of 2007 from the Grand Canyon Railway. Due to rising fuel costs the Mt. Hood RR decided to sell the engines to the SL&RG RR. I know this didn't really answer the question but it's all that I have found on the internet so far.

Ben

 

Here is another interesting link. Former Grand Canyon's #18 20 Loaded up Today

Ben

 

I have to provide a couple corrections to this thread.

First off, Mt. Hood never owned these locomotives. Brian Fleming traded an ex-Spokane, Portland & Seattle locomotive to the Grand Canyon for these two. The reason is quite simply logistics- these 2-8-0's never were a good fit for the Grand Canyon, as they were too small for the trains they run over the profile they have and were too unstable at the track speeds GCRy operates at. Of the four 2-8-0's they started with only one (the #29) survives on the road today. The SP&S locomotive GCRy got in return will need a lot of work, but once it operates again it will be almost a perfect locomotive for their needs. Very similar to their #4960.

Brian Fleming struck a deal with Mt. Hood to operate these two. Brian and his crew got the #18 certified and back in operation, and it worked out very well on the Mt. Hood, but the steam program did not bring in enough ridership to support itself, with the steam program closing after only a few months. Brian then placed the locomotives up for sale, with Iowa Pacific/Permain Basin buying them for use on the San Luis & Rio Grande.

Iowa Pacific/Permian Basin purchase of the Mt. Hood is a separate transaction and appears to be coincidental. Apparently they have some big plans for that property. It will be interesting to see how that all shakes out.

I assume the locomotives will be routed through Wyoming?

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV

 

Thanks guys, somehow I missed this thread. Neat to see the locos in transit. This is how the SP&S loco looked when it arrived in AZ. Bad lighting, but this is the only view you can get of the shops:

 

Nice shot of the steamer! Good, no excelent to see that it isn't cut up in a scrap heap!

 

The 539 is the only SP&S steam Locomotive except the 700. Sorry to see it leave the northwest but better to have it running instead of rusting.
The 539 sat for years in Esther Short Park in Vancouver Wn.

 

Looking at the photo, you could still pretend it is in the NW. At least it will live and run among the pines, pulling long strings of heavyweights and/or stainless passenger cars on the Grand Canyon run.