Heber Valley #618...

ENGINE'S RUNNING OUT OF STEAM

PROVO, UT -- After 100 years of riding the rails and traveling some 250,000 miles since its last overhaul, engine No. 618 is ready to be upgraded -- or head straight toward an early retirement.

Photo here:

[deseretnews.com]

Caption reads: Shop foreman Jim Breeden sits in the fire box of Engine 618 as he works to repair the flue sheet on the century-old steam locomotive at the Heber Valley Historic Railroad in Heber. The foundation that runs the railroad is asking Wasatch and Utah counties and surrounding communities to help fund the $750,000 restoration of the aging locomotive. (Jason Olson, Deseret Morning News)

Heber Valley Historic Railroad Executive Director Craig Lacey has asked the Utah County Commission to help contribute funds toward restoring the aging locomotive, which was built in 1907.

Lacey is looking for $5,000 from the county, but the whole project is estimated to cost about $750,000 -- and it's worth every penny, Lacey says.

"This is the first time we've gone to these communities and asked for specific help," Lacey said. "The reason is (an overhaul) of this magnitude is more than we can do in our regular operation budget. ... ($5,000) is not a large amount of money, but it's more to demonstrate that we do have local support."

So far, Lacey has gained financial support from Midway, Heber, Wasatch County and several organizations within those communities.

If Utah County also agrees to pitch in, Lacey will garner about $30,000 from the railroad's neighboring communities.

The railroad has agreed to raise $100,000 on its own and will receive about $500,000 from a federal grant through the transportation enhancement program.

The remaining cost of labor will be donated by the railroad in in-kind services.

Photo here:

[deseretnews.com]

Caption reads: Engine 618 has hauled lots of tourists since becoming part of the Heber Valley historic railroad in 1970. (Jason Olson, Deseret Morning News)

As part of the overhaul, Lacey says the engine will be remodeled to look as it did 100 years ago when it was built. But more importantly, the machine will gain another 30 years of life.

"If we did not do the overhaul, we would no longer be able to operate the engine," Lacey says. "A lot of this work is mandated by federal safety standards. On a steam locomotive boiler, we are very closely governed by federal standards. We're only allowed to operate the engine for a certain period of time before it has to be overhauled, and we've arrived at the end of that time."

The estimated 2 1/2-year overhaul is expected to begin in March 2008 after No. 618 attends its birthday anniversary celebration on July 7.

The locomotive was originally built in Pennsylvania in July 1907. It ran for the Union Pacific railroad pulling pig iron carts between Ironton and Vineyard until 1957 when the engine was retired to the Utah State Fairgrounds.

In 1970, the engine was taken to Heber Valley as the first locomotive to join the historic railroad -- and it has been hauling tourist trains ever since.

For Mike Manwiller, chief mechanical officer for the historic railroad, the engine is well worth preserving, both as a historical relic and an old friend.

"There's an emotional attachment with a steam locomotive that doesn't happen with any other type of power because a steam locomotive is very much alive," Manwiller said. "To anyone who has stood close to a steam locomotive, it breathes ... and it takes on a life of its own. ... (There) is an extension of personality that comes forth with a locomotive and that breeds a deep love and affection that people have for the machinery."

Photo here:

[deseretnews.com]

Caption reads: Engine 618 will be remodeled to look as it did in 1907 -- and will gain another 30 years of life. (Jason Olson, Deseret Morning News)

According to Lacey, about 13 percent of the railroad's ridership from 2006 -- 94,000 passengers -- originated from Utah County.

The Utah County Commission is expected to make a decision on whether they will contribute funds to the restoration on May 8. - Amy Choate-Nielsen, The Deseret Morning News