The Austin Steam Train Association decided to just buy the Horizon GP40 that they have been leasing for years now while they piddle around trying to get their steam engine back together and rebuild the Alco Alligator. They have rebuilt or replaced most of the power assemblies as well as the turbo charger on the Geep. The locomotive was blowing so much oil mist when at idle, that you did not park your car anywhere near it. The New Braunfels was usually positioned right behind it and had to be washed frequently or the roof would turn black. A photo from a few year ago where you can see the area where the locomotive was normally parked. It got much worse. The prevailing breeze is from the right so the black smudge goes over to the left covering that switch. Now the debate is what to repaint it as. It started out life as Pen Central, with the mating worms logo, and then went to Rio Grande for a while.
Shouldn't have rebuilt her. It would have been more profitable to lease it out for people who need mosquito control work done.
When the Alligator broke down at ASTA, they leased a Geep from Austin Western until they picked up the Horizon Geep. November 12, 2016 before we had the New Braunfels repainted.
You might want to check the enductor tube too. If that is plugged/carboned up It suck oil out of the crankcase out thru the stack. It is not uncommon to be overlooked during servicing.
Is there a wye in Burnet? I've always wondered where they turn around to come back. I probably don't get a vote on the paint but if I did I'd tell them to put something like this on the side of it.
Yes, however when they only run to Bertram, they don't turn the train. They just bring the locomotive around and run it long hood forward back to Cedar Park where they wye it before tying up.
@r_i_straw - Nice. The end of that Burnet wye is only a block away from my church. We often see the train stopped in Bertram on our way home from there on Sundays. One of these days I'll go give it a ride.
I miss the era of lease units leading trains. Still see FURX units but they're typically dead in tow headed to some small railroad or switching operation. Trio of leasers on CSX Q525-18 on the Main Line sub back in 2012: CSX Q525-18, Gaithers,KY 4/18/2012 by Jeff Wagoner, on Flickr Trio of SD90MACs on the P&L in 2012, hauling the near-daily coal train south from Louisville for more loads. PAL LG1, Summit,KY 6/8/2012 by Jeff Wagoner, on Flickr Ex Santa Fe SD75M at Waddy,KY on the Louisville District, 2018 NS 289, Waddy,KY 9/29/2018 by Jeff Wagoner, on Flickr Trio of HLCX SD40-2s on CSX Q573 at Sulphur,KY in 2011: CSX Q573, Sanders,KY 11/25/2011 by Jeff Wagoner, on Flickr
