This is No 19 in it's present state of the required FRA repair and testing. It was a little dark in the engine house so I had to lighten the photo a bit. Here is their combination caboose and open platform car. The sun was in the wrong location for a clear photo.
How far away are they from having the loco operable? Obviously they're working on tubes and flue sheets. But what else needs to be completed? Boxcab E50
The last I remember hearing was that the road fully intended to have the locomotive operational for this year, but the CORP tunnel fire and resulting loss of most of YW's freight business prevented any work from being done on the locomotive this past winter. Newspaper articles announcing the suspension of the passenger excursions for this year have quoted YW management as saying that the #19 still needs approximately $150,000 worth of work before it can steam again. I imagine it would take several months to complete the required work and get the locomotive operational again. Perhaps Bill K. can provide a more current update on the status of the #19. The half open caboose (YW #001) started life as a Great Northern caboose. It was sold at some point to the McCloud River. Some research that I saw recently stated that the original body was damaged at some point, and an old 4-wheel caboose body was mounted on the frame until it wore out, when the present body was built in the McCloud shops to GN plans. The other possibility is that the caboose was just simply re-built into the half-open form. The caboose was McCloud River's #025, and it worked on both the logging railroad and work train service. I have seen pictures of the #025 behind McCloud steam power in the woods from the late 1940's. The car was sold to the YW in the mid or late 1960's. It was seldom used by the YW up until the new owners took over a few years ago, when it was painted and added to the passenger excursion consist. Thanks for the pictures. JDLX Elko, NV http://www.trainweb.org/mccloudrails
Here's a photo I took of the old YW #001 some time ago: Here's a pic I took that are similar to what Gil took during his visit. I took them for use on another website and had lots more light to work with: We are hoping to have #19 up and running for the 2005 season. The bulk of the boiler work will be done by a boiler maker contractor out of Seattle, WA and they estimate they can have the work completed within two weeks of starting. In addition to the boiler, we have to replace floorboards, window and door frames and do other needed repairs to driver bearings, valve gear and replace bricks in the firebox. Anyone want to volunteer to help? [ 01. May 2004, 17:35: Message edited by: Ironhorseman ]
