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1st time under it's own power since the 1920's.  Currently Nearing completion of 5+ yr restoration project at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI 

 

This video shows it's 1st test run after hours, however Thursday (6/6/13) it ran on the main line pulling passengers for the 1st time.  From what i have been told.  over 90% of the restoration work happened in house at the village!

 

 

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no schedule that isn't internal to The Henry Ford.  It was explained to me as "it won't run unless they are running 2 locomotives and there is no exact schedule for what 2 will run and when"  They want to have it out to showcase their restoration work, but it is limited to 3 passenger cars where the others can pull 4, due to how much bigger/longer it is than the 4-4-0 "Edison" or 0-6-4T "Torch Lake" With any more than 3 cars it can not fit all the cars on the platform at the main station (Firestone) without the loco being in the walking path setting off the Railroad Crossing bells/lights.
 
Maybe Jake (SantaFe158) can shed some light on the schedules and actual times we will see it out as he is working in the roundhouse/on the Weiser Railroad currently.....
 
Originally Posted by Jdevleerjr:

I cant wait to go see her in action this summer.  Does the Henry Ford provide any schedule of when each locomotive is running?

I can't say much more than you guys already know, because I don't know either.  It's not "officially" in service yet, but did pull a few trains last week.  It still needs a little fine tuning, but runs nicely for having not run since the late 1920's.  I have only been working on weekends and have spent the past two Sundays on the locomotive as a student fireman, so I haven't picked up on any gossip about it.

There is no set schedule that I'm aware of outside of the required boiler washes, they try to run them fairly equally.
I will also point out, that video was really its second time running.  They did some back and forth running in our yard the first day.  The video was its first time doing complete circuits. 

We also had it on the line last Tuesday for more testing before it ran on trains Thursday afternoon and possibly Friday

I work in the Village as a presenter, and it was great seeing the locomotive in action on its first day out.  Many of the guests seeing it were also blown away.  A very pretty locomotive, if indeed a multi ton machine can be termed "pretty".  But to a train person, that's easy to do! 

 

The only problem I have is with the engineer blowing the whistle for such a long period!  With the number of crossings, it's hard talking over the whistle blasts, which sometimes last longer than 20 seconds.  But I'll live with it... <VBG>.  You can also identify each of the three locomotives by their distinctive whistles. 

 

It's also fun to hear passing Amtrak and NS engineers give a short two horn blast and the Village engineers respond.  Very cool.

 

Jerry

Originally Posted by smd4:

Except for the air compressor--which seems placed too far forward--it's a gorgeous engine. 

I believe I remember hearing that they decided to move it to make it easier to do repairs and maintenance on it.  It may have been located there when built as well.

 

I'm the new guy in the shop though, so I'm not 100% positive on that.

Most Baldwins I've seen from the era--as well as most 4-4-0s from then--had the compressor closer to the cab, presumabley for ease of access by the fireman.

 

Even so, the engine is a showpiece, especially wearing that Baldwin "Olive" color. Whoever approved the paint scheme did their homework.

Wow. a couple videos sure did stir up a commotion.  I can't wait to ride behind this big guy. even though the Mason Bogie (#3 Torch Lake) is still the smoothest operator on the line, I still can't wait to feel the power and hear it's unique sounds and feel.  Definitely a beautiful restoration!

 

Hopefully i will have some new pictures and maybe a video (if it's in revenue service) On saturday for everyone!

Out in the village we have...

1873 0-6-4T Mason Bogie "Torch Lake" from the calumet and hecla mining company (operating)

1897 Baldwin 4-4-0, D&LN/DT&I #7 (nearly complete restoration to operation)

1932 Ford Rouge built 4-4-0 "Edison" (heavily modified 1870's Manchester 0-4-0, operational)

1914 Baldwin 0-6-0, Michigan Alkali/Detroit and Mackinac (stored on our back track waiting a major restoration)

1927 14 ton Plymouth gasoline switcher (used to move cold locomotives in and out of the shop)

1942 GE 45/50 tonner, US Naval Ammuniton depot, charleston South Carolina (backup locomotive for steam, as well as our switcher for moving cars around, 5 tons of steel plating added by the navy to increase weight to 50 tons)

1902 ALCO Schenectady 4-4-2, Michigan Central/DT&I (static display in roundhouse)

Rolling stock wise...

 

1914 Bay Works Wreck Crane, Michigan Central/Penn Central/Conrail (operational off of an external steam/air supply, occasionally hooked up to the "Torch Lake's" steam and operated for special events)

 

Idler Flat car for crane (unrestored still in PC colors)


3 C&O PS-1(?) boxcars, recently repainted, two restored to represent other roads (currently used as shop storage)

Southern RR depressed center flat car

Detroit and Mackinac wooden caboose

A tiny DT&I wooden boxcar

A three dome tank car of some sort

A large stock car (I believe is used for lumber storage)

Two or 3 large chessie system boxcars also used for storage

A N&W coal hopper

A NS coal hopper

A Model T era Michigan Central auto carrier boxcar (rumored to be the last of its type?)

And our regularly operating 5 open air passenger cars.

 

 

In the Museum....



1941 LIMA 2-6-6-2 Allegheny, C&O #1601

 

1926(?) ALCO, Ingersoll Rand, GE Boxcab diesel, Ingersoll Rand #90

 

1909 Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidation, Bessemer and Lake Erie #154

 

1898 Davenport 0-4-0T (2' gauge), Wayne County road Commission

 

1858 Rogers 4-4-0, Atlantic and Gulf Railroad "Satilla"/"Sam Hill"/"The President"

 

1929 Stephenson's Rocket replica

 

1893 Dewitt Clinton locomotive and passenger car replicas, built by NYC

 

1923 Canadian Pacific Snowplow

 

Fruit Grower's Express woodside reefer

 

Henry Ford's private car "Fairlane"

 

Detroit and Mackinac wooden combine

 

DT&I 1925 wood caboose

 

Replica Bangor and Aroostook 1800's passenger car

 

Last edited by SantaFe158
Originally Posted by GCRailways:

Okay, thanks.  I'm thinking about going this direction for my future HO layout.  I didn't realize just how much equipment is out there in the village!

We have quite a bit of stuff for a small railroad.  But as mentioned above, the second half of that list is what is on display inside the museum.

 

And that list was just what I could think of off the top of my head.  I may have missed one or two things.

 

I suppose the former Pere Marquette turntable in front of the roundhouse could be added as well.  Plus all the machines we have in the shop to do maintenance on our equipment.

There are a few trolley's that I forgot to mention.  I don't really know anything about them though.

 

The museum has always put together an O gauge display at christmas time, but it was made a permanent exhibit on the fireman's side of the Allegheny last year using some pieces out of the former Richard Kughn collection that I believe the museum also has in it's possession.

 

As for the GG1, I believe it's still sitting in New York.  The museum owns it, but I think it's one of the one's that suffered from frame cracks, so the railroad won't move it.  That's what I last heard before I started working in the roundhouse.  I really don't know what the current status of the project is, if anything different.

Originally Posted by GCRailways:

I'm sorry... I can't help but stare at those roller bearing trucks on the excursion coaches.  Any chance they will be swapped for something that looks more era-appropriate?

 

Update: I noticed on Google Earth that there is a small siding between Firestone and Susquehanna Station.  What is that used for?

Actually one car still needs to be converted to roller bearings along with one truck on a second.  Most visitors wouldn't notice it anyway, and it's one less thing we have to check on in the morning and during the day.

 

Right now the siding is just used for storage of some of our freight cars.  Right now it has an old Model T era automotive carrying boxcar and two of the roller bearing trucks for the passenger cars.

Reviving my (almost) dead thread, I know... But I have been in contact with Lionel pleading with them (thru facebook and the contact button online) to build one of these with Legacy Control and any other features they can jam in.... I actually got a reply... while vague.... it seems like there MAY be hope....

 

Mark, Thanks for the suggestion. She is a beauty. We can't comment on the status of our future production here on Facebook, but your suggestion has been passed on to the design team.

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