Steam in 2015

Obviously, NKP 765 will be out next year as part of the NS "steam program" operation, plus SP 4449 should be available for the November 2015 "Holiday Express" operations in Portland, OR.. I would also expect Milwaukee 261 would be out again next year too.

Thanks Jack!

NKP 765 will be very busy next year.

 

Details in a few months.

Thanks Rich! Look forward to it.

That is GREAT to hear Rich.

Is UP 844 still running or is it out of service?

UP 844 hasn't operated since late 2013, and will not NOT be operating any time soon! Maybe in 2016?

The 844 has been down for some time now...it is unknown when it will return. 

 

I'll be waiting on the 611 next year along with the 765,4501.

Let's make sure this doesn't become another 844/4014 bashing thread.

My son is finally old enough to handle a long trip/enjoy some big steam somewhere.  Looking forward to seeing the schedules for next year and hope I can make a trip.

It sure would be nice to see her go thru Central Illinois on the Wabash again.

I'm looking forward to where 765 goes on NS next year. Another return to PA? There are other NS lines out of Harrisburg that 765 could run on besides the ex-PRR heading west.

My vote is for another trip out of Fort Wayne.  We have been underserved by our hometown locomotive.  We get to SEE it all the time, which is great, just not many chances to ride behind it without taking a long trip.  

How about Milwaukee 261? What is going on with "her" these days? Any plans for next year?

 

 

 

 

Midcontinent has Saginaw Timber nearly done, Western Maryland Scenic hard at work on their C&O articulated, TVM has completed the other SR engine..to a name a few..IRM is in the midst of completing their Shay..611 is well on the way..One of the UP steamers is due out this coming Spring ( cant remember which one..I think its the Northern) Then theres steam already running...It should be a great year for steam. For the latest news go over to Railway Preservation News..they have pretty regular updates.

One of my favorites was always SP#786 in Austin.  Looks like progress has slowed to a stop?

 

 

Work has NOT stopped. They have been doing a lot, and are now maybe only one more year away. Checking their "site" or "Facebook" site (or whatever they call it), will reveal a lot more information.

I would like to know how or best method to learning about steam engines doing special excursions and pulling freight. I would love to be able to know schedules so I could plan to be there and photograph the event.

I see photos posted from Reading 425 and Strasburg RR to name a couple.

 

Frequent those websites that specialize in steam, such as Trainorders.com , RYPN , Trains Magazine Newswire , and a host of other places and museum sites. To be honest, for someone that has not been "involved" in the world of just U.S. steam for most of their lives, it will require a lot of time and effort on your part to become knowledgable on steam "happenings" in the U.S. alone.  

Steam into History runs a Civil War train between New Freedom and Hanover Junction, south of York, about 6 miles west of Exit 4 (Shrewsury) on I-83.

 

No. 17, the YORK, rolled out of [David] Kloke Locomotive Works, Eligin, IL, in May, 2013. She was constructed from plans of Mr. Kloke's LEVIATHAN with slightly smaller drivers for the 5-mile 2% grade to New Freedom (originally called Summit). Both locomotives may run here in 2015.

 

The Reader Railroad in Arkansas built matching wooden passenger cars.

 

President Abraham Lincoln changed trains at Hanover Junction on his way to deliver his Gettysburg Address. That station is now a museum. Passengers are invited to visit during the layover there.

 

 

Hanover Junction

 

 

 

Visit the Reading & Northern Website for excursions with No. 425 as well as No. 113, a huge, modern Jersey Central 0-6-0 at Minersville, PA. The only other JC steam locomotive still in existence is Camelback 4-4-2 592 in the B&O Museum in Baltimore. Also go to "Project 113" on Facebook. These two doublehead on Santa Claus Specials between Minersville and Cressona on the weekend after Thanksgiving.

 

 

Amtrak Vacations books rides and lodging on the Grand Canyon Railway. Amtrak's SOUTHWEST CHIEF connects with these trains at Williams Junction, AZ

What about Berk 1225?  I know she's run polar express trains this Dec but haven't heard much about her this past summer.

John's initial question was on steam events, not singular trips here and there that may or may not feature steam throughout the year.  

As I understand, there are no announced steam events along the lines of TrainFestival 2004, 2009 or 2011.  That does not mean some city or groups are not planning them.  The RR business is in one of its cyclical shake-ups.  Too much business, not enough track, and proposed mergers and sell-offs.  When these settle down, the Fests will return. 

For the time-being, look for a lot of new and returning steam projects to finally break through in 2015.

The 1225 was pulling 1/2 trip trains during the Owasso Train festival. Really looking good. The fall trip will be handled by diesel power until November 22 when 1225 will be running commuter cars this year to the "North Pole"

Not to go too far "off track" here, but wasn't there some sort of an issue with weight on a bridge that isn't really an issue but they don't want 1225 on it anyway?

I think the 1225 bridge problem was a paperwork and inspection issue as opposed to a mechanical problem with the bridge loading.

 

The devil is in the details...

Exactly. It was related to the Cooper Rating paperwork and calculations previously done on 1225. Apparently a "new person" involved, NOT related to the 1225 organization, want "additional clarification". It was just too bad that the "additional clarification" requirement came just prior to their big excursion.

(Attempting to nudge this thread back to the OP's question)

 

Personally I've found Steam Train Diary to be helpful. Not much listed as of yet for 2015, but give 'er time.

I'll be looking forward to the NS 2015 steam schedule especially since 4501 and 611 will be joining the program. And 765 being busy sounds promising, will it be as big as 2012 or 2013? This year there were only two public trips with 765 on NS on the same route, Detroit Arrow. I'm still wondering if 765 will hit NY state, or return to eastern PA, or go anywhere east of Ohio in 2015. I guess you're not at liberty to say Rich even if you do know FWRHS/NS's plans for next year.

       
       

I've been trying to keep tabs on this one, too.  From what I understand, all of the parts are back in Cedar Park to be reassembled.

Earlier this year, I took a look at the yard from the Railyard Shopping Center and noticed some new equipment, including a troop sleeper/kitchen (don't remember which one) and an Alco switcher.  Can't seem to find info about them, though.

Aaron

Yes, I know where we're going to go with the 765 on NS in 2015, but I cannot say anything here. The 21st Century Steam Program is NORFOLK SOUTHERN's show. When THEY announce the schedule, then we can talk about it. And that won't happen for several months yet.

 

From the Austin Steam Train website:

Work Completed As Of 9/30/2014

• As of this date, all of the connecting rods have been installed on the drivers over the new brass bearings and secured with the keys and individual nuts. 

---

What's Next?

The immediate goal is to finish re-assembly and painting of the pony truck.  On the trailing truck, an new bearing will need to be made and pressed into the tongue of the truck where it attaches to the frame, and then the trailing truck will be re-assembled and flipped over to await mating it with the frame.

Work is progressing on final measurements for the machining of the bearing boxes and finalizing a vendor for that work. 

Next up is re-assembling the components of the cast cylinder saddle and preforming a pressure test.

Pictures can be seen at http://austinsteamtrain.org/786-restoration

They hope to have her running again in 2016 for her 100th Birthday.

 

The troop sleeper is not new. They have had it for many years along with the ALCo switcher. They have just been hidden in the back of their yard out of view. They have been upgrading their car fleet to air conditioned streamlined cars as no one wants to ride in the Texas heat with no AC. They are currently working on a new air conditioned concession car as well.