Steam & Excursion > Southern Pacific 2479 and Lenzen Roundhouse

Anyone know how the 2479 group is doing? The last info I heard of was they were up to the LARGE task of running gear installation. (Another group working outdoors)

http://www.ctrc.org/2479.html

Also,
Did the restoration/reassembly of the old SP roundhouse ever gather any steam? I was under the impression they had land at the Fairgrounds near or by the old roundhouse location.

Sure would be nice to see all three Pacific's back in the Bay Area

Hey Dave--
How 'bout a 25 or 30-car excursion, with a STEAM triple header ??? 2479, 2467, 2472--

Oakland to L.A. and Return... Coast Line..
"Margaret SPFan" could be in-charge of onboard hostess services...
---------------------------------------------
I don't know what is going on with the 2479.
But I'm sure someone knows for sure.
The group was supposed to vacate the Fairgrounds property last November, so I thought.

KRK

Despite appearances from outside the perimeter fence, 2479's restoration IS progressing each week.

Nearly all the components for rewheeling the '79 are now complete: lead and trailing trucks have been rebuilt on-site, drivers and journal boxes reconditioned by an outside contractor, spring rigging and brake assemblies have been reconditioned/replaced with new pins and bushings. Needless to say, our onsite machine shop has been busy (rain or shine). Additional focus has been toward replacing some staybolts in the throat sheet area and the necessary boiler measurements for our form4. Within the last several weeks, new track has been positioned to enable rolling the trailing truck and drivers underneath the locomotive. Additional track will be built in front to enble the same for the lead truck.

As for a new home for the locomotive and the roundhouse...we have met nearly every other week since late January with city of San Jose officials regarding a potential museum site. The focus is a site close to downtown San Jose. Unlike similar efforts with other cities within Santa Clara County over the past three years, our current discussions with San Jose remain very positive; however, as experience by other organizations, discussions with municipalities are prolonged and require patience from everyone. As long as we continue making progress toward a new location, there has been no pressure to leave the fairgrounds.

See for yourself the restoration progress on SP2479. Our regular work day is every Saturday from 9:00am to 4:00pm. The access gate from Healy Avenue, behind the former Surf N' Turf restaurant, is open at that time.

Ken Middlebrook
California Trolley and Railroad Corporation

Mr.Middlebrook-
Glad to hear you are making good progress with the "City of San Jose" in your site negotiations. However, the Fairgrounds site is Santa Clara County property. They wanted you folks to vacate the site last November, I believe it was.. Have they given you an "extension" of time ? Hopefully !!

KRK

I congratulate you and the entire 2479 crew for the work completed and the work in-progress. The greater preservation community salutes all of you for your accomplishments to-date. ---------- Safety First.

KMiddlebrook Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Despite appearances from outside the perimeter
> fence, 2479's restoration IS progressing each
> week.
>
> Nearly all the components for rewheeling the '79
> are now complete: lead and trailing trucks have
> been rebuilt on-site, drivers and journal boxes
> reconditioned by an outside contractor, spring
> rigging and brake assemblies have been
> reconditioned/replaced with new pins and bushings.
> Needless to say, our onsite machine shop has been
> busy (rain or shine).

> Ken Middlebrook
> California Trolley and Railroad Corporation

Thanks for the update Ken. Sure hope you folks can get through all the red tape for the Roundhouse. Will appreciate any news posted here about your dedicated group...Thanks,
Dave

KeyRouteKen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hey Dave--
> How 'bout a 25 or 30-car excursion, with a STEAM
> triple header ??? 2479, 2467, 2472--

> KRK

No one here on TOs would argue with that. A mind boggling thought indeed.
Dave

KeyRouteKen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Mr.Middlebrook-
> Glad to hear you are making good progress with the
> "City of San Jose" in your site negotiations.
> However, the Fairgrounds site is Santa Clara
> County property. They wanted you folks to vacate
> the site last November, I believe it was.. Have
> they given you an "extension" of time ? Hopefully
> !!
>
> KRK


Correct. Santa Clara County has provided time extensions while progress is being made toward a new location. Their original deadline was November 2002.

Ken

You would just need to convince Union Pacific to give their blessing to use their line........ then goodtimes.

> KeyRouteKen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hey Dave--
> > How 'bout a 25 or 30-car excursion, with a
> STEAM
> > triple header ??? 2479, 2467, 2472--
>
> > KRK
>
> No one here on TOs would argue with that. A mind
> boggling thought indeed.
> Dave

As long as the excursion was on Caltrain trackage from SF to Gilroy it porbably could happen.

"I congratulate you and the entire 2479 crew for the work completed and the work in-progress. The greater preservation community salutes all of you for your accomplishments to-date. ---------- Safety First."

Perfectly stated. Very proud of all involved.

John