Steam & Excursion > Former Grand Canyon's #18 & 20 Loaded up Today

Today, 12-17-07, the loading started for the two former Grand Canyon Steam engines that are going from Hood River, OR to Alamosa, CO. It was wet and dark today and it took a while for #18 to get loaded on the flat car.

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A few more of the loading process.

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#18 loaded on the flat car. I didn't stick around to see the tenders loaded, they appeared to have some problems setting up #18 and I was bored out of my mind after waiting so long for something to happen and I really had other things to do.

I hated to see the steamers go as I spent a lot of volunteer time on #18 this summer working to help make it operational. However, it is good to see that they will go to a new home where they may get some use!

Dan

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What steam is replacing 18 & 20???
90MAC

Nothing. Mt. Hood will continue to run it's passenger service and dinner trains as scheduled but it will not include Steam in it's future because of high fuel costs.

Brian

Macster Wrote:
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> Nothing. Mt. Hood will continue to run it's
> passenger service and dinner trains as scheduled
> but it will not include Steam in it's future
> because of high fuel costs.
>
> Brian


I'm glad I rode it behind 18 & 20 back 1997.
TAH

90mac Wrote:
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>
>
> I'm glad I rode it behind 18 & 20 back 1997.
> TAH

Think you mean 29 there... 20 has not ran since 1960, if not before

Alamosa and the San Luis & Rio Grande RR will have the red carpet out for the ex-LS&I 2-8-0's arrival! Hopefully, the steam engines will like the drier climate around Alamosa, CO. Bring them on!

Thanks for the wonderful coverage showing their Hood River, Oregon, departure.

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Macster Wrote:
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> Nothing. Mt. Hood will continue to run it's
> passenger service and dinner trains as scheduled
> but it will not include Steam in it's future
> because of high fuel costs.
>
> Brian

And fuel is cheaper in Colorado?

CPRR Wrote:
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> Macster Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Nothing. Mt. Hood will continue to run it's
> > passenger service and dinner trains as
> scheduled
> > but it will not include Steam in it's future
> > because of high fuel costs.
> >
> > Brian
>
> And fuel is cheaper in Colorado?
No, they just have deeper pockets.

It's ironic how far these engines traveled from the GCRR in Arizona, all the way to Mt. Hood, OR and now they're coming to Alamosa, CO, a few hundred miles from whence they came :)

I hope the SL&RG RR can come up with a covered storage place for these engines and not let them sit outside in the elements.

Mike

There's a new shop in the works for Alamosa - apparently it's still waiting on some of the permits to come through. So, my guess is that it's likely the steamers will get covered storage (don't know the details of what the SLRG has planned), but they are steam engines - most spend their entire lives outside, except for maintenance. Iowa Pacific is also in the car repair business, so the shop will likely also be used for that purpose, as well as for maintaining the road's diesels. Regardless, they'll be well cared for, and at least 18 will see regular service, along with SLRG 1744.

They have taller girls in Alamosa too !


TCS - a tilt-cab hook, would've liked that for the slack time (zzzzzzzz)

CPRR Wrote:
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> And fuel is cheaper in Colorado?

My guess is something to do with that nasty grade that the Mount Hood Railroad has out of Hood River. When I photographed the steam engine on its second-to-last day of operations in August it was only pulling three cars and a caboose.

In comparison when I rode the train (albeit with diesels) there were usually six or seven coaches plus caboose, in July (OK, it was "Day Out with Thomas") and again in October.

TopcoatSmith Wrote:
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> TCS - a tilt-cab hook, would've liked that for the
> slack time (zzzzzzzz)


That's exactly what the operator was doing! ;)

TopcoatSmith Wrote:
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> They have taller girls in Alamosa too !

And that's why we appreciate CZ's photography - it always has such nice scenery. :)

What's the grade out of Hood River, length and percentage-wise? Just wondering how it compares to La Veta.

Nathan
http://www.drgw.net

Amazing. LS&I to Arizona to Oregon to Colorado. Highball!

Regards,
Burlington John

This is just for a railfan alert along the way.

As of right now - the engines are still sitting in Hood River - someone has been doing some welding / cutting most of the day. I thought the UP local would pick them up today, but that didn't happen.

Three percent grade on LaVeta pass, and it ain't short, neither. Gotta be more of a hill than that climb to Parkdale--or at least comparable.

wigwagfan Wrote:
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> CPRR Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > And fuel is cheaper in Colorado?
>
> My guess is something to do with that nasty grade
> that the Mount Hood Railroad has out of Hood
> River. When I photographed the steam engine on
> its second-to-last day of operations in August it
> was only pulling three cars and a caboose.
>
> In comparison when I rode the train (albeit with
> diesels) there were usually six or seven coaches
> plus caboose, in July (OK, it was "Day Out with
> Thomas") and again in October.