Steam & Excursion > Cotton Belt 819

While reading the postings on NS's steam program with the Tennessee Valley Museum I got to recalling some of the great steam trains of past NRHS Conventions. In 1990, Cotton Belt 819 traveled north to St. Louis. The late Walter Weible, Richard Kirchner and I were chasing it north. It was really moving out and we got few shots. I have heard almost nothing about the 819 since the the 1990 convention. Can someone fill me in on its current status.
Thanks, Frank Corley

819's currently disassembled at Pine Bluff for 15-year FRA inspection. Here's a link to a website with work pics that's about 10 years old, but I don't think much has changed since then.

http://www.trainweb.org/arkansastrains/railroad/ssw819/SSW819.htm

Aside from money, the other big issue is that there's really nowhere for her to run given UP's current steam policy prohibiting the operation of engines not owned by UP.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/16/10 19:20 by davew833.

I'm confused, I thought UP WAS pro-steam, I mean they run the 844 and 3985 already so why not anyone else's steam engine?
CR4131

Big difference between theirs and yours.

Last I heard, some years ago the UP took out the track/switch connection to the Pine Bluff shop/museum, due to "issues" with the 819 organization.

I believe the one poster is correct in that while UP is pro steam, it is pro UP steam, and doesn't
really run much of any other locos on their system, with a few exceptions of course.
Here is a promo clip of the St. Louis event. Hopefully the TO folks won't consider this advertising.
I wanted you to see that there are a couple of cool 819 runbys in this clip, and perhaps the best
running this engine ever did post steam-era was on the St. Louis trip from Pine Bluff in 1990.
http://www.youtube.com/user/GregSchollVideo#p/u/49/HS9VkcZwcqU
Greg Scholl

If you were the folks at the Cotton Belt Historical Society. UP has removed the tracks between the museum and railroad? It is unfortunate. I guess the railroad needs to be reminded that they have grounded the locomotive that Hilary and Bill Clinton have ridden behind.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/10 20:53 by mike15224449.

mike15224449 Wrote:
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> the locomotive that Hilary and Bill Clinton have ridden behind.


"Who is that?"

"That's the Governor."

"Oh. OK."

* snap *

(June 13, 1986)

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Where's his hand in that left picture???

mike15224449 Wrote:
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> I just don't understand why they
> don't allow locomotives like T&P 610, 819, 2472
> and 4449 on home rails.

Because none of the engines you listed say Union Pacific on the tender. One could argue that using steam is a way to celebrate the company's history while providing good will to the general public and that good will could lead to more business. However, since UP already has a steam program there's no benefit to allowing a non-UP locomotive on their tracks. A potential shipper isn't going to say "you grabbed my attention when that big steam engine came though last year, but since it wasn't the Daylight I'm not going to ship with you". As much as I'd love to see more steam, this is still a business.

Oh that poor engine!

mike15224449 Wrote:
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For example 4449 not allowed on the
Coast Line between San Francisco and Los Angeles?

Mike, you have have no clue what goes on behind the scenes! How do you know that 4449 is "not allowed..."? Have you been involved in "negoations"?

For one thing, the Friends of SP4449 have NEVER even asked to "run 4449 on the UP" system! Ever since the UP and SP merged, there have been many "groups" that have made requests to UP Management concerning operating their paticular steam locomotive someplace or other on the UP system.

The Friends of SP4449 have never wanted to put the UP in an uncompromising position by "allowing" the 4449 on their system, but then having to tell other "groups" that their crew was unqualified or their locomotive was not mechanically sound enough to operate on UP main line trackage, etc.

The Friends of SP4449 have too good of a relationship with the UP Steam Team to jeopardize more than 20 years of "working together" (witness the 4449/844 doubleheader trips out of Tacoma, WA) to put them in a difficult position.

Just a thought--since UP maintains the steam locomotives that they operate on their track, it seems that it would be stupid for them to allow some other steamer to operate that they had no knowledge of its maintenance, condition, etc.

I apologize for stirring up some stupid drama. I'm going to take a few days break because I read too much into things.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/10 20:44 by mike15224449.

I rode the final three Cotton Belt 819 annual excrusions from Pine Bluff to Tyler TX and back every October in 1991,92,93. Great trips.No diesel helpers. 1993 was last run,due to SP notifying the Cotton Historical Society,that they would have to provide a 300 million dollar liability coverage.No way could they afford that!They could run that engine up to 60mph going down to Tyler.

Paul Bliss
Oxnard CA

I think she is coming back from the Convention, Was it in 1990?

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I agree it is a shame that the Cotton Belt 819 may not run again soon. The late 1980s and early 90s were the heyday of latter day Cotton Belt steam. Here are three images from trips to Tyler, Texas in the early 90s.

J.P. Bell
Fort Smith, AR

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Didn't the UP donate the Pine Bluff shops to the group?

If so, they are one of a very few 4-8-4's that has a building to call home.

mike15224449 Wrote:
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...locomotive that Hilary and Bill Clinton have ridden behind.


I'm sure the only reason Bill was there was because he thought the 8 and 1 looked like a 6.

nycman Wrote:
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> Just a thought--since UP maintains the steam
> locomotives that they operate on their track, it
> seems that it would be stupid for them to allow
> some other steamer to operate that they had no
> knowledge of its maintenance, condition, etc.

That's exactly right....The key to the UP steam program is the UP controls every aspect of their maintenance and operation. The powers-that-be know exactly what to expect (and, more importantly, what NOT to expect) whenever the 844 or 3985 are on the road. There is also a definitive line of accountability within the company.

NZ