Steam & Excursion > Central Pacific Leviathan Replica Nearing Completion

Here's a photo taken this week showing the latest progress on Dave Kloke's replica of Central Pacific #63, Leviathan. Leviathan was a sister engine to Jupiter. All of the parts for this locomotive are done. All that's left is fitting up and final assembly. Photo credit goes to Christine Funk of the Mason City and Clear Lake Electric Railroad Historical Society.

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More information, please!

She will be making her public debut at the Trainfestival 2009 in Owosso, Michigan in a few months. She's an oilburner built using the same patterns as the Jupiter replica at Promontory Point. The owner has been plugging away on this since 1999.

That's a dedicated man. Hope his efforts are eminently successful.

LOVE that name--"Leviathan," hah! But what a beauty, and a beautiful job, too. Three cheers! Kurt.

Hey, it was a "Leviathan" in its day! It was also the pinnacle of mainline steam in the 1860's and 70's. Of course it probably weighs less than the driver castings on the SP4449 do today...

only 1999? That's pretty quick progress considering the feat. Way to go!

Looking forward to seeing this engine in July at Owosso. Not sure how I feel about the large lettering on the tender shown in the photo on the Train Festival 2009 page, but hey, it's not my engine. Just doesn't seem quite right, at least to me, but then I don't know very much about the steam engines from that era, or maybe he just wants to use that size lettering. Either way, Hats off to him for a job well done and I can't wait to see it this summer.

How they going to get it there? Flatbed truck or tow on the rails?

Chris Bogley
Bowie, MD

Is this really a new engine, scratch built? That's fantastic!! Apparently the British aren't the only ones with this sort of "engenuity". Now let's see someone build a NYC Hudson replica!!

steam290 Wrote:
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> Is this really a new engine, scratch built?
> That's fantastic!! Apparently the British aren't
> the only ones with this sort of "engenuity". Now
> let's see someone build a NYC Hudson replica!!

You might be able to get these people to do it, if you waved enough money:
http://www.severn-lamb.com/jupiter.asp

Yes, it is a scratch-built engine. It's totally new.

As for the tender lettering, that's how it appeared on photos taken on the CPRR. If you go to the NPS website for Promonotry, you'll notice that the lettering on the "Jupiter" is the same style.

She'll be trucked around the country, not towed by rail.