Steam & Excursion > Hard to believe, 20 years since 1990 NRHS convention

In 1990 the St. Louis NRHS had the biggest mainline steam gathering for the year. Partipants were the 819, 844, 1218 and 1522. I wasn't at the convention. I was a year too late when I moved to St. Louis with my family.

It is really hard to believe that it was twenty years ago last week. 844 ran from Cheyenne to Kansas City w/frieght via North Platte, and Marysville June 7-10. From Kansas City the 4-8-4 pulled an inbound excursion to St. Louis via Jefferson City.

1218 pulled the 1990 Independence Limited from Columbus, Ohio to St. Louis June 9-12. After the convention she stayed on the western side of the Missisippi river pulling a few more NS excursions. Very historic for the Mighty A class.

819 Pulled a two day excursion June 12 & 13 via Ilmo over home rails.

During the Convention 844, 1522 and 819 pulled convention excursions. All of the engines were displayed at Union Station on June 15th.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/10 22:42 by mike15224449.

The weather was just like it is the last few days too. Upper 90s and humid. Miserable!
The first time I ran the 1522 on a main line was eastbound out of Newburg and up Rolla Hill. It was about 97, humid and not a breath of air moving. It was so hot (how hot was it?) that they didn't let people off the train in Newburg and the A/C units were crapping out except for those on the UP cars. The redeeming factor was that I got to run the engine on my Dad's old division. She put on a good show on Rolla Hill with over her tonnage rating. Quite a gal!

Every time a major event gets announced I instantly wish that 1522 could attend. I'm like drats a Frisco Mountain type should be at that event. I'm starting to get that sense again with the possibly soon annoucement of Train Festival 2011. The theme Midwest rails and the location to be annouced along the BNSF Railroad. I keep on wishing.

Here's the 1218 heading west to the event as it left Huntingburg Indiana on June 11,1990.

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I think this is the Year, I chased UP 844, all day! I waited 5 & 1/2 hours, to see it, and film it! And the story goes on from there..... It was headed west, from Otterville, toward Sedalia, and then to Kansas City! ALL IN MISSOURI...Please, some-one let me know, if this is the same year you are talking about right here. Thank You...

VERNON HARRISON
LA TOUR, MISSOURI

What a week that was! I chased SSW 819 from Pine Bluff to St. Louis; rode 844 to Findlay Jct. and return; chased 1522 to Newburg and back; chased the 1522-844 doubleheader on Kirkwood Hill, then flew home. In between, had things like BBQ in Brinkley, AR., a St. Louis dinner at Rigazzi's, plenty of Steak 'n Shake stops, etc.

Bro. Wirth's whistle work, combined with 1522's stack talk, near Bourbon, Mo., was worth the price of the airline ticket.

See the Pentrex tapes from that event to see (and hear) what we're talking about.

VERNON1946 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think this is the Year, I chased UP 844, all
> day! I waited 5 & 1/2 hours, to see it, and film
> it! And the story goes on from there..... It was
> headed west, from Otterville, toward Sedalia, and
> then to Kansas City! ALL IN MISSOURI...Please,
> some-one let me know, if this is the same year you
> are talking about right here. Thank You...
>
> VERNON HARRISON
> LA TOUR, MISSOURI

You are defintly correct. She was in her two-tone gray paint scheme and I don't think she has operated westbound out of St. Louis since that year. In 1996 when she returned to St. Louis she operated South to Arkansas. The date to be exact was June 18th, 1990.

It's about time for something steam powered to go to St. Louis again. It's been 6 years since 3985 came through last, almost 8 years since 1522 quit running. Talk about overdue.

Pump

mike15224449 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You are defintly correct. She was in her two-tone
> gray paint scheme and I don't think she has
> operated westbound out of St. Louis since that
> year. In 1996 when she returned to St. Louis she
> operated South to Arkansas. The date to be exact
> was June 18th, 1990.

UPTRAIN Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's about time for something steam powered to go
> to St. Louis again. It's been 6 years since 3985
> came through last, almost 8 years since 1522 quit
> running. Talk about overdue.
>
> Pump
>
> mike15224449 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > You are defintly correct. She was in her
> two-tone
> > gray paint scheme and I don't think she has
> > operated westbound out of St. Louis since that
> > year. In 1996 when she returned to St. Louis
> she
> > operated South to Arkansas. The date to be
> exact
> > was June 18th, 1990.


The 250th anniversary of Pierre Laclede's canoe trip to what's now St. Louis comes up in 2013. If that's a big enough deal for the governor, legislators, and major employers, UP might be willing to join the party

Hello All....please correct me, if I am wrong! Either the UP 844, or 3985, (Both Super Steam); will be going to Sedalia, Missouri, on September 30, this year! For a Big Anniversary CELEBRATION,of the City Of Sedalia! Quite a Big Celebration.* I thought I would just throw this information in here, on this thread! You all probably already know about this anyway. But maybe some on here on Trainorders, perhaps do not know yet! So I thought I would add this information here right now.

VERNON HARRISON
LA TOUR, MISSOURI

I wasn't a member of any historical society and I felt I couldn't afford the trip at the time but I still regret not going to that convention. I also regret the gathering in Abilene later that year for Ike's 100th birthday anniversary. 844, the BN biz units and Santa Fe biz train were all there. I know the UP consist transported veterans from KC to Abilene that day.

This was my first NRHS convention and it remains the very best. I rode IL90 all the way from Columbus to St. Louis behind 1218, then 844 to Findlay Junction, 1522 to Newburg, and 819 one way back to Pine Bluff. Wonderful trips all, even if 819 managed a very, very late arrival in Pine Bluff. A highlight of that trip was Rollin Bredenburg (then GM of the Cotton Belt) calling 819 on the radio from the lounge car after some delays, and saying, "You're cleared to run maximum authorized speed (70 MPH on the Cotton Belt). You've got the whole westbound fleet behind you, so keep it moving!"

A big 4-8-4 at 70 with a 20 car train is something everyone should see and hear at least once. I'm glad I did.

All but three of the above-mentioned steamers are operational today (sadly...)