Steam & Excursion > 2-8-2 #5

Back in 1989 there was a 2-8-2, running some celebratory excursions for the state of Washington. The 4449 was also participating in the same events. I think this was a former Great Northern engine, but can't remember for sure. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone else? I have been curious as to what happened to that engine, if it still runs, who owns it etc etc.

This was Mount Rainer Scenic RR's Porter 2-8-2 #5. She was NOT a Great Northern engine but we did put on the Great Northern goat heralds on the tender since we were running on GN tracks.

The engine was built for the Carlton & Coast Railroad in Carlton, Oregon and later went to the Port of Grays Harbor. She was on display on the Schafer Bros. Game farm until 1981 when we moved her to Mineral, WA for rebuilding.

She is now out of service with boiler issues and running gear work needed.

Here are a couple of photos of her in 2002 before she was removed from service.

Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/12 12:34 by LoggerHogger.

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This engine is port of grays harbor #5 and is owned by the MRSR. The engine has been out of service since 2003 and will require a polson 70 level rebuild to return to operation. Being as that we will have six operable steam locomotives soon, we have deemed the 5 to not be a priority at this time.

Efstathios I Pappas, MS
Chief Mechanical Officer
Mt Rainier Scenic Railroad

Posted from iPhone

That's why I love this site. I knew I would be able to get the right answer, just didn't realize how quickly! Thanks guys, any recent photos?

In September of 2000, I stopped by Elbe and took a few pictures of #5. She was the main power for that day:

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Martin keeps changing his picture, maybe I should add another one:

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This locomotive carried a 3-chime Ashton whistle. Quite rare and one of the most beautiful I've ever heard.

What is the functional purpose of the structure built onto the back of the tender. Almost looks like it would mate up with a pass car diaphragm? Surely not...

You are right Phil. The tender came from the NWP in California. They had diaphragm buffers on some of their tenders. This helps stabilize the passenger car coupled to the rear of the tender.

Martin

To ad a bit more to Martin's explanation, this tender came from Northwestern Pacific No. 136 (Alco, 1914). She was one of three locomotives that participated in the NWP Golden Spike Ceremony at Cain Rock on October 23, 1914. Her tender was acquired by the Klamath and Hoppow Valley tourist railroad that operated out of Klamath, California from 1969 to 1973. It was painted MOW light gray and placed on redwood cribbing to supply oil to the two locomotives used by the line, Heisler No. 10 and Alco 2-8-2T No. 17. These locomotives along with Shay 11 and the tender were later sold to the Mount Rainer Scenic Railway.

Cheers,
Jack



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 06/06/12 09:27 by africansteam.

As a follow-up to Jack's follow-up to my message -- Here is NWP #136 and the tender that we have behind MRSR #5 today.

This view was taken in Santa Rosa, CA on April 13, 1936.

Martin



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/06/12 05:21 by LoggerHogger.

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What happened to the original tender for #5? Does anyone have a photo to share as it looked with it's original tender? It is a neat engine for sure.

Bret,

The original tender was too rusty to use. It was sent down to Tacmoma for sandblasting and there was letterally nothing left of it when they were done. I do not recall what we did with the frame to it.

Here is a shot of #5 at work at the Port of Grays harbor in the 1940's. Al Farrow took the photo.

Martin

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What is the driver diameter on this engine? The drivers are barely bigger than the tender wheels!

Porter #5 has 45-inch drivers including the tire diameter.

Martin

LoggerHogger Wrote:
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> Porter #5 has 45-inch drivers including the tire
> diameter.
>
> Martin


Martin is correct that the original size if the tires, on paper, was 45". But they haven't actually been 45" in many years. They have been turned down to around 41" and are badly in need of replacement if we were to decide to ever get the engine running again.

Scott

I can't see clearly in the recent photos, but the in service shot looks like the center drivers are blind? Sets 2&3? Any photos of the Great Northern lettering?

Cheers, Dave

Dave,

Yes the center tires were blind when she was in service. Also, Scott is correct that while the drivers with new tires from the factory were 45", they have worn down to nearly nothing now. The running gear itself is as tired as are the tires.

Martin

I remember days when it ran and it always such an appealing engine because of both the short drivers
and the Vandy, truly a mutt but a very comely one.

Just the main drivers were blind if I remember right. I spent a lot of years on both sides of the cab of this fine little engine, and most of my training for either craft was on it, starting to fire when I was 15. It sure was sweet to run, and the most comfortable cab and seats of any small steamer I've ever been on. It also was the quietest engine I've ever heard, which I haven't really figured out because the front end is nearly identical to the 70's, which has a much louder exhaust. But I sure do miss it sometimes. This brings back a ton of memories.

Scott Gordon