Steam & Excursion > TOFC and steam, 1979

Here we have steam on TOFC!  The Crab Orchard & Egyptian in 1979 was engaged in a local piggyback service.

#1 - In February, 2-4-2 #5 was the road's power, and was returning to Marion from the piggyback ramp near Crainville.  The locomotive's flue time was running out, and #5 would soon be replaced by 2-8-0 #17.

#2 - That December, #17 is seen in a pair of shots.  First, she is seen being readied for the day.  A wheelbarrow full of ash rests near the firebox.

#3 - Later in the day, #17 arrives at the wye near Crainville.  This was the location of the piggyback ramp, and by the looks of it she'll have plenty of switching work to do.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

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Thanks for the neat images!  I remember seeing their TOFC trailers at that time - very iconic.  What ever became of the CO&E steam locomotives?

Rich

From 1986 to  1999, #5 operated at the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern in Jackson, Missouri.  Lacking funds for a rebuild, she sits there today in pieces.

#17 suffered a collapsed dry pipe in September, 1986.  Her flue time was running out, so her time was limited anyway.  The failure just hastened the end.  Retired by the CO&E, she was purchased by the Boone & Scenic Valley.  En route to Boone, she laid over in Dupo, Illinois, where some boiler work was supposedly done on her.  This work supposedly did more harm than good.  When she arrived in Boone, they found she needed much more work than their inspector had said she would.  The B&SV elected to buy a Chinese Mike instead of repairing #17 and she remains stuffed and mounted there to this day.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions