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Steam & Excursion > If This Steam Era Had To End, It Certainly Did So In Grand Style!Date: 01/02/19 03:23 If This Steam Era Had To End, It Certainly Did So In Grand Style! Author: LoggerHogger Unfortunately, the 1950's were marked by event after event that marked "the last steam run" here and there all over this country. With the conversion to diesel motive power in the railroads of this country being completed in the decade of the 1950's nearly every month saw the "last steam event" of some kind.
August 26, 1956 was yet another such day where the public once again witnesses steam bow out on a major railroad. It was on this day that the very last steam powered Northern Pacific train pulled out of Portland, Oregon's Union Station as it headed a railfan excursion bound for Battleground, Washington. Here we see NP #1911 ready for her departure on the morning of this eventful day. The big W-2 Class 2-8-2 hardly looks like a locomotive that is ready for her retirement. Clearly she has been kept in fine mechanical condition and if she is to be replaced it is not because she is worn out. She was selected to head up this WVERA railfan trip because she prepresented classic NP steam power and she was more than capable of handling this job. As if to add some sting to the already painful last run of NP steam in Portland, #1911 lost a driver tire on her return trip between Hidden, Washington and Vancouver. Thus would end the last NP steam train ever to depart Portland, Oregon. Another sad day in the 1950's for fans of steam motive power in this country. Martin Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/19 03:41 by LoggerHogger. Date: 01/02/19 04:31 Re: If This Steam Era Had To End, It Certainly Did So In Grand St Author: gbmott A bonus is the Missouri Pacific boxcar. One detail is the wooden board on the door where sidecards could be tacked. Anyone care to speculate when they disappeared? They were still being used some places into the early ‘70s.
NP steam soldiered on at the east end of the railroad until January 17,1958, when 1713 made its final run in Duluth. Gordon Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/19 04:45 by gbmott. Date: 01/02/19 07:06 Re: If This Steam Era Had To End, It Certainly Did So In Grand St Author: dan did the engine continue w/o the tire?
Date: 01/02/19 07:12 Re: If This Steam Era Had To End, It Certainly Did So In Grand St Author: CPR_4000 dan Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------- > did the engine continue w/o the tire? Is that even possible, other than limping to the next place it could be set off? Date: 01/02/19 08:49 Re: If This Steam Era Had To End, It Certainly Did So In Grand St Author: asheldrake Martin.......help, what is the WVERA? I love talking to the ORHC visitors about our steam locomotive "tires" and noting that a defective 700 tire is on display at our entry....not something one purchases from Lester Swab.........Arlen
Date: 01/02/19 08:56 Re: If This Steam Era Had To End, It Certainly Did So In Grand St Author: LoggerHogger Arlen,
I am researching the full name for the group. Maybe someone here will know what it is. Martin Date: 01/02/19 11:42 Re: If This Steam Era Had To End, It Certainly Did So In Grand St Author: Jim700 Willamette Valley Electric Railway Association. It is my understanding that the last two coaches obtained for passenger service on the Vernonia, South Park & Sunset Steam Railroad came from WVERA. I seem to recall that they had been stored at NPTC's Lakeyard prior to coming to the VSP&S about half way through its 6-year operation.
There are several videos posted on the "website to which we shall not link". The ones from the later '60s include the two coaches (one is a combine) positioned behind the "never should have been there" caboose which ruined the look of the passenger train. Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/19 11:51 by Jim700. Date: 01/02/19 11:45 Re: If This Steam Era Had To End, It Certainly Did So In Grand St Author: LoggerHogger Jim,
Thanks for filling us in on the group involved. Happy New Year! Martin Date: 01/02/19 17:41 Re: If This Steam Era Had To End, It Certainly Did So In Grand St Author: spnudge Great picture. BUT...........................................,
I still like the looks of the SP engines. They had silver smoke boxes, visors over the headlight and the light was centered on the smoke box door. Now that was SP to me. Even though its a great pic, the engine pictured looks like a one eyed something else. (I know, the GS & Mallets were different) Nudge Date: 01/02/19 19:44 Re: If This Steam Era Had To End, It Certainly Did So In Grand St Author: asheldrake thanks Jim....like many things, that is a new one for me. Arlen
Date: 01/04/19 09:16 Re: If This Steam Era Had To End, It Certainly Did So In Grand St Author: Linndale gbmott Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------- > A bonus is the Missouri Pacific boxcar. One > detail is the wooden board on the door where > sidecards could be tacked. Anyone care to > speculate when they disappeared? They were still > being used some places into the early ‘70s. > > NP steam soldiered on at the east end of the > railroad until January 17,1958, when 1713 made its > final run in Duluth. > > Gordon Wooden boards for tacking Side cards/info on box cars was still in use 1972-74 while working on Penn Central. Posted from Android |