Steam & Excursion > This Steam Locomotive Had A Reprieve From Her First Display!

While most steam locomotives fell to the scrappers torch at the end of the steam era, a lucky few found themselves preserved and being placed on display.  Usually that was the end of the story and those display engines would face years of deterioration and in some cases cosmetic restoration on their display site.

This particular locomotive has a somewhat different, and almost Cinderella-like story.

By 1961, U.S. Plywood Corporation had all but ended it's logging railroad out of Kosmos, Washington.  During the last years of that lines operation, the work was performed with an EMD diesel #100 built new for the line in the early 1950's.  All but one of the logging lines steam locomotives had been retired with the arrival of the diesel.  The lone steamer left was U.S. Plywood #11 and Baldwin built 2-6-6-2.  She was kept serviceable and was used as standby for when the diesel was not available due to repairs.

When the logging line was set for abandonment, there was enough sentimental value seen in #11 that, rather than cutting her up, U.S. Plywood donated her to the University Of Washington, for display outside that institutions Forestry Department on the campus in Seattle, Washington.  It is there where we see #11 in the fine photo.

Unlike many other display engines. #11 would have her chance to "go to the ball" much like Cinderella did.  In the early 1970's the University needed #11's display spot for expansion and #11 was loaned to the Northwest Railroad Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington.  Volunteers were able to make some repairs to #11 on the campus before she left and when she arrived back on rails she was actually steamed up and run to Snoqualmie under her own power.

#11 would enjoy "her time at the ball" for a number of years at Snoqualmie and became the primary steam power for the museums trains through the 1970's into the 1980's.  She put on quite a show during those years.

Like, Cinderella however, all good things come to and end, and "the clock struck midnight" finally and #11 was returned to be a display locomotive, this time by the very same  depot in Snoqualmie where she once picked up passengers to take them to places like Snoqualmie Falls and North Bend.

Who knows, maybe this "Cinderella Locomotive" may get invited back to the ball on day in the future.

Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 01/11/20 02:43 by LoggerHogger.

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It is very sad to see it sitting while on my honeymoon got a cab ride in it about 85 I think and at that time was suffering from neglect. Always hoped they would fix it but things didnt workd out.

Sigh.

Out 

Similar story to Heber Valley RR's Union Pacific 2-8-0 #618, retired to display (and playground duty) at the Utah State Fairgrounds in Salt Lake City, UT. in 1958. By 1970 it was considered an attractive nuisance and plans were being considered for its disposal, including digging a pit next to it onsite and pushing it over into the pit (!) Fortunately, it was loaned to the newly-formed Heber Creeper operation and after being towed from the fairgrounds moved under its own power from Provo, UT to Heber, UT where it resides today undergoing a long, slow rebuild after serving many years in excursion service.