Steam & Excursion > CB&Q "Mark Twain Zephyr" restoration

Not steam but this definitely falls under the Excursion category

The 1935 Budd built CB&Q "Mark Twain Zephyr" has been sold to Wisconsin Great Northern with a plan to restore it to operation. The set changed hands a few times after it was retired and is currently at Gateway Rail Services in Madison, IL across from St Louis. Interesting that Gateway also has the 4th car from the CB&Q "Pioneer Zephyr". The MTZ is pretty much a hollow shell these days.

https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2020/07/27-mark-twain-zephyr-to-run-again?fbclid=IwAR2PoAks60RKTxs3YUc8-9K6VL4ApBwz0Ng-Oy9gZWU48wgmdHVTi-yZ5j0

The "Injun Joe" is the first thing scheduled to make the trip north via truck this week to Wisconsin. You can follow along it's journey here @MarkTwainZephyr. The route and day hasn't been determinded as they await route approve by IDOT

http://www.marktwainzephyr.com/?fbclid=IwAR0eaZUdIQFoyUUysPjir6oLmQ8T_CVfXeyY5LIFIL0yiCGp0cFG405Fj3M

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/20 21:09 by Spoony81.

Speaking of Zephyr trains. What ever happened to the Yankee Clipper restoration?

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

wabash2800 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Speaking of Zephyr trains. What ever happened to
> the Yankee Clipper restoration?
>
> Victor A. Baird

Do you mean the "Flying Yankee"?  Pretty sure that one is dead in the water, and has been for many, MANY years.

Thanks for the correction Jack. I thought it was in better hands at Conway Scenic.

But I did find this update as of Febuary this year: It is still in New Hampshire on the Hobo RR with a goal of getting it operating in the White Mountains. I was surprised to find out that the New Hampshire DOT is involved.

https://flyingyankee.org/

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/28/20 19:12 by wabash2800.

Here's Flying Yankee earlier this evening at the Hobo Railroad shops in Lincoln.  The trucks have been off for a few years now, presumably undergoing work indoors.  Of course, if you've traveled around northern New England, you'll know that having a vehicle up on blocks in the front yard is pretty common :-)

Dave

---

When I last visited this site in 2010, the entire train was under a large tent.  It appeared that interior work was being done to the cars.  There was no engine.

Grand plans at the time.  It looks like there is no longer a pretense about active work.

The “Injun Joe” started its journey to Wisconsin this afternoon. I followed the Twitter updates and my 8yr old son and I intercepted it coming north at I-55 south of Lake Springfield. We followed it north around Springfield until it stopped for the night at a rest stop just north of town. I snapped some iPhone pics and talked to the guys and got a nice brochure detailing the plans. It will continue in the morning and should be at its new home tomorrow night. The rest of the cars will follow in August.

At the rail splitter rest stop north of Springfield. Sunlight was pretty much gone so the only light was from one of the crew cars. The permits are for daylight travel only. 

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/20 21:09 by Spoony81.

---