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Steam & Excursion > This Steam Locomotive Is Resting During Her First Retirement!Date: 10/18/20 06:00 This Steam Locomotive Is Resting During Her First Retirement! Author: LoggerHogger By 1959, when this photo was taken in the Sierra Railroad roundhouse in Jamestown, California, 2-8-2 #34 had been retired for 4 years already. She had not taken part in the April, 1955 Farewell To Steam event that saw steam power formally retired on the Sierra. By the time of this photo, #34 was already gathering quite a bit of dust.
It would be several more years until #34 would be sold to Reed Hatch for use on his new White Mountain Scenic RR in McNary, Arizona. When she was demonstrated for Mr. Hatch in the yards in Jamestown she blew a cylinder head and was pushed back into the roundhouse to be repaired on a later day. This prevented her from being shipped to Arizona along with e Sierra 2-8-2 #36 that was also sold at the same time to Mr. Hatch. As it turned out Mr. Hatch never needed #34 in Arizona and in 1971 when the Crocker family who still owned the Sierra decided to return steam to the active roster on the Sierra, they leased #34 back from Mr. Hatch. Her blown cylinder head was repaired and she we put back in steam along with Sierra 4-6-0 #3 and 2-8-0 #28. She would remain active until the last day of 1979 when the Crocker family shut down steam on the Sierra and put the railroad up for sale. This caused #34 to go back into retirement in the roundhouse where she still is today. IN the 1980's Mr. Hatch sold his 3 locomotives (including #34) to Fred Kepner. While Mr. Kepner has the other 2 former Hatch locomotives with him in Merrill, Oregon, he has decided to keep #34 on display in Jamestown. Today, if you go in the Jamestown Roundhouse that is part of the California State Parks System, you will see #34 still parked in this same stall, looking much like she did back in 1959. Martin Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/18/20 06:12 by LoggerHogger. Date: 10/18/20 09:23 Re: This Steam Locomotive Is Resting During Her First Retirement! Author: railstiesballast Great story and wonderful exposure/darkroom work on that photo.
Thanks as always for sharing. Date: 10/18/20 13:21 Re: This Steam Locomotive Is Resting During Her First Retirement! Author: spicolli1864 Then there is the rest of the story...There is no way she will ever leave the confines of her only home..I'm sure the peoples of Railtown and the State of California would ever let it happen
Date: 10/18/20 14:17 Re: This Steam Locomotive Is Resting During Her First Retirement! Author: Railfan4Christ I remember her on the Saturday and Sunday afternoon Twilight Limited's and Indian Summer specials; 28 usually handled the Cannonball. She had a beautiful whistle.
So is 34 still operable? I'm thankful she is still home in one piece. Tom Date: 10/18/20 15:18 Re: This Steam Locomotive Is Resting During Her First Retirement! Author: LarryDoyle A milk can???
-LD Date: 10/18/20 20:51 Re: This Steam Locomotive Is Resting During Her First Retirement! Author: Switchpoint They make great seats.
Date: 10/20/20 08:53 Re: This Steam Locomotive Is Resting During Her First Retirement! Author: wnehoc In theory, #34 might be operable; however, I wouldn't want to fire up a locomotive that had been sitting for 40+ years. Perhaps more importantly, under current rules she would need a complete boiler inspection (including ultrasound test), and Form 4 completed in order to legally operate. To my novice eyes, her driver tires seem very worn; other than that, I have no idea regarding the condition of her running gear.
Railfan4Christ Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I remember her on the Saturday and Sunday > afternoon Twilight Limited's and Indian Summer > specials; 28 usually handled the Cannonball. She > had a beautiful whistle. > So is 34 still operable? > I'm thankful she is still home in one piece. > > Tom Date: 10/20/20 11:37 Re: This Steam Locomotive Is Resting During Her First Retirement! Author: Earlk Well, the 34 was running the day they put her in the house for the last time, so it probably could be fired up and run tomorrow. But, she is a very tired old girl in need of lots of running gear work and firebox attention.
Udoubtedly, a 1472 ultrasound will find lots of hidden issues, just like every other locomotive that ran in the 1970's. I love the 34. She is a seriously way too cool locomotive. Date: 10/20/20 12:06 Re: This Steam Locomotive Is Resting During Her First Retirement! Author: DGS The 34 made its last run in May of 1980 for the TV movie East of Eden. During an annual inspection later that month erosion in the top knuckle of the rear tube sheet in excess of 50% was found. As neither the Sierra Railroad or Reed Hatch was willing to fund the repairs the engine was held out of service. The locomotive ran with a number of issues during the late 1970s. The tires were thin and dished, crown brasses were worn to the point that several of them would usually run hot, spring rigging pins and bushings were quite worn, and other mechanical problems. In the late summer of 1979 a couple of firebox corners were found to be thin, one was leaking. These were padded with weldment, a temporary repair that got the engine through the remainder of the season. One good point is that the cylinders and valves were in good condition which is one of the reasons the engine sounded so good. To borrow a quote that I read somewhere “…she is a damn good engine for the shape she is in”.
Dave Sell |