Steam & Excursion > Santa Maria Valley #205

This past weekend the Albany & Eastern Railroad ran their Santiam Express with superbly restored Santa Maria Valley 2-6-2 #205. Based in Lebanon, Oregon the Albany & Eastern runs the 205 roughly once a month from Lebanon out to a passing track at the Santiam lumber mill on the Sweet Home branch. It was perfect weather for a steam train. Here's the results:

1. From the shops the train must back along W Olive Ave to get to the mainline and Lebanon Station.

2. With the switch now lined for the main #205 makes a spirited run to Lebanon Station.

3. Arriving at Lebanon next to the 1909 Southern Pacific built station.

cp1400

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4. Staged at the station, Santa Maria Valley #205 glistened in the morning sun.

5. Smoke and steam for the 10:00am departure.

6. Wider view of the 10:00am departure from Lebanon.

cp1400

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7. There is a small grade near the former station of Waterloo near mile 20. On this day the train had an extra coach putting the weight at 600 tons which was right on the limit for 205. It was a great sight and sound show as they charged up the hill.

8. Pacing the 205 on the return to Lebanon.

9. One more picture showing the 12:30 departure on the grade at Waterloo with a repeat performance of sound and smoke.

This is a great little engine and well worth a visit if anyone is in the area.


cp1400



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/27/24 00:42 by cp1400.

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Great job - Superior coverage.
Bob

Nice ones, and that panned broadside shot is a clear winner :-)  That's a nice little engine, and it looks great.

Excellent series of images!
I wonder if the ex-Frisco wood cabooses that were at SMV are still in existence?  They painted them yellow.

Frisco1522 Wrote:
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> Excellent series of images!
> I wonder if the ex-Frisco wood cabooses that were
> at SMV are still in existence?  They painted them
> yellow.

There is one wooden one in the town of Santa Maria, I believe the chamber of commerce owns it. There is one steel one in the town of Guadalupe at the Amtrak station, I am not sure who owns that one. I do not know of any others, there very well could be more out there. SMVRR itself does not possess any cabooses.

Posted from Android

Thank you.  I think the RR originally had 2 if not 3 of them.

Nice shots!!

Great stuff!  Pic 5 made me instinctively start to cover up my ears.   


Nickatnight

That pacing shot is fantastic, because it shows you how the driver wheels ARE NOT evenly spaced.  Makes the engine even more interesting and attractive.

Great photos, cp1400, and thanks for presenting memories of the SP&S branch line that I ran on over a half century ago.  The eastern end of that line beyond their usual turning point certainly gives more opportunities to hear the 205 really work.  The first of a dozen steamers I've been privileged to run was a 1925 Prairie very similar to the 205.  If I had a dollar for every time I've been berated over the years by railfans for sitting on the window sill to run the steamer in reverse (picture #8), I could buy a really nice dinner at a fine restaurant!



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/21/24 19:44 by Jim700.