Steam & Excursion > #19, The 250 Train, and a bit 'o AFT

Okay, kind of an eclectic mix.  But all are related from a certain angle...
Ever since the end of the tour in 1976 the staff of the American Freedom Train has gathered for a reunion every 2yrs ever since.  These reunions take place all over the country- it just depends on who steps up to host the event.  This year, the 50th (?!!) was in Columbus Ohio, hosted by AFT Staff Photographer Warren Mott.
One of the activities Warren arranged was an outing aboard the Buckeye 250 Train to Dennison OH.

Photos 1-4.  A pleasant surprise in Dennison was the presence of OC&E/YW 19 looking VERY smart after her recent rebuild.  The last time I saw the 19 she was tied down on a flatcar in Montague CA, about to head east!
Pictured is TO Member and former AFT Alumni, StevodeW in the cab of the 19.  Stevo used to fire the 19 in her later days on the YW.

Photos 5-7.  The power for the Buckeye 250. What are these?  SD70's?   (damn kids today and their newfangled locos!)    Lots of flags and folks waving all along the route of the Buckeye!

Photos 8&9.   At the State House in Columbus is an AFT display Warren put together.  We all stopped by for a look.  (I figured I'd throw in a photo of Doyle.  That's "Grape" in the background- she was with the Army Color Guard that traveled with the AFT.  (Her Army uniform is included in the AFT display at Motts Military Museum in Grove City OH)
SR

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2400 is an SD60M. I believe the other two are SD60Is.

Nice shots! I was honestly hoping Reading 2100 / AFT 250 would be able to pull the train.

akpsteam Wrote:
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> Nice shots! I was honestly hoping Reading 2100 /
> AFT 250 would be able to pull the train.

They're still skimping for whatever fundraising they can do to Finish the engine. I'm not sure if the $100k+ figure their most recent email included accounted for the supposed donation transfer from the AFT foundation.

akpsteam Wrote:
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> Nice shots! I was honestly hoping Reading 2100 /
> AFT 250 would be able to pull the train.

What train would that be?

#19 in green looks great!

That looks like 1522's water car behind the 19.

I don’t know anything about the water car, but I was told the tool car was part of Ross Rowland’s Golden Spike train in 1969.
SR

Frisco1522 Wrote:
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> That looks like 1522's water car behind the 19.

It is 1522’s Water Tender.

Posted from iPhone

HotWater Wrote:
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> akpsteam Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
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> > Nice shots! I was honestly hoping Reading 2100
> /
> > AFT 250 would be able to pull the train.
>
> What train would that be?

The Ohio Buckeye 250 Train

Posted from Android

Many thanks S.R. for the pics, the narritive and nice shot of  Doyle!   I just got back from SAG-AFTRA National Board meetings in LA over the weekend, bad timing, especially since this reunion might be the last.........(Took 11 and 14 imnstead of flying.) 

Thanks for the photos and Doyle still looks good. In photos 1 thru 4 I think you meant the OP&E and not the OC&E as #19 was the steam power for THE GOOSE on the OP&E until the last run in September of 1987. The photo of #19 leaving the Village Green station and Gift shop in Cottage Grove Oregon was taken in the 1980s.

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Ah! Of course you’re right- good catch. I’m sorry about that!
SR

Stupid Spellcheck. Why even bother?!

BoilingMan Wrote:
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> Photos 8&9.   At the State House in Columbus is
> an AFT display Warren put together. 


Thanks for the pic of the display, which includes a section of the skirt that was replaced during the 2004 repaint. I set this particular piece aside and made it sure it went to late John Lewis aka BurlingtonJohn. Nice to see it there!

I guess it went from John to Warren Motts. Assuming the display at the Capitol is only meant for the 250th (I didn’t think to ask Warren) I suppose the skirt section will end up in the Mott’s Military Museum near Columbus OH. He has a small AFT exhibit there.
SR