Steam & Excursion > SP Valley Malley in a different Valley

Instead of rolling through California's Central Valley with reefers in tow, San Luis & Rio Grande #1744 is seen sailing southbound down through Colorado's San Luis Valley, crossing the Conejos River just north of Antonito, CO with a passenger Extra June 13, 2007. We ran this extra to Antonito "for fun" to meet Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose #5 that was supposed to show in Antonito that afternoon. Alas, #5 did not make it do to some sort of mechanical issue. but, we met the regular C&TS train and a "Grande" old time.

From my timebook:

Wed. June 13, 2007
on duty 200pm
Passenger Extra 1744
1744 - eng Knoob, frm Butler, con Shawcroft

dp ALA 315p
ar ANT 425p

meet C&TS #4 eng 487

dp ANT 524p
ar ALA 635p

tie up 700pm

photo by George Lawrence.

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Many years ago my wife and I rode behind 1744 from Alamosa to La Veta and back.

I got to meet Earl and talk to him about helping to rebuild SP786 here in Austin.

On our return trip, the locomotive stalled, drivers slipping and other excitement.

We had to back down and drop off a heavy weight coach.

We arrived back into Alamosa late but had a great trip overall.

Great lunch in La Veta also.

Then we headed to Chama for a few days to enjoy the narrow-gauge.

Too bad there is no more steam to La Veta as we would ride again. Great scenery and great to hear the locomotive working uphill!

Thanks for an enjoyable trip.

Pat
South Austin, TX

I was into Alamosa too early, and then too late to see the Valley Malley-  I only ever saw the tender.  There are several of this class scattered around and as it a nice size loco for excursion service it's almost odd there aren't any running.
SR

Those Valley Mallets were really square. They would get down and pull and hold the rails. Now you didn't burn up the railroad but you got there. I didn't know they had any others running after the Crepper closed down.


Nudge

spnudge Wrote:
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> Those Valley Mallets were really square. They
> would get down and pull and hold the rails. Now
> you didn't burn up the railroad but you got there.
> I didn't know they had any others running after
> the Crepper closed down.
>
>
> Nudge

The 1744 is the only Valley Malley ever restored to operation. She was at the Heber Creeper before becoming a journeyman locomotive...

Two quick questions if I may: 1) where is the locomotive now; and, 2) I recall two steam locomotives parked by the Bakersfield roundhouse in 1959, perhaps into the 1960's; was the 1744 one of them? Thanks.

1744 sits in a dismantled state in Alamosa. The locomotive was torn down then the boiler shipped to a contractor in Alabama for firebox work. Iowa Pacific Holdings never had enough money to complete the project, and the shop owner eventually retired and closed up shop. The boiler was temporarily moved to the Texas State RR in Rusk, TX until IPH was removed from the TSR. The boiler (from what I understand) is back in Alamosa.

Unless it is sold to another party, there is no future for 1744.

Quite Sad.

Earlk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 1744 sits in a dismantled state in Alamosa. The
> locomotive was torn down then the boiler shipped
> to a contractor in Alabama for firebox work. Iowa
> Pacific Holdings never had enough money to
> complete the project, and the shop owner
> eventually retired and closed up shop. The boiler
> was temporarily moved to the Texas State RR in
> Rusk, TX until IPH was removed from the TSR. The
> boiler (from what I understand) is back in
> Alamosa.
>
> Unless it is sold to another party, there is no
> future for 1744.
>
> Quite Sad.


Earl thanks for those memorable rides over La Veta Pass behind 1744 !
The battle upgrade from the town of La Veta westbound was nothing short of awesome ! --Kelly

The poor 1744..... She deserves a much better fate. Hope someone comes along and rescues and restores her.

We rode the Heber Creeper in the late 70s, and, as I recall, the locomotive that pulled our train burned coal, and they had a firewatch hirail following the train. The 1744 was converted to burn oil back in 1912-1914, so she could not have been the locomotive that pulled our train back then.

I remember riding behind this engine some time in the 90's. An NMRA Convention in Ft. worth comes to mind. Or maybe another ride on the Tarantula.

RailNet802, owevaaaah

I remember her at the Heber Creeper and she was one of my favorite locomotives there when I was a kid. Too bad she’s no longer running. But I did enjoy seeing the photo.

Nathan

Posted from iPhone

The 1744 is dead forever, thanks to the thieving cheat that ran it into the dirt forever.

Ed

Auburn_Ed Wrote:
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> The 1744 is dead forever, thanks to the thieving
> cheat that ran it into the dirt forever.
>
> Ed

Depends. If the right offer was made, unit taken to a proper shop, and put together by the right people, she will live.

Any body have a idea what to offer the “brain trust” at Iowa Pacific for her?

Posted from iPhone