Santa's Steamer on the ground!

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Steam engine derails; Santa still on track
(The following article was posted on the Columbian website on December 12.)

VANCOUVER – Santa’s train will still roll into Vancouver this morning, a railroad spokesman said. It will just arrive belching diesel soot instead of steam.

The SP&S 700 steam engine derailed in Portland on Saturday, said BNSF Railway spokesman Gus Melonas, causing minor damage and canceling the holiday trip this year.

“We’re sorry we disappointed the children,” Melonas said. “Santa will still arrive, but unfortunately not on the SP&S 700 that has been decorated.”

Santa’s newer-model train is scheduled to arrive at Vancouver’s Amtrak station at 11 a.m. today.

The SP&S 700 ran from 1938 until 1956.

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You can find more about this slow speed derailment on the posting
at railroadforums dot com:
http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10749

3

Anyone knwo why it derailed? from some of the pictures and such, it looks like the rail just folded out under, or “rolled the rail” from the weight. Any info? Just wonderin…

Thanks

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There is more information here. http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=51861

5

cool, thanks. Must been kinda a hoot to re-rail some steamers. Wonder how ong its been since that happened last