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The mums
The locomotive was NWP No.184 not No. 112. 112 is alive and well at the California State Railroad Museum. No.184 had been involved in a head-on in 1929 but was rebuilt; in 1953 it was not. The monument is now at the Depot Museum in Fortuna, CA. The Timber Heritage Association has No.184’s builder’s plate which had been displayed in a bar frequented by railroad workers until it was closed.
What a touching story. I have worked for railroads (SP and Willamette & Pacific/Portland & Western) for almost 39 years, and can tell you from a railroader’s point of view, that it is the people that make a railroad great, and not the equipment or physical plant. After all, as author Lustig says, people design, build, operate and maintain the railroad. That monument came from a time when people mattered, and a lot of them worked for railroads. Almost everyone that you talk to has some relative somewhere that at some time worked for a railroad. Not so much anymore, and that has taken a lot of the attraction away.
Very nice and touching article . Thanks to the writer for remembering .
Wonderful story!
As unusual, another great story. Thanks guys - keep it up.
The locomotive involved in the landslide WAS #184. The confusion may come from the fact that #112 was involved in the memorial service for the crew of 184. 184 was scrapped where she lay in the river. #112 slipped into San Francsco Bay when the pier at Tiburon gave way underneath her. She was salvaged, rebuilt, lives on at the CSRM. I am a docent at the CSRM.
Another great story about the human side of these terrific big machines. Like Casey Jones. This is a great thing about rairoading there is real people behind it.