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Two firms bid to refurbish Great Smoky Mountains steam locomotive
Wouldn’t it be awesome to have 6 a-160’s in steam. ARR 557 is on her way to that to!
I suggest that these folks check in with The Austin Steam Train for opinions about Steam Services of America.
Does anybody know anything at all about any railroads in the Gatlinburg, Tennesse/Pidgeon Forge/Tennesse area. I was in that area during the summer of 2011 and thougt I heard a train horn the night I got to the cabin some friends had rented but when we went driving around I never saw any train tracks.
The man from Nebraska was the late Don Smeal of Smeal Fire Equipment fame.
The man from Nebraska was the late Don Smeal of Smeal Fire Equipment fame.
The man from Nebraska was the late Don Smeal of Smeal Fire Equipment fame.
Great! We went up to ride the GSMR a while back and it was terrific. Can’t wait to do it agin this time behind steam.
What is the status of ex-Southern Railway #722? I believe it is also on the Great Smoky Mountain Railway property.
Will be nice to see this run again in the “Smokey” Mountains.
I am overdue to ride behind a GI locomotive and to take my wife to eastern states like North Carolina. Now it looks like a good idea.
Another wasteful government handout to Mr. Harper and his American Heritage Railroads. If he want’s a steamer back in operation he can pay for it himself instead of letting all the visitors be forced to pay for the restoration.
Lawrence, there is another GI locomotive at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga. Ex-US Army #610. It’s a couple hours drive from the Smokey Mtns.
Finally, It seems that a bit of " Common Sense" is prevailing over the rancorous, political rhetoric that seemed to prevail in this Smokey Mountain RR dispute. Thank God they will be able to enjoy the benefits of this very interesting railroad and the are it operates in.
Note to David Aldinger. In the Gatlinburg area you have “Dollywood” and it does operate a railroad in the facility. Not sure what their current locomotive power is. But in the past it was #192 nee: WP&Y steam. see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0dHXasvdBQ
Rebuild it and they will come.
Ask Union Pacific and NS: Fixing up (rebuilding) steam in the year 2013 ain’t cheap! There’s nothing wrong with having people who ride behind the locomotive to help pay for it. If you don’t want to pay for the renovation, don’t ride the train.
Matthew Nichols, that’s an investment to create more revenue for Swain county’s businesses. That’s a symbiotic relationship for both the railroad and Bryson City. That will put money into the coffers as tax receipts. Tax money is needed to provide for the services the city and county need. That is NOT a waste as you claim.
Wasatch rail contractors are currently working on K&T no.14. Steve lee and an amazing crew will do good to any project!
If I were an engineer, I would find this very distracting! It may cause more accidents that it avoids, in addition to being an invasion of privacy. I hope the unions fight this to the bitter end.
This is a poor use of funds. The locomotive is entirely unsuitable for the task it is being made to do. It is far too light an engine for the grade and train it has to handle. It will be pounded to pieces trying to do something it was not built to do. Just like what happened with the low-drivered 2-8-0’s on Grand Canyon RR. They finally woke up and got an engine (4-8-4) that could handle the train.