On October 20, 2014, the Northwest Railway Museum officially announced plans for a steam locomotive program, and identified the
locomotives that have been selected for rehabilitation, restoration and operation. This is an exciting time for the Museum, and represents continuing fulfillment of the long-term plan first developed nearly 20 years ago.
The steam program will be
integrated into the Museum’s interpretive railway, and has been developed with
data measured during this year’s pilot steam program that continues in
operation through this coming weekend, October 25 and 26. In 2015, summer steam trains will formally
launch and operate with Santa Cruz Portland Cement 2, the 0-4-0 steam locomotive on loan from the Museum’s
Curator of Collections Stathi Pappas. This introductory program will operate Memorial Day weekend, most
weekends in July and August, Labor Day weekend, and
Halloween Train weekend in October. Following
completion of the first of the Museum’s steam locomotive rehabilitations/restorations,
the program is tentatively scheduled to expand beginning in late 2016.
Steam locomotives were a driving
force throughout much of Washington State’s history. They pulled trains throughout the Northwest
beginning with the arrival of the first railroads in the 1870s and dominated
transportation in Washington until diesel electric locomotives replaced them in
the late 1950s at the dawn of the Interstate Highway era. Steam locomotives transported goods and
people during the latter half of westward expansion, and fostered the
development and settlement of communities across Washington State and King
County.
Northern Pacific Railway locomotive 924 selected first
Beginning
immediately and over the next two years, the Museum will rehabilitate and
restore former Northern Pacific Railway 924, a 0-6-0 (six-coupled) locomotive. Built by Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works in 1899 for the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad as their
number 74, the locomotive was renumbered 924 after that road was purchased by
the Northern Pacific Railway. In the
early 1900s it was Seattle’s King Street Station coach yard switcher, later serving the Seattle and
Tacoma yards, and in light branch line service. Sold in 1925 to
the Inland Empire Paper Company in
Millwood, Washington she remained on their roster until 1969.
Beginning
immediately and over the next two years, the Museum will rehabilitate and
restore former Northern Pacific Railway 924, a 0-6-0 (six-coupled) locomotive. Built by Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works in 1899 for the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad as their
number 74, the locomotive was renumbered 924 after that road was purchased by
the Northern Pacific Railway. In the
early 1900s it was Seattle’s King Street Station coach yard switcher, later serving the Seattle and
Tacoma yards, and in light branch line service. Sold in 1925 to
the Inland Empire Paper Company in
Millwood, Washington she remained on their roster until 1969.
This locomotive is
a classic example of late 19th century Northwest switching and
branch line steam locomotives. When the locomotive is complete, the
Museum will be the only American institution operating class one steam west of
Colorado with regionally-appropriate motive power and rolling stock on its
original railroad.
Two operating locomotives will allow
the steam program to continue during scheduled maintenance and periodic servicing, and
will allow for expanded service during large events. Consequently, the Museum is planning for the operation of two steam locomotives.
Canadian Collieries locomotive 14 selected as second.
Following completion
of steam locomotive 924, the Museum will begin the complete rehabilitation of
steam locomotive 14, a classic 4-6-0 (“ten wheeler”) locomotive. The 14 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1898 for the Union Colliery Company as their number 4 using the same design
developed for the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway. When that Vancouver Island mine
was absorbed into Canadian Collieries,
it was renumbered 14 and continued in service until 1960 when it was purchased
by the Museum.
Canadian
Collieries 14 is a classic Baldwin ten wheeler
that will allow the Museum to provide a complete and authentic experience
recreating railway passenger service from the first two decades of the 20th
century. Ten wheelers were the most popular and greatest-produced
locomotive of all time and examples were found on nearly every major railroad
in the Northwest, including the lines of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway that ran through
Snoqualmie.
Making it happen!
The Museum is making a significant commitment to steam by investing in people and facilities. A qualified team of paid and volunteer staff with prior experience in steam locomotive rehabilitation and restoration has been assembled and is being led by Curator of Collections Stathi Pappas. Pappas has a graduate degree in Archeology, and has participated or led more than a dozen similar projects.
The machinery required to perform the work has already been obtained for all aspects of boiler and running gear work. The work will be performed inside the Conservation and Restoration Center, the purpose-built collections care facility opened in 2007 and already equipped with an inspection pit, a monolithic floor, and utilities including sanitary sewer with oil-water separator that allow the Museum to maintain the locomotives in an environmentally-responsible manner.
Several major grants and contributions have been pledged and work will begin next week; additional fundraising will be performed during the next 24 months to offset costs that will approach $1 million. Contributions are encouraged and will be used to directly pay for the work performed; they can be made on the Museum's secure web site here and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Making it happen!
The Museum is making a significant commitment to steam by investing in people and facilities. A qualified team of paid and volunteer staff with prior experience in steam locomotive rehabilitation and restoration has been assembled and is being led by Curator of Collections Stathi Pappas. Pappas has a graduate degree in Archeology, and has participated or led more than a dozen similar projects.
The machinery required to perform the work has already been obtained for all aspects of boiler and running gear work. The work will be performed inside the Conservation and Restoration Center, the purpose-built collections care facility opened in 2007 and already equipped with an inspection pit, a monolithic floor, and utilities including sanitary sewer with oil-water separator that allow the Museum to maintain the locomotives in an environmentally-responsible manner.
Several major grants and contributions have been pledged and work will begin next week; additional fundraising will be performed during the next 24 months to offset costs that will approach $1 million. Contributions are encouraged and will be used to directly pay for the work performed; they can be made on the Museum's secure web site here and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
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