kcsivils Wrote:
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> There are several hulks of old steam locomotives
> that used to operate on the White Pass still in
> Skagway.
The only sizeable non-runner that is more or less intact is the 195, which is one of the US Army "MacArthurs". When I was there in 2011, the railroad seemed to have very little interest in her. As far as I know, she's still in the woods behind City Hall. The only other "hulk" that I am aware of that is above ground is the 60, and that would be a project. She also shares some of the ancient features of the 69.....read my next entry.
> OF 2-8-0, #69 - known as the Gila Monster, would
> be a C-31 in Rio Grande parlance. She's a beast.
> IF 2-8-2 #73 - a beautiful example of the
> locomotive builder's art at the end of modern
> steam. I would say she's comparable to a K-28.
The railroad holds the 69 in reserve most of the time. She has really poor ergonomics (deckless cab) and she requires water support at Glacier, because she's no longer superheated. On the 73, the crew members can see each other, which is a real plus firing with oil. She is also superheated and can make it all the way to Frasier on one tank of water.
> The sheer volume of trains the White Pass
> operates, combined with the tight time frame as
> dictated by the cruise ship arrival and departure
> schedule would, in my mind, prohibit the use of
> more than one steam locomotive per day.
That's really the key takeaway. White Pass is no longer a steam operation. It's a diesel operation that retains and operates some artifacts from its history...such as the two steam engines, and once in a blue moon, the plow.
> Having said that, if the White Pass wanted more
> steam power, the K-37's could certainly handle the
> physical plant and vice versa of the current White
> Pass operation.
Based on what I heard when I was there in 2011, the only steam locomotives that the railroad has any interest in are the other two 70-Class engines. At that time, they indicated they would like a sister for the 73 and had no interest in foreign power. Of course, there have been significant changes in the management team and ownership since 2011, so who knows if there's still an interest in ANY more steam engines.
/Kevin Madore
