Gents, since we have been talking about the CHS and the 111, I would like to post the following information given to me by someone intimately familiar with the situation. He wants to remain nameless, so here is what he wrote to me and gave me permission to post.
No, it's not me, I have my own business(es) to worry about...
My source says that he could write a book about this whole sordid mess so beware, this could take a while.
Back in '05 when the CHS was fishing for anything they thought could be made to run at the Loop, they made a deal with the Town of Breckenridge for the #111. The original deal was CHS would pay to have the #111 made operational and would lease it for use on the Loop for 10 years. During this time CHS would provide a locomotive for display in Breckenridge. Who knows what they thought would happen after the 10 years was up. Anyway, CHS went to their contractor of choice, Marlin Uhrich, for an operational rebuild of #111. Never mind Uhrich had never done anything even resembling this level of work - he sold them on the idea that he could, for $200,000. So the deal was CHS would give Breckenridge the money for the rebuild and they would administer the project. See where this is going?
In the interim CHS also got ahold of the #74 from Boulder and sent the #9 to Strasburg as well. Marlin was supposed to rebuild all of them.
Somehow someway it was decided the #74 wasn't suitable for rebuilding and a big push was put on getting #9 running. This is a whole 'nuther story in its self, but suffice to say #9 was put in service on the Loop in very marginal condition operated by clueless clowns and got the @#$%& beat out of it. The #74 left Strasburg in pieces. Meanwhile, attention turned to the #111.
The CHS gave Breckenridge the $200,000 and Marlin began work under the supervision of municipal employees. #111 was in need of major boiler work and Marlin set at replacing the entire firebox. He promised the engine would be ready for the 2007 season. We know what became of that.............So Marlin continues to make promises he can't keep - July 1, 2007 Sept. 1, 2007 Jan. 1, 2008, May 1, 2008 etc. etc. etc. Meanwhile the money is going out the door much faster than the engine is getting rebuilt. CHS gets anxious. Breckenridge is clueless. Breckenridge decides they want the #9 in exchange for the #111 while its on lease - and that they want to run it on a short piece of track. Once again we're delving into a whole 'nuther story here, so, back to the #111.
After the 2008 season the Loop operator, Railstar, completely collaspses and throws in the towel. A local merchant steps up and buys out the remainder of the Railstar contract. He recognizes the #111 is the engine they need to properly operate the Loop. This is about the time my source gets involved - March 2009. A couple of inspection trips are made to Strasburg to view progress on the #111. Some of the work Uhrich is doing is good but some is highly questionable. Marlin performed a welded repair on a crack in the boiler shell between two air compressor mounting studs without any documentation or process, claiming he didn't know he was supposed to do it the way the regulations require. Trust him that there are many other issues that could go on all night with. Anyway, in the middle of all this everyone realizes that Marlin has spent all the money and the engine isn't even close to being ready. Breckenridge throws up their hands when they find they don't have the funds to do anything with the #9 either. CHS decides to hold Uhrich to the fire and demand the locomotive be completed for the contract price. So now Marlin piddles away on it, apparently on his own dime, while CHS doesn't want to do anything until he can produce a completed engine. At this point no one has idea how it will turn out. The Loop needs the #111 in the worst way but it's stuck in this political and financial quagmire that no one seems to know how to resolve.
And that's what's up with the #111. My Source tried to stay on subject but there are so many twists, turns and side stories to this mess its hard keep focused. The #9 has been cosmetically restored and will most likely return to Silver Plume. It's tender still languishes, unrestored, in Strasburg. Breckenridge is broke, along with most everyone else. The #74 was taken away from Uhrich and given to Mike Spera and his "Westside Locomotive Works" for restoration but once again, that's yet another whole story. The Loop has almost completed work on the #12 (the "Pineapple Princess") even though it can never do the job at the Loop. The #1203 (the big Porter diesel) is getting much needed engine work as it looks like it'll have to be the mainstay again this coming season. And the saga continues...................
Rick Steele
