Omaha Zoo locomotives

Just a few more details about the Omaha Zoo locomotives, with apologies if this sounds nit-picky. " />
Yes, the Crown was the first, built for the zoo and first operated in July, 1968. It is a 5/8 scale replica of the Union Pacific’s famous 119, the Promontory Junction locomotive. As to the other locomotive, a Krauss 0-6-2T, a news article dated August 3, 1977 includes the following excerpts:
“An 1890 Austrian engine believed to have once been owned by Austria’s royal Hapsburg family and used as a toy has been hauled to the Henry Doorly Zoo for service on the zoo’s railroad. Engine No. 395.104 arrived in Omaha three years ago. In April it was trucked to the Union Pacific Railroad shops and has since been completely refurbished. .....The engine was a gift from Josef Theurer of Vienna, Austria, president of a firm which manufactures railroad equipment. .....The engine, according to a brass plate attached to it, was built in Linz, Austria, in 1890. (It) was apparently taken to Russia during World War II and it also is believed to have been used in Romania. .....It apparently was last used in Austrian mines. .....Union Pacific workmen had to replace valves, switch the mechanical braking system to an air brake system and convert the heating system from coal to oil.”
According to information I obtained some years ago, the Kraus has more power then the Crown, and so is used on summer weekends when more cars are added to carry more passengers. The Crown is used on summer weekdays. Both engines put on marvelous displays of “barking” on two grades in the 2.2-mile loop of track (the steepest being 4.7%) since both grades are tackled immediately after station stops.
And now you know more than you probably wanted to know.