This locomotive has quite an interesting history. For the last 70 or 80 years it has been in the Las Vegas area, brought here originally by Doby Doc (as he was known). It was displayed at the Last Frontier Village which was next to the Last Frontier Hotel. It was an iconic sight for many of us who have lived in Southern Nevada for many years.
The locomotive cosmeticallylooks like hell right now, but it is actually in reasonably good condition....considering. As someone has noted, the Uintah RR put a new boiler on it back in the 20s. I have pulled the plugs on it and examined the mud ring, as well as some other areas. I have also checked the firebox, and smokebox, opened and lubicated the cylinders, axles etc and feel that this locomotive is very restorable. The tender is a bit of a mess, and I feel that it would need a new tank, sills, bearings etc. Nothing that cubic dollars can't fix.
The locomotive is owned by the Nevada State Railroad Museum. It is currently under consideration for restoration. Many have wondered why this has not been done since the NSRM got it some 20 years ago. Well, the NSRM has had some other projects in the hopper for that entire time such as the Glenbrook. The Glenbrook restoration originally started in the 1980s, but was put on hold when it was found the new boiler ordered was not right. Then came the McKeen car, which took many years to complelte as it was a total sack of do do when received, but now that it has been completed it has been listed as a National Historic Landmark. A very rare honor indeed! Now the boys in Carson City are finishing up the Glenbrook, which may well be done this year and have almost completed 3 railing the railroad up there.
As for the NSRM BC doing the restoration, they are VERY short handed, and the director there had to get the shop, and facilities built, as well as restoring the Union Pacific 844 (diesel) operational along with a bunch of old Harriman cars that were nothing short of pigeon roosts, but are now beautifully restored and hauling thousands of people each year. This has made the NSRM BC the most popular of the Nevada State Museums system, which includes 6 other museums.
Now the stars might just be coming into alighnment to restore the EN 12. The subject will be coming before the Nevada State Board of Museums and History of which I am a board member. It will not be restored overnight,(nothing ever is) but I predict a wonderful future for the locomotive here in Nevada.
Dan Markoff
