Re: Pupmobiles on the Seward Peninsula Railroad
| January 06, 2019 08:15PM |
Doing this pupmobile post yesterday naturally led me to thinking about the Blue Mountain restoration that had really been off my radar since moving to Colorado nine years ago. Frank Pontarolo, who unfortunately passed away about 2 years ago, and I were the primary movers of this project which went well until the Titan railcar repair shop was sold, and we lost access to it's facilities and
skilled personnel (whom we paid for doing some tasks after work, such as operating the overhead crane). Other volunteers and funding vanished for a project that would only lead to a cosmetic restoration, but not to a functioning locomotive.
In addition there were two competing projects at the same time - establishing a museum in Pasco, as well as the planned restoration of SP&S 4-8-2 2507 to operating condition. The 2507 project, that gathered vastly more interest than the Blue Mountain, ultimately foundered because the Goldendale county commissioners (owners of the locomotive) refused to approve leases longer than 12 months at a time, making fund raising and actual work other than asbestos remediation impossible. After all the effort by Lampson Crane, Tidewater Barge Lines Titan and all us volunteers bringing the engine up the Columbia river from Maryhill to Pasco, the BN finally towed it back downriver to Wishram where it is now under a shelter and on display.
As for the Blue Mountain, I called Tom Groenewald, the nominal head of the semi functioning Washington Railroads Historical Society, this morning to get an update. The Blue Mountain was trucked to the Ft. Walla Walla museum, which is currently being expanded with new building(s). When construction is complete the engine will be moved inside. They have a cabinet maker who has offered to build a new cab and they have other volunteers willing to work on the restoration. I gave all my unfinished drawings to Tom who is working to complete the drawing work. So if this all works out Ft. Walla Walla will be able to display the oldest surviving locomotive in Washington state.
I realize that this has little to do with pupmobiles……..
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2019 08:31PM by Olaf Rasmussen.
skilled personnel (whom we paid for doing some tasks after work, such as operating the overhead crane). Other volunteers and funding vanished for a project that would only lead to a cosmetic restoration, but not to a functioning locomotive.
In addition there were two competing projects at the same time - establishing a museum in Pasco, as well as the planned restoration of SP&S 4-8-2 2507 to operating condition. The 2507 project, that gathered vastly more interest than the Blue Mountain, ultimately foundered because the Goldendale county commissioners (owners of the locomotive) refused to approve leases longer than 12 months at a time, making fund raising and actual work other than asbestos remediation impossible. After all the effort by Lampson Crane, Tidewater Barge Lines Titan and all us volunteers bringing the engine up the Columbia river from Maryhill to Pasco, the BN finally towed it back downriver to Wishram where it is now under a shelter and on display.
As for the Blue Mountain, I called Tom Groenewald, the nominal head of the semi functioning Washington Railroads Historical Society, this morning to get an update. The Blue Mountain was trucked to the Ft. Walla Walla museum, which is currently being expanded with new building(s). When construction is complete the engine will be moved inside. They have a cabinet maker who has offered to build a new cab and they have other volunteers willing to work on the restoration. I gave all my unfinished drawings to Tom who is working to complete the drawing work. So if this all works out Ft. Walla Walla will be able to display the oldest surviving locomotive in Washington state.
I realize that this has little to do with pupmobiles……..
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2019 08:31PM by Olaf Rasmussen.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.