A plethora of steam locomotives made comebacks in late 2023 after being out of service for extended periods of time. Expect these primed-and-ready locomotives to return to service for the full 2024 season.
Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad No. 8419
As a reminder of the twilight of steam locomotive manufacturing in the world, No. 8419 has been a staple of Iowa’s Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad since its arrival in 1989. However, the federally mandated 1,472-day boiler inspection had kept the Chinese-built 2-8-2 out of service since 2018. No. 8419 began operating again last October, with Saturday trips to Fraser as part of the railroad’s 2023 fall schedule. Expect the locomotive to pick up where it left off this summer, returning the Boone & Scenic Valley’s distinction as one of the few tourist lines in the country to operate steam, diesel, and electric.
Canadian Pacific No. 2816
The anniversary of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern’s merger into CPKC will be heralded with ex-CP 4-6-4 No. 2816 on the transnational Final Spike Steam Tour in 2024. The locomotive received a thorough overhaul beginning in 2022 at the Calgary shops that included a boiler inspection, extensive work on the drivers and running gear, and a Positive Train Control (PTC) system installation. In summer 2023, No. 2816 roamed across the Alberta plains for multiple mainline test runs. On April 14, 2024, it’ll be “all systems go” as The Empress is scheduled to depart Calgary for Mexico City.
Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range No. 332
For the Nov. 25 Christmas Tree Train to Knife River, Minn., Duluth’s North Shore Scenic Railroad surprised their passengers by running steam locomotive No. 332 at the head of the excursion. The 2-8-0 initially returned to service in 2017 and operated on the tourist line until 2019. However, a series of setbacks – including the COVID-19 pandemic, along with additional work on the boiler, leaf springs, and tender truck bolsters – sidelined the locomotive for several years. Results from a prior test run prompted the go-ahead for No. 332 to power the 2023 holiday excursion before winterization at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. North Shore Scenic looks to have the Consolidation-type leading excursions again all the way up to Two Harbors.
Pere Marquette No. 1225
The thrill of big steam in mid-Michigan returned by late October after a nearly two-year silence. Fresh from a wheel and running gear rebuild, No. 1225 spent late 2023 racking up miles on tests and break-in runs, followed by the North Pole Express excursions out of Owosso’s Steam Railroading Institute to the Village of Ashley Country Christmas. Despite missing out on one trip due to a warm bearing, the locomotive’s overall performance showed exceptional results. Operations are expected to extend beyond the holiday season in 2024.
Polson Logging Co. No. 70
The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad has had a resurgence with the 1922-built, 2-8-2 No. 70 leading the way out of Elbe, Wash. Both the locomotive and railroad last ran in 2019 before the previous owner, American Heritage Railways, paused operations in May 2020 in the wake of the pandemic. Western Forest Industries Museum acquired the railroad in 2022 with plans to reopen in 2025. But by fall 2023, the railroad began running limited excursions, pulled by No. 70. Now ahead of schedule, expect long-term plans for expansion at the Mt. Rainier Scenic to follow suit well into 2024.
Rio Grande Southern No. 41
Built in 1881 for the Denver & Rio Grande Western, today this narrow-gauged 2-8-0 calls California’s Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park home. But from early 2022 to late 2023, No. 41 returned to its original roots of Southern Colorado for the first time in 70 years. The locomotive resided in Durango as part of a contracted overhaul by the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Work was completed in November with test runs taking place along the Silverton branch, home rails of the ex-D&RGW. No. 41 is set for many more years of service, ready to delight the next generation of visitors and passengers at Knott’s Berry Farm’s Calico Railroad.
SMS Rail Lines No. 9
While not originally intended as a tourist operation on the leased Swedesboro-Salem line, New Jersey’s Woodstown Central Railroad has been an impressive startup at the hands of SMS Rail Services. The catalyst has been the railroad’s U.S. Army 0-6-0 No. 9, nearing its restoration that began in 2009. In late 2023, the 1942-built Alco switcher operated out of the SMS shops in Bridgeport, N.J., performing tests for the FRA, along with break-in runs. Expect No. 9 to make its public debut in 2024 with passenger excursions along the Woodstown Central.
Southern Railway No. 630
Stablemate 2-8-2 No. 4501 soloed for 2022 at Chattanooga’s Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. In August, the 2023 steam season received a boost with the return of 2-8-0 No. 630 after boiler work and an annual inspection. The locomotive operated the museum’s six-mile, round-trip Missionary Ridge Local and Evening Ridge Runner excursions, in addition to sporting whitewalls for the first time since the 1980s at the Sept. 9 Founders Day event and Sept. 16 doubleheader with No. 4501 to Summerville, Ga. Though a few years remain before its 1,472-day inspection, No. 630 is scheduled for a full 2024 season beginning in March.
Western Maryland No. 6
They don’t call the Cass Scenic Railroad’s largest geared locomotive “Big Six” for nothing. As the final Shay to be constructed by the Lima Locomotive Works in 1945, No. 6 has been the main motive power for the Bald Knob excursions, a 22-mile round trip that climbs the Appalachians in West Virginia. The 1,472-day inspection was completed in September, followed by test runs and handling the shorter, eight-mile excursions to Whittaker Station during the railroad’s 2023 fall season. Expect “Big Six” to return to the Bald Knob trips regularly in 2024, and possibly heading the 15-mile Greenbrier Express to Durbin.
Is the Cass Scenic Railroad “Shay” equipped with the Great Northern O4 whistle? I’ve heard it on some YouTube videos and it sounds real nice.
You guys forgot about the BIG BOY 4014