FORT WAYNE, Ind., and OWOSSO, Mich. — Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 has been a recent showstopper during its epic CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour from Canada to the U.S. and Mexico. But with summer closing in, expect more locomotives to take center stage as part of 2024’s must-see big steam, including a pair of Van Sweringen’s 2-8-4 Berkshires.
Nickel Plate Road No. 765 is returning to the Indiana Northeastern Railroad for its third year of the Indiana Rail Experience. The multi-year program of events and excursions is a partnership between the short line and the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society – the owner of the soon-to-be 80-year-old locomotive. No. 765 will debut this Memorial Day weekend with the May 24-26 Indiana Ice Cream Train and May 25 Wine & Whiskey Train, both out of Angola, Ind.
The remaining 2024 schedule for the 2-8-4 will include the following:
- June 14, 17, and Sept. 2: Throttle Time, Pleasant Lake, Ind.
- June 15: Tri-State Scenic Excursion, Edon, Ohio to Hillsdale, Mich.
- June 16: Tri-State Scenic Excursion, Edon to Jonesville, Mich.
- Aug. 1 and 2: Indiana Railcamp, Pleasant Lake
- Aug. 30-Sept. 1: Rolling Victory Weekend, Pleasant Lake
- Oct. 19 and 20: Fall Color Train, Pleasant Lake to Hillsdale
Visit the Indiana Rail Experience website for more information.
Meanwhile, in Michigan, sibling Pere Marquette No. 1225 will debut in early June for multiple weekends of summer events and excursions by the locomotive’s owner, the Steam Railroading Institute. This will mark the first time since 2019 that the older Berkshire-type will operate for the public outside of its regular North Pole Express schedule during the Holiday season. A Hands on the Throttle operating experience with No. 1225 is set for June 7-9, 14, and 16 at the Owosso-based institute, along with a June 15 excursion to Ashley, Mich., dubbed the Freedom Flyer – Vintage Baseball Train.
The remainder of the 2024 schedule for the Steam Railroading Institute, including the popular North Pole Express, is expected to be released soon. Visit the Steam Railroading Institute website for more information.
Meanwhile, ATSF 4-8-4 #2926 remains limited to occasional non-passenger excursions between its home northwest of downtown Albuquerque and the old Santa Fe rail yards south of downtown. A comment by the 2926 NM SL&RHS president in the May newsletter indicates little support by the state for steam operation:
“At this point, NMDOT/Rio Metro is not willing to host or be
responsible for any aspect of our operations.”
https://static.showit.co/file/4qw67n5YTwi_MkRnV4OYcw/173581/nmslrhs_newsletter_3_5.pdf