Preservation in 2024: Locomotive projects — steam and diesel

Steam locomotive on display. — NYC 4-8-2 No. 3001 at the National New York Central Railroad Museum, Elkhart, Ind., on April 28, 2017. A plan to restore the locomotive to operation was one of the year’s top preservation stories. Dan Cupper

Our 2023 rail preservation review illustrated a focus on new and renovated museum facilities. In 2024, focus shifted to activities involving locomotives and rolling stock. Of the 79 preservation stories on Trains News Wire this year, 47 relate to locomotives or railcars. Still, buildings did play a role in preservation this year; one of the biggest stories involves a big historic building.

The year’s highlights include:

Steam

New York Central No. 3001 — Yes, Union Pacific’s Big Boy completed two tours in 2024 and the CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour with 4-6-4 No. 2816 presented a lineside fascination, however, an Oct. 9, announcement in Elkhart, Ind., may be the next big steam focus.

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, owner-operator of Nickel Plate 2-8-4 No. 765, with the City of Elkhart and its National New York Central Railroad Museum announced plans for an operational restoration of NYC 4-8-2 Mohawk No. 3001, with an estimated cost of approximately $4.3 million. Additionally the society-city-museum collaboration will develop a long-term strategic plan to revitalize the museum, located in downtown Elkhart.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge drops coal — The coal-fired era on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge concluded on March 23, 2024. An excursion from Durango to Cascade, Colo., with Baldwin K36 2-8-2 No. 481 was the final coal-powered trip. Facing forest fire concerns and a shift in operational practices, the D&SNG has been converting its steam locomotives to oil and using more diesel power along the historic Denver & Rio Grande route through the San Juan Mountains.

The D&RG completed the line to Silverton in July 1882. Since that time, despite some diesel use by the D&SNG, power has mainly been coal-fired steam. Currently, however, obtaining coal has become problematic. Economically, the shift to oi -firing will be beneficial due to reduced maintenance costs.

Pennsylvania T1 No. 5550 nears 50% completion — In 2024, the T1 Trust, the group building a new Pennsylvania Railroad 4-4-4-4 T1, began fabricating the locomotive frame. Completion of the frame will move the project past the halfway point. The Trust also reports that seven of eight driving wheel centers have been cast.

The Trust has raised $2.4 million of the estimated $6 million needed to build the locomotive, says Jason Johnson, Trust general manager. The next pieces to be worked on include: the cylinders, firebox sheets, the combustion chamber, and driving 3,000 staybolts.

Diesel

Flying Yankee sold — Built for the Boston & Maine by the Budd Co., in 1935, the shovel-nosed, articulated passenger train is nearly identical to the Burlington’s Pioneer Zephyr. Owned by the State of New Hampshire and stored in Lincoln, N.H., since 2005, the state moved to sell the train in hopes of preservation and restoration. On July 24, 2024, Gov. Christopher Sununu announced the non-profit Flying Yankee Association as the train’s new owner. The Association plans to move the train to Conway, N.H., where it will construct a facility to house it and work on an operational restoration.

Mid-Continent EMC Doodlebug restoration begins — Montana Western No. 31, built by Electro-Motive Corp. in 1925 for the Great Northern Railway, was the 13th motorcar built by the company. It is the oldest surviving EMC rolling stock and is part of the Mid-Continent Railway Museum collection in North Freedom, Wis. In 2024, the Museum began restoration with sights set on having it operational for its 2025 centennial. Work began by removing the Winton in-line six-cylinder engine-generator and sending it to FMW Solutions for overhaul. The project is expected to cost around $300,000.

Buildings

Shiny marble tiles and columns supporting high ceiling — Marble-faced clock in the ticket lobby was painstakingly replicated by Michigan Central Station artisans. The restored building opened in June. Kevin P. Keefe

Michigan Central Station reopens — Its massive 18-story facade is a Detroit skyline feature. Until June 6, 2024, the Michigan Central Station was also an urban ruin exhibiting acres of broken glass, a gallery of graffiti, and crumbling walls. In 2018, Ford Motor Co. purchased it for a reported $90 million and began a lengthy restoration. On the evening of June 6, 15,000 music fans gathered in front of the building for a grand opening concert by hometown performers. Tens of thousands more toured the building over the next 10 days. Ford plans to use the facility as an innovation center.

Sioux City Railroad Museum flooded — It was a museum nightmare: up to 10 feet of muddy river water raging through historic buildings. This was the situation on the night of June 23-24, 2024 at the Sioux City (Iowa) Railroad Museum. The Big Sioux River crested on June 24, at 45 feet — 14 feet over flood stage and 8 feet higher than predicted — inundating the museum, which is housed in the former Milwaukee Road Sioux City Engine Terminal and Car Repair Shops. While the museum remains closed, special events have been staged during the cleanup. On July 5, only 11 days after the flood, the museum announced it would be working with the American Heartland Railroad Society to operationally restore Great Northern 4-6-2 No. 1355, part of the museum’s collection.

Union Pacific Green River Station facing costly preservation — An iconic location along the Union Pacific, the Green River, Wyo., passenger station is in need of major restoration. The 20,000-square-foot station was built in 1910. The UP donated the building to the city in 2018, but still owns the land it sits on. It is estimated that restoration for public use could run up to $20 million, with $3 million needed immediately to stabilize the building.

Finally, after more than six decades of steam operation the Milwaukee County Zoo announced it was dropping its fires permanently in 2024. The 1.25-mile, 15-inch gauge railroad carries more than 400,000 passengers around the zoo annually. Since it began in 1956, steam power has ruled. In 1992, two diesel locomotives were added. The current steam engines — a 4-4-2 and a 4-6-2 — were sold to the Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society, a non-profit Wisconsin Dells (Wis.) tourist railroad. The Zoo railroad will continue to operate, but with new Tier-4 compliant diesels, slated to be on line in 2025. Zoo officials cited emission concerns and sustainability policies as the reason for discontinuing steam.

Previous News Wire coverage:

Mid-Continent museum launches restoration of oldest surviving Electro-Motive motor car, Dec. 14, 2024

Western Maryland Scenic to expand through lease of short line, Jan. 15, 2024

Minnesota museum restoring rare Fairbanks-Morse switcher, Jan. 18, 2024

White Mountain Central returns Climax locomotive to operation, Jan. 22, 2024

Restored Fairbanks Morse switcher debuts in Southern California, Jan. 24, 2024

Milwaukee County Zoo railroad replacing steam engines, March 14, 2024

News photos: Final coal-fired train at Durango & Silverton, March 25, 2024

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad to restore two locomotives to operation, April 10, 2024

T1 Trust shows frame and drivers; K4s 1361 tender painted, May 13, 2024

Michigan Central Station opens its doors, June 7, 2024

Iowa railroad museum shut down by flood damage, June 24, 2024