Moore-Keppel & Co. three-truck Climax No. 9 returned to steam Thursday. The locomotive is expected to be out for the railroad’s Heritage Weekend today through Sunday.
The locomotive is the first Climax to operate at Cass, known for its geared steam roster of Shays and a solitary Heisler, in almost a century. With the addition, Cass now fields all three types of the most popular North American logging railroad geared locomotives found in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The active restoration of Climax No. 9 has been ongoing for almost 20 years, first under the auspices of a non-profit support organization, and most recently under the private operator brought in to run the railroad. The engine was acquired in the early 1970s and was heavily damaged in a 1972 shop fire. It sat derelict for years. Until Thursday.
Roger, I believe W Cook’s comment does apply. The last paragraph was illustrating his thoughts on other sites where #14 could provide service. This includes the Narrow Gauges in Colorado, beyond RC&BT RR. But he didn’t want the engine to be painted “Amusement Park Color Schemes” to cover its original appearance.
“Right Church. Right Faith.”
The Roaring Camp & Big Tree is nearly the worst in the tourist train industry for galling up the paint display of their engines. I’ll hate to see what they will do to Number 14. Disney is worst but Knott’s Berry Farm found the marketing the original Rio Grande Southern was a good policy. As they say, most park visitors care less about the design of the locomotive so why not use the historic image for the visitors who do care to see history, and enjoy the ride. RC&BT should learn they do not need color paint on their black steam engines, as it makes no different with their ridership. Keep #14 looking like West Side Lumber.
What really should happen is having the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR lease the West Side Lumber #12 and use it from Chama to Cumbres as it is identical to and built from the same plans as the last NG Shay #3345, New Mexico Lumber Co. #7 that was towed twice over Cumbres. WSL #12 is also owned by Mr. Ashley and is stored at Colorado Railroad Museum.
It can pull the same as D&RGW #463 to Cumbres, only taking 10 minutes more time but offering a great variety of sound and history. Variation draws replete riders as well as originality. Shays are not foreign to Chama as three other Shays were often run over Cumbres for various servicing in Alamosa, from Silverton, Edith & Dulce.
W Cook – right church, wrong pew. I think your post was meant for the “West Side’s wandering Shays”.