ARCADE, N.Y. — The Arcade & Attica Railroad will begin offering steam operations this month with its 1920 Alco 2-8-0 for the first time since the locomotive was sidelined for repairs in 2018. The railroad announced today (Aug. 13) in a Facebook post that locomotive No. 18 has passed inspection and will begin excursion service on Saturday, Aug. 24.
Two trips are planned that day, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets and additional information will be available at the railroad website.
The Arcade & Attica purchased the locomotive in 1962 from Michigan’s Boyne City Railroad, beginning excursions in August of that year. It operated until 2001, underwent a restoration completed in 2008, and then ran until 2018, when the current round of repairs began.
The 14-mile Arcade & Attica, which dates to 1917, is a Class III shortline which interchanges with Genesee & Wyoming’s Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad. Arcade is approximately a 40-mile drive southeast of Buffalo.
My first cab ride was on this locomotive back in 1962, my grandfather and I got to ride the return trip, boy was that a memory, glad to read it is back to making more for others. great news!!