This coming weekend, the Colorado Railroad museum will be having yet another steam up. This on however will be far more special then any of the others.
Ex West Side Lumber Shay 12 will be making its debut at the museum. This locomotive last operated on the Georgetown loop until the operation ended in 2004 (it now operates under a different operator, but still controlled by the Colorado Historical Society). It was never run at the museum, it had a universal joint that was just recently put back into place. We operated Shay 14 and IRCA 40 for a few years while 346 was being overhauled. Shay 14 needs a new axle, so its sidelined, and 40 is more or less the same as 346. But the museum volunteers and visitors wanted a shay! She will be wearing her old West Side Lumber colors for the first time in many years (I found many different names on her tender while I was sanding down the paint)
In addiation to Shay 12, D&RGW 346 will also be operating. This is the first time in the museums history that two steam locomotives have been operating at the same time! 346 will be providing steam for our visitor from Chama, D&RGW Pile Driver OB, fresh from a multi-year rebuild last year (a bridge tore its roof off on the way to the museum). This will only be the second time that OB has operated on steam, all other demonstrations have been done with compressed air. OB will be smashing watermelons (R Lee Ermey would be proud) and demonstrating its operation.
So if your in Colorado, come one by. Ill be there Sunday from 8am to 5 or 6pm
Ex West Side Lumber Shay 12 will be making its debut at the museum. This locomotive last operated on the Georgetown loop until the operation ended in 2004 (it now operates under a different operator, but still controlled by the Colorado Historical Society). It was never run at the museum, it had a universal joint that was just recently put back into place. We operated Shay 14 and IRCA 40 for a few years while 346 was being overhauled. Shay 14 needs a new axle, so its sidelined, and 40 is more or less the same as 346. But the museum volunteers and visitors wanted a shay! She will be wearing her old West Side Lumber colors for the first time in many years (I found many different names on her tender while I was sanding down the paint)
In addiation to Shay 12, D&RGW 346 will also be operating. This is the first time in the museums history that two steam locomotives have been operating at the same time! 346 will be providing steam for our visitor from Chama, D&RGW Pile Driver OB, fresh from a multi-year rebuild last year (a bridge tore its roof off on the way to the museum). This will only be the second time that OB has operated on steam, all other demonstrations have been done with compressed air. OB will be smashing watermelons (R Lee Ermey would be proud) and demonstrating its operation.
So if your in Colorado, come one by. Ill be there Sunday from 8am to 5 or 6pm
