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McCloud River Railroad : Passenger Operations: Excursion Photos Steam Locomotives #18 and #25 Together: 18 February 2001 |
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| News that the McCloud Railway had purchased the former McCloud River #18 from the Yreka Western prompted much anticipation of future double head excursion trains using it and the #25. The railroad announced several such events starting in 1999 for which the #18 was not yet ready. The shop finally completed the restoration of the #18 in the first days of 2001, and the railroad announced it would officially return to service in a special with the #25 to be held over Presidents Day Weekend. On 18 February the two locomotives powered a heavy passenger train to Bartle and return. The train had originally been scheduled to operate farther down the line but ended up turning at Bartle. This would be the only time the two locomotives operated together, as the economic realities of the railroad at the time did not support operating more than one steam locomotive, and new boiler regulations fully implemented at the beginning of 2002 would have forced another restoration of the #25 anyway. |
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The railroad had both locomotives steamed up and moving around the yard on the 17th in occassionally heavy snowfall. The #18 is seen here next to the shop. Travis Berryman photo. |
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The #18 and #25 in front of the shop on the 17th. Travis Berryman photo. |
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Passing the shop on the way to the main line while testing on the 17th. Travis Berryman photo. |
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One last photo of the two locomotives testing in the yard on the 17th. Travis Berryman photo. |
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The #18 and #25 backing from the shop area towards the depot on the morning of the 18th. Travis Berryman photo. |
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The two steam locomotives coupling to the train at the depot prior to departure. Travis Berryman photo. |
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The #18 and #25 leaving the McCloud depot. Roger Titus photo. |
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The excursion rolling through the yard. The two locomotives would couple onto the bucker/flanger plow before leaving town. Travis Berryman photo. |
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The excursion at speed near Bigalow. Travis Berryman photo. |
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The excursion at Algoma. Travis Berryman photo. |
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The excursion passing Sheep Heaven Road. Matt Simons photo. |
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The excursion as seen from the train somewhere along the line. Roger Titus photo. |
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A dramatic shot of the excursion captured by Drew Jacksich. |
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The double header arriving at Bartle. Roger Titus photo. |
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The #18 passing the Bartle section shed. Matt Simons photo. |
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Another shot of the two locomotives at Bartle. Roger Titus photo. |
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After arriving at Bartle the crews dug out the west switch to the Bartle siding so that the two locomotives could plow out the siding for the photographers. Conductor John Signor is standing next to the switch stand as the two locomotives entered the siding. Matt Simons photo. |
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Engineer Malen Johnson telling John to tell the engineer on the #25 to not push too hard as they plowed the siding. Matt Simons photo. |
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The #18 and #25 starting the job of plowing the siding. Matt Simons photo. |
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The two locomotives starting to work hard plowing snow. Matt Simons photo. |
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The two locomotives plowing out part of the Bartle siding. Travis Berryman photo. |
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Jeff Forbis watching his two locomotives after the siding had been plowed. Matt Simons photo. |
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The two locomotives on a photo runby at Bartle. Roger Titus photo. |
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