Flimsies piece about an old Milwaukee FP7 that a local group in Cresco, Iowa obtained some years ago. When I wrote it up in L&RP, they had moved it to Cresco over tracks about to be ripped up. As it was mostly downgrade to Cresco, they gave it a good push with a bucket loader and rode the handbrake in the best hump rider tradition. It was left sitting on the main line near the depot and the other rails were removed around it.

One guy had been a submarine mechanic in the Navy and was familiar with EMD engines, so they barred it over, did some pre-lubing and got it started with juice from a welder. At that time, they started it up occasionally, but sounds like the enthusiasm has waned a bit. They did a nice paint job in the 1950s scheme and eventually added other cars to the display. If I recall, this was a project of the local volunteer fire department.

http://www.crescotimes.com/display/inn_news/news01.txt
ryarger@rypn.org

I Think It Is Great How A Little Town Like This Can Have It's Railway Heritage Preserved Even When The Tracks Are Almost All Gone! How Much Track Is There? Is IT Possible In The Future That They Could Set About A Mile Or Two Back In And Have Small Excursions?
Aaron

The Blue Mountain Lines
norfolk_western_611@hotmail.com

There is just enough track to move the train a couple of car lenghts back and forth. When I was there a few years ago the right of way was already being built on, paved over ect. The train is actually on a side track in a park next to the old ROW. At that time the loco had a tarp over the exhaust to keep rain out.


2rivers@upstel.com