Just a nice photo of the old V&T J.W. Bowker at Sacramento, probably taken at one of the Railfairs? It is usually caged in the trainshed there.

http://www.railroadforums.com/photos/sh ... ll&page=14

Anybody heard "restoration to operation" rumors for this old girl? Seems unlikely because she has an iron boiler, but all sorts of stuff floats around. Note she is still in 1999 "Wild Wild West" movie paint, probably lack of CSRM funds. Last steamed I believe at the Chicago Railroad Fair?! Stack was changed too. The other V&T 2-4-0 switcher, the "IE James", also had a fire pump on it...an earlier engine, a real beauty. Still has the fire hose pump on its boiler...in fact there's a kids cheap-o train set you can pick up at some toy stores today called the "Forty Niner" which is based on the Bowker. Probably about $10 bucks, good starter for a toddler. Even has the fire pump on it...I had one when I was a kid, at that time it was made by Durham and painted for the Smurfs. In the 60s some may remember when it was offered as the Mickey Mouse express, and Ward Kimball had one in his collection. Maybe that is why I love the JW Bowker so much...

-Ed Kelley