Fans of steam railroading action in Pennsylvania have suffered from a lack of activity as of late; while the Strasburg is doing well, the East Broad Top hasn't run for several years, Steamtown tends to operate with diesels, and it seems as though Pennsylvania Railroad K4s 1361 will spend its preservation being perpetually restored at the Altoona Railroader's Memorial Museum (her boiler is actually at the EBT's shops, but nothing seems to be in the works). And it's been a while since Nickel Plate 765 was here, too. So discovering that the Everett Railroad of Hollidaysburg, PA had purchased and restored a little ALCo 2-6-0 to use in excursion service was a very pleasant and welcome surprise. Some friends and I ventured out on a rather gray Saturday to catch Everett number 11 in action.
Pretty good for a first impression! Everett 11 is a nicely proportioned little locomotive, perfect for the dash up the valley and back. The combine behind her tender is the first of the passenger cars to be rebuilt by the line for this service; I believe the other two are borrowed from the Horseshoe Curve chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society.
A look at 11's iron muscle. There's something very interesting about the complexity of a steam locomotive's running gear.
On the move! She's got quite a pleasant whistle. It sure got a workout at this grade crossing on Monastery Rd, just off of PA-36.
And going away.
Got a profile shot watching her run around the train for the return trip.
And off we go.
On her second run of the day, we caught 11 at a bridge over Halter Creek. The others were taking photos and film up close to the bridge on the bank, out of sight to the left. I actually shared this spot with a professional photographer who lives a bit south of here, who just got into railroad photography thanks to the Everett. I can't find the business card he gave me, though - I was gonna link to his site. If I find it, I'll have to post it.
Now this looks like a Christmas card, aside from the lack of snow.
Back it up! We basically hung out at this spot (the previous two pictures were taken about 200 feet behind the photographer) for the rest of the day.
And returning home. This was taken after a mad dash up the stairs of the PA-36 bridge crossing the yard. That's a nice little station that the Everett's built for this, off to the left there. Next trip out, I should get a couple better photos of it.
Everett GP16 1712 was just chillin' in the yard all day.
Running around the train at the station; which I can't believe I didn't think to take a picture of.
Take a look at that knuckle coupler. I suspect it's a piece of original equipment for 11, since the knuckle (the part that moves when coupling or uncoupling) has the slot in the edge. That was used in the days of transitioning away from the dangerous link-and-pin couplers for backwards compatibility; the link would be positioned in the slot, and the a pin would be dropped through a hole on top of the knuckle to hold it in. This pattern of coupler probably hasn't been made since the turn of the last century - it's an antique in its own right!
Isn't she just a fine little machine?
We had a pretty nice day of it, despite the weather not quite cooperating. Overcast photography is a sore challenge. I think things turned out well, even so.
As an addendum, the Everett also owns the former Knox & Kane 2-8-0 number 38, and I'm told is also working on restoring her for service as well.
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