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Revision as of 05:08, 9 March 2024

Valley Railroad 97
Valley Railroad 97 in Essex, December 2004
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderAmerican Locomotive Company (Cooke Works)
Serial number65188
Build date1923
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte2-8-0
 • UIC1’D’
Gauge4 ft 81/2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.28 in (711 mm)
Driver dia.48 in (1,219 mm)
Width10 ft (3 m)
Axle load30,500 Ib (13.830 kg: 13.83 t)
Adhesive weight122,000 Ib (55,340 kg: 55.34 t)
Loco weight141,000 Ib (63,960 kg: 63.96 t)
Tender weight132,000 Ib (59.870 kg: 59,87 t)
Total weight273,000 Ib (123,800 kg: 123.8 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity20,000 Ib (9,072 kg: 9,072 t)
Water cap.6,000 US gal (23,000 I: 5,000 imp gal)
Boiler pressure180 Ibf/in2 (1.24 MPa)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size19 in x 26 in (483 mm x 660 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Performance figures
Maximum speed55 mph (88.51 km/h)
Tractive effort29.918 Ibf (133.1 kN)
Factor of adh.4.08
Career
OperatorsBirmingham and Southeastern Railroad
Vermont Railway
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Connecticut Valley Railroad
Class200
NumbersB&S 200
VTR 97
CVRR 97
Retired1958 (revenue service)
December 2010 (excursion service)
Restored1963 (1st restoration)
October 26, 2018 (2nd restoration)
DispositionOperational, based in Essex Connecticut

Valley Railroad No. 97 is a preserved 2-8-0 steam locomotive that was built in 1923 by Alco. It was used for pulling services around the valley railroad the locomotive was restored in 1963 and was retired in 2010, On October 26, 2018 the locomotive was restored again As of 2023 the locomotive is still operational.

History

Revenue Service and First Retirement (1923-1958)

No. 97 was built by the American Locomotive Company's former Cooke Locomotive Works in 1923 as No. 200. It was one of two locomotives that were intended to be exported to Cuba for use on the National Railway Company of Cuba. No. 200, however, never made it to Cuba, and it was stored at the Cooke factory until it was shut down in 1926. The locomotive was subsequently sold to the Birmingham and Southeastern Railroad on March 5, 1926, and it was moved to the company's shortline in Alabama. The locomotive pulled multiple passenger and freight trains on Birmingham and Southeastern trackage until 1958.

First restoration and excursion career (1963-2010)

New Haven RS-3 534, RDCS, RS-3s, and Connecticut Valley steam engine at Danbury, CT on July 28, 1968

In 1963, New York publisher Stephen D. Bogen purchased No. 200, and it soon began operating on the Vermont Railway. It was also renumberd to 97 to avoid conflict with the railroad’s diesel locomotive No. 200. Locomotive 97 pulled mainline excursion trains on portions of the New Haven Railroad until it merged with the Penn Central Railroad in 1968. No. 97 was subsequently moved to the Connecticut Valley Railroad in 1970, but it didn't start operating there until 1973. Shortly afterward, No. 97 would replace 2-6-2 locomotive No. 103 as the Valley Railroad’s train consist expanded.In 2005 it was sold to the private owner to the Valley Railroad. In 2007 the locomotive was filmed on Indiana Jones and the kingdom of the Crystal Skull.[1]

Second retirement (2010-2018)

Valley Railroad (Connecticut) 3

No. 97 ran until December 2010, when its flue time expired, and while being displayed outdoors,

the locomotive underwent a 1,472-day inspection as required by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).[2][3]

Second excursion career (2018-present)

In Deep River November 26, 2021

No. 97 returned to service on October 26, 2018. In September 2019, it had more maintenance In January 2020, 97 had been lifted off its wheels for the first time in decades.[4] In 2021, 2022, and In 2023, it hauled the north pole express.[5]

Film history

In June 2007, No. 97 was coupled to some passenger cars to be filmed at Essex station. This was for the 2008 film Indiana Jones and the kingdom of the Crystal Skull, starring Harrison Ford and directed by Steven Spielberg.[6]

See also

  • Huntingdon and Broad Top 38
  • Arcade and Attica 18
  • Tennessee Valley Railroad 610
  • Valley Railroad 40
  • Valley Railroad 3025

References

  1. ^ "The Essex Steam Train". victorianweb.org. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
  2. ^ https://essexsteamtrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Locomotive-History-2014.pdf
  3. ^ "Essex Steam Train - www.rgusrail.com". Retrieved 2017-08-01.
  4. ^ "Federal Railroad Administration". railroads.dot.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  5. ^ "Pictures of VALE 97". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2004-12-10.
  6. ^ "Filming Locations for Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), in California; New Mexico; Connecticut and Hawaii". The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations. Retrieved 2022-12-18.