December 2009

It’s that special time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s when we run our longest trains of the year to accommodate all of the guests who ride the POLAR EXPRESS™. This year we have nine cars on the train which are handled by two units, one on either end of the train. The normal power is GP-7 #573 on the west end and F-7 #4266 on the east end. During the day, we run our Santa’s Holiday Express trains with the GP-7 and the first six cars of the Polar train. Steam is expected to be on the evening Polar trains on December 17, 18 & 19. Steam is also scheduled to be on the 3 pm trip on the 19th for our ‘Snow Train Celebration’.

On Sunday, November 29, we test ran B23-7 #1943 to Crawford Depot (see a few photos of this trip on Conway Scenic's Facebook page). It was an interesting trip. For the most part the locomotive ran well. However, there were a couple of instances when the engine would only partially load, and there was one time when it outright quit. During these times of trouble, I have to remind myself that ‘patience is a fruit whose root is bitter, but the fruit is sweet’. In other words, we just have to keep working our way through the problems, and in the end we will end up with a good locomotive. We came all the way down the mountain in dynamic braking, and it worked flawlessly. This is really what is driving getting this locomotive into service; the dynamic brakes will save many dollars in brake shoes, labor to remove and install brake shoes and wheel wear. I was reading somewhere that GE developed the B23-7 as direct competition for the GP38-2. We all know how that turned out, but I still think we will have a pretty nice locomotive when all is said and done. For the record, there are no plans at this time to sell the FP-9s.

The major project in the shop this winter will be to finish dining car Hattie Evans. GM Russ Seybold has said that IT WILL be ready for service on the Notch Train this coming season! We are also planning on installing new carpet and runners in the dome car, Dorthea Mae. This will involve removing and replacing all of the seating which is a very time consuming project. The car will also be repainted in the same scheme that it is now in. Dorthea Mae was the very first car to be painted in “Notch Colors’. We hope to paint the 6516 this year as well, but there are many projects and only so much time and money to go around.

Some tickets are still available for the Mass Bay Steam in the Snow Train with 7470 that we are operating on January 2. Tickets are available online at ConwayScenic.com, or by calling (603) 356-5251.

As always, thank you for your interest in and support of Conway Scenic Railroad.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all from all of us at Conway Scenic RR.

Always expect a train!