Bringing
History Home
The Timber Heritage Association has purchased historic
steam locomotive No. 37
It is going to the Strasburg Rail Road Shops in Pennsylvania to be restored to operating condition over a five year period.
No. 37 will be used to pull the Timber Heritage Museum's
Excursion Train, the SHORELINE SPECIAL, around Humboldt Bay.
Thank you for your help; we now need to continue towards
our goal by raising funds through grants and your continued generosity to restore the locomotive.
We Need Your HELP Now!
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No. 37 on the dead line at Scotia
in 1966. |
In November of 2003 the Association purchased former Pacific Lumber Co. steam
locomotive No. 37 with the over $50,000 raised at fund raising events, through mail contributions or borrowed
for this purpose. Our historic locomotive sits on a siding in
Wilmington, Delaware Delaware until spring when it will be moved to Strasburg, Pennsylvania to be restored. Funds for the move are available, having been raised at past dinner and auction fundraisers. It will be restored by the highly qualified Strasburg Rail Road Shops on an as-time-available basis at their lowest shop rate. The estimated cost is $400,000; $39,000 is on hand to start the project. Your contributions are needed to keep this project on schedule and return this historic locomotive to operation on the same tracks it traveled 70 years ago.
ALCO Builder's Photo, January
1925.
|
| Locomotive No. 37 is a 2-8-2 (wheel
arrangement) tank locomotive built in 1925 by the American Locomotive
Company. It worked in the Sierras hauling Sugar Pine for eleven
years before being sold to Pacific Lumber Company in 1935. As
one of PL's main logging locomotives, it hauled redwood, usually
in the Yager Creek area, until retired in1956. Sold to a local
private party in 1962, it remained in Scotia until sold again
in 1966 to a Pennsylvania tourist line where it operated in 1968.
After that line closed, No. 37 was purchased by another private
party and moved to Wilmington, Delaware. There it was overhauled
and began operating on the Wilmington and Western Railroad pulling
their excursion train from 1987 to 1990. The lease ended when
a dispute arose between the owners and the railroad thus making
it available for us to purchase. The current owners would like
to see the locomotive come home. The individual who did
the FRA inspection for us made a preliminary inspection trip
to the locomotive and said, "It is as good of a steam locomotive
as you are going to find." |
Pacific Lumber Co. No. 37 at
Yager Creek in 1942. |
| Our vision is to operate an excursion
train around Humboldt Bay and maybe elsewhere on Northwestern
Pacific Railroad tracks on the Northcoast to improve our economy.
We have been told by our consultant and others in the tourism
industry locally that an excursion train will help make this
a destination that people want to visit. A market survey done
by our consultant found that tourists would stay an extra day
to ride a steam train. Humboldt County's Film Commissioner has
also mentioned that she has received several inquiries about
a steam train by film makers. In addition we will be preserving
the history of our area to delight and educate young and old
from our community. |
No. 37 at Yager Creek Camp, August
4, 1953. |
|
Won't you help make this happen?
We would gratefully accept donations both large and small.
If you would like to make a monthly or quarterly pledge, that
would help; or maybe you know of a foundation or individual who
we might contact. Whatever you can do will help us reach our
goal to improve our economy and preserve our heritage. If you
would like more information call the president of the Timber Heritage Association,
Marcus Brown at (707) 822-5906. Below is a convenient
form for you to indicate how you might be willing to help. You
can contact us at:
Timber Heritage Museum
P.O. Box 6399, Eureka, CA 95502
The Timber Heritage Association is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit
corporation. Donations are tax deductible.
|
37 pulling former interurban
cars to take
loggers to the woods. |
No. 37 left Humboldt County
on a flat car in December 1966. |