Our memorial page for Bill, a giant on the steam scene, is here. Please send us your photos and memories of Bill and we will add them to the page.

More here.

Join Historic Transport Preservation, Inc. (Steam Specials) and Railfan & Railroad Magazine for photo specials with Nevada Northern 4-6-0 no. 40 and 2-8-0 no. 93, and the Heber Valley Railway’s ex-Union Pacific 2-8-0 no. 618.

NEVADA NORTHERN
DATE: May 17 – 18, 2010 (Monday-Tuesday).

On Monday we’ll have 4-6-0 no. 40 on two different trainsets. One train will feature the Steptoe Flyer passenger consist (combine and coach). The second trainset will be a mixed train consisting of boxcars and the combine.

On Tuesday we’ll use Nevada Northern Railway 2-8-0 no. 93 on two different trainsets. No. 93 will be lettered NCCCo (Nevada Consolidated Copper Company) and one trip will be devoted to an ore train complete with Kennecott caboose; riders will be transported in a diesel-powered chase train. The second trainset will be a wreck train (complete with steam crane); riders will be transported in the camp car. The northern route out of Ely has been restored and we’ll travel to Hi-Line Junction and then out onto the main line; the main line route features broad curves and an uphill run with favorable sun angles all day.

Each day will be broken into two segments with an extended lunch break at high sun, allowing for shooting during the early mornings and late afternoons. We’ll likely schedule at least one night photo session.

PRICE: $375. Spouses attend for half-fare.

HEBER VALLEY
DATE: May 20 – 21, 2010 (Thursday-Friday).

Heber Valley’s ex-Union Pacific 2-8-0 no. 618 will be in a configuration that it has not been in before — there will be an Overland Route shield on the tender along with the road number, “Union Pacific” under the cab window and an old-style headlight mounted high (but not on top) of the smokebox. The headlight will changed on the 618 on Monday night, so the locomotive will have a slightly different look each day.

These will be mixed trains, and the railroad will repaint its combine into Pullman green for the event; riders will be transported in the combine. The Heber Valley has a nice selection of freight cars to make a very handsome train.

It is expected we’ll use a different departure time each day. On one day we’ll depart near lunch time and run directly to the end of the line, shooting on the return trip in lower afternoon light. The other day we’ll depart near daybreak and do runbys all the way south in low morning light.

The mountains should still be snow-capped and with a little luck we’ll have spring flowers in the valley.

There will be a night photo session, probably on Thursday night.

No.618 has 30 service days left on its current boiler certification, which expires just after these trips in May 2010. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

PRICE: $475. Spouses attend for half-fare.

COMBINATION TICKET: $750 ($375 spouse).

DEADLINE: We need 25 paid participants for each event by April 15, 2010.

Pay online by clicking here.

You may pay by check by sending your payment (payable to “Historic Transport Preservation,” not “Steam Specials”) to:

Historic Transport Preservation, Inc.
c/o Mr. Mike Raia
4538 N. Marmora Avenue
Chicago, IL, 60630-3139

(Please note that, although Historic Transport Preservation Inc. is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, your fare is not a donation and is not tax-deductible.)

We’ll make our go-no go decision no later than April 15, 2010, based on the number of paid reservations we have received. If we aren’t confident then that we can attract enough participants, the trips will be canceled and all monies returned.

Once we declare the trip a “go,” we’ll notify you. At that time the trip becomes non-refundable unless we can resell your ticket. Trip details and travel recommendations will be provided to confirmed participants at that time.

Sign up early, and remember that the only sure way to guarantee a spot in the photo line is to send your payment!

Produced by Kelly Lynch and Lynchpin Pictures.

Beyond the important preservation of an historic 1940′s era 8000 gallon tank car, this restoration will allow the Steam Railroading Institute to use it in its historic period photo freight charters, such as those held in conjunction with Historic Transport Preservation Inc. in April 2007 and February 2008. HTP’s mission is to convey the importance of transportation in American history to those who attend its special events, and to commemorate significant locations in transportation history. In addition, this grant will allow the Steam Railroading Institute to acknowledge the rich heritage and connection that the Dow Chemical Company has had as a customer for the Pere Marquette and Chesapeake & Ohio Railways, and as an employer in mid-Michigan.

The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation was established in 1957 and has been donating to worthy causes for 50 years. That colorful palette of giving is owed to the foresight of Eda Gerstacker, wife of Rollin Gerstacker and their son, Carl Gerstacker. The Gerstacker family lived in Cleveland, Ohio and was active in many charities there. After Eda’s husband died in 1945, she moved to Midland, Michigan to be with her daughter Elsa and her son Carl, a University of Michigan College of Engineering graduate, who worked for the Dow Chemical Company and subsequently became Chairman of the Board. The Foundation’s purpose was to carry on, indefinitely, financial aid to charities of all types supported by Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Gerstacker during their lifetimes.

The Gerstacker Foundation has made many notable grants, concentrated in the states of Michigan and Ohio, in the areas of general community support; colleges, universities and research institutions; music and the arts; social services; youth activities; health care and research; and churches.