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!

The photo below was taken by first-time participant Jonathan Hallman:

We’ve created a gallery for photos from this event here. If you attended this event, log in and upload your photos.

Thanks to everyone who attended, and we hope you’ll join us again soon.

Produced by Kelly Lynch and Lynchpin Pictures.

In February, we hosted our second event at both the Huckleberry Railroad (17 participants) and at the Steam Railroading Institute (50 participants). In October, 17 participants took part in our events the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum, the Conway Scenic Railroad, and the Mount Washington Cog Railway in New England. And in November, 25 participants took part in our SOO 1003 event in Wisconsin.

When we created this web site in 2004, we started with a mailing list of 80 people who had attended a previous photo special. Four years later, our mailing list stands at nearly 900, and over 200 people have attended at least one event. Thanks to each of you.

Looking forward to 2009, the Steam Railroading Institute’s “Train Festival 2009″ will offer us an exciting opportunity in the fall. We’re still working on the details, but save some time around Columbus Day weekend (October 9-12) on your calendar. You won’t regret it.

As always, announcements are sent via e-mail – they are not posted on our web site. To ensure that you get announcements, sign up here.

If you have questions about who we are and what we do, read our FAQ here. You will also find contact links on the FAQ page.

On Sunday, November 9, Historic Transport Preservation, SOO 1003 Operations LLC, and Wisconsin & Southern Railroad partnered yet again to operate a photo special. This trip operated over “new” trackage between Waukesha, WI, and Milton, WI. (While 1003 has operated over this line numerous times, this was the first photo special.)

You can find more photos here. If you would like to join us on a future outing, sign up for event announcements here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_AuWdLoKio

Over October 3-4-5, Historic Transport Preservation partnered with the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum, the Conway Scenic Railroad, and The Mount Washington Cog Railroad for a weekend of steam in New England Fall Foliage. You can see the results here. If you would like to join us on a future outing, sign up for event announcements here.