|
Who's Online
We have 10 guests online
|
|
Written by Andrew Powell
|
|
Friday, 21 August 2009 |
Funding approved for locomotive restoration
Steam power is returning to the K&T Railway.
An announcement made Friday by Governor Steve Beshear discloses that $600,000 is headed to McCreary County to complete restoration of a steam locomotive, destined for the rails of the Big South Fork Scenic Railway. The federal transportation enhancement funding will complete the restoration project, which began in 2002.
Governor Beshear said, “It is particularly important to support community development projects when local governments are struggling in a harsh economic climate.”
McCreary County Judge-Executive Blaine Phillips said the funding and completion of the project will “go a long way in boosting the local tourist industry.”
“We are very pleased that this grant is coming to the Big South Fork Scenic Railway allowing them to proceed on with their plans to preserve and promote the area’s history,” Judge Phillips said.
Becki Egnew, Operations Manager for the Big South Fork Scenic Railway, learned of the grant announcement Friday; which came this year after several notices of decline for funding in previous years. Egnew simply said following the announcement, “Get ready, steam is coming.”
Egnew told The Voice the project is currently 65 percent complete and the funding award could get the locomotive back on the track within 12-18 months. The funding “has been a long-time coming,” she added and complete restoration of the engine “is the element we need to complete the story.”
“This is another important piece to the overall puzzle here,” Egnew said. “The scenic railway offers a unique experience like no other and this would complete the experience for visitors with a restored company town, a rail trip to the sites of former coal camps and a historic steam engine leading the way just like it once did for people living and working here.”
Once complete and returned to the short-line railroad, it will be the first time steam power moved down the K&T since diesel power took over the rails in 1964. Egnew said the goal is to have the steam engine on the rails by the start of the 2011 season.
This engine is not native to the K&T, or the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company, but is nearly identical to those once used. This 90-ton engine was built in 1944 by the American Locomotive Company and became engine #77 on the Union Railroad. After a stint on the Morehead and North Fork rail line, ‘Old #77’ made its way to Tombstone Junction carrying passengers through the wild west town until the 1990. Harmon Taylor then purchased the engine and moved it to Stearns. A few years later, it became property of the Scenic Railway and restoration plans were prepared.
Today, the coal tender is ready for the rails donning a Kentucky & Tennessee #14 call sign. The engine has undergone major rehabilitation, managed by Scott Lindsay of Steam Operations Corporation of Alabama, and is ready for reassembly.
Once the engine is added to the Big South Fork Scenic Railway itinerary, Egnew and other officials associated with the historic company town, estimate visitation to the area will increase dramatically and rider ship double. The engine could also serve as an additional educational tool when discussing the heritage and history of the area and how coal helped to shape that history.
Since being established in 1982, the Scenic Railway, in conjunction with the McCreary County Heritage Foundation, have initiated restoration of downtown Stearns, the headquarters of the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company, a community center, extensive track rehabilitation including the recent track extension to the site of the former Worley coal camp, passenger car rehabilitation, equipment upgrades and new rail programs for holiday events and adventure tourism. Future plans, aside from restoration of engine #14, includes track expansion to Yamacraw and across the1906 concrete bridge spanning the Big South Fork. Egnew is also working on an interpretive plan that will look to create walking and/or driving trails around local historical sights, interpretive signage and mass media technology to further relay the history and heritage of the local community.
“We have done a great job in preserving our assets, now we need to do a better job telling others the story,” Egnew said.
To learn more about the Big South Fork Scenic Railway, the steam locomotive project and the local heritage projects, please visit www.bsfsry.com or call (606) 376-5330.
|
|
