C&S No. 9 from the viewpoint of a BN employee

[Kurt Maechner]

The story of C&S No. 9 including its survival and short lived restoration to operation is quite fascinating.  
 
I came across a little back story from the viewpoint of a Burlington Northern employee and wrote it up as a post here.

[Mike Trent]

OK, well, that's an interesting perspective.

Let's just say, like I did on  your #74 question, that all's more or less well that ends more or less well and leave it at that.

When Todd and I saw #9 up in Hill City, what was left of the engine was seriously nothing more than a public toilet.

#9, and #74, are both in far better places today and we can count our blessings for that, despite the strange journey they each took to get where they are.    

There are still various entities and personalities who need to get along toward a common goal with these treasures of the past, so let's just tread lightly and be grateful both engines have survived as well as they have. While CHS hasn't done everything right, they have done a lot right.  

I say this from the perspective of someone who has about as much at stake in this over the years as anyone does.    

[Kurt Maechner]

I completely agree, Mike.  I am so grateful that both of these locomotives are in such beautiful condition compared to when I first saw them in the 1990s.  Thanks for your perspective and your contribution to helping these locos stay alive all these years.

[Mike Trent]

Hi, Kurt,

Just to be clear, the time and money spent by myself and others, mostly from the Boulder Model RR Club, was through the 80's, when we and some others worked on the displays in Boulder, Idaho Springs, the roundhouse in Como, and the Georgetown Loop.

There were others who followed in the 90's and after who were just as passionate and determined to do what they could. It's been a continuing effort for a long time.

But thanks very much for your comments.

[South Park]

  I laugh over your comment about using the locomotive as a public toilet.  Not hard
to imagine people doing that.  Not hard to also see myself uncorking a full tank of
USMC whoopass on the poor schlub I caught doing so.  What a well deserved time
to reflect on the error of their thinking as they healed up over the following 3-4 weeks !  

Those that argue humans are somehow elevated above animals have not been exposed
to enough "humanity".

[Bill Uffelman]

Semper Fi!

SGT Bill Uffelman

!966-1970 with all expense paid tour of Chu Lai RVN 1968-1969

On Tuesday, February 19, 2019, 8:24:37 AM PST, South Park [via C&Sng Discussion Forum] <[hidden email]> wrote:

  I laugh over your comment about using the locomotive as a public toilet.  Not hard
to imagine people doing that.  Not hard to also see myself uncorking a full tank of
USMC whoopass on the poor schlub I caught doing so.  What a well deserved time
to reflect on the error of their thinking as they healed up over the following 3-4 weeks !  

Those that argue humans are somehow elevated above animals have not been exposed
to enough "humanity".

---

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NAML

[tonyk375]

What Heckman did to all the equipment in Hill City was a horrible shame except for the fact he held on to it all for so long.  A lot of the engines and streamliner cars hid there when other equipment was being cut up.    I remember when the the CHS came and got the C&S stuff.  By then there was a demand and he was selling stuff because there was enough money in the demand.  Probably the only reason he was fired up about losing the C&S stuff.

the 911 on a snowy day in 1987 across from my office.  It was about as snowy a couple of days ago when I drove by that exact spot.


And the #9 after it arrived in Silver Plume.

But at least they survived.

[Jason Rose]

Here's another Semper Fi.

I read this forum almost every day. It's nice to know I'm in such good company.