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FREE GUIDE! 600+ TOURIST LINES & MUSEUMS Latest on www.TrainsMag.com • May 2018 the PTC scramble p. 6 End for EMD’s SD40-2 THE magazine of railroading p. 20 West Coast bonanza 9 steam locomotives, 4 states, and tons of fun p. 26 Nevada Northern’s time machine p. 50 Niles Canyon Railway 2-6-6-2T No. 4 near Sunol, Calif. Creating a mainline excursion p. 38 Tourist lines on Class I tracks p. 44 BONUS ONLINE Santa Fe 4-6-2 in Kansas p. 34 CONTENT CODE PG. 3 Interview: Hays Watkins on CSX p. 12 Photos: © William Beecher Jr., 2017. All rights reserved. THE ESSENTIAL LENS COMBO The 10 o’clock news says one more day of blue skies before the weather turns to crud. That clinches it: photographer William Beecher Jr. packs his camera bag with a body and two essential Sigma lenses: the 24-105mm F4 Art and the 100-400mm F5-6.3 Contemporary. “Sigma has produced two winning lenses that have revolutionized and simplifi ed my bag,” says Beecher. “These are my staple, go-to action lenses. I don’t like wasting opportunity or being stuck with the wrong equipment.” Both feature durable, solid construction and optical stabilization for sharp photographs even under the most diffi cult conditions. The Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary telephoto lens is compact and lightweight, and provides the reach and sharpness usually found in larger, heavier lenses. According to Beecher, “This lens will get you where you want to be, with great depth and clarity.” The Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM Art is a high-performance zoom lens designed for high-resolution digital cameras. “This is my everyday, always-on-my-body wide-angle to medium telephoto lens,” Beecher says. “It’s a must-have for every serious railfan photographer.” “The morning shines bright, and the trains are running, putting the 1-2 punch to my advantage. In just a couple hours, I have these great images of an exciting short line, and I’m extremely pleased with the results. Sigma has made this outing a memorable one!” Since 1961, Sigma has developed technologies that enable photographers to capture perfect images. Today, Sigma is a top choice for railfans worldwide. Sigma lenses are handcrafted at our single factory in Aizu, Japan. Lens: Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM Art at 57mm Shutter: 1/800 sec Aperture: f/10 ISO: 400 Lens: Sigma 100-400mm F5.6-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary at 302mm Shutter: 1/640 sec Aperture: f/13 ISO: 400 Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS OS HSM Contemporary Lens HSM Art Lens • Compact size and lightweight ultra-telephoto • Compact size and weight make this a great all- make this lens perfect for travel purpose lens • Built-in Optical Stabilization • Built-in Optical Stabilization • Telephoto with macro functionality • High performance FL-D optics for tack sharp images without distortion • Dual action zoom - push/pull or twist • Multi-layer optical coating for improved contrast • Oversize grip on lens hood and color rendition • Hypersonic motor for fast autofocus performance • Hypersonic motor for fast autofocus performance See our entire line-up at www.sigmaphoto.com SIGMA Corporation of America 15 Fleetwood Court and Follow us Twitter @sigma_photo Ronkonkoma, NY 11779, U.S.A. Facebook.com/sigmacorporationofamerica Tel: (631) 585-1144 The Sigma 24-105 F4 Art lens is available in Sigma, Canon, Sony-A and Nikon mounts. The Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 Contemporary lens is available in Sigma, Can- on and Nikon mounts. Sigma lenses are covered under the Sigma Corp. of America 4-year limited warranty when purchased through a Sigma authorized dealer. WRITE NO. 10 ON THE READER SERVICE CARD Online Content Code: TRN1805 Enter this code at: www.TrainsMag.com/code may 2018 to gain access to web-exclusive content vol. 78, no. 5 news and features FEATURES COVER STORY >> 26 Western steam adventure Nine hot locomotives, 5,000 miles in rental cars, tons of fun David Crosby 34 38 44 A big engine From plans to Not on your track in a small town smoke plumes Tourist lines running Abilene & Smoky Valley Excursion plans die a on freight railroads No. 3415 chufs through 5 miles thousand deaths before face unique challenges of Kansas farmland to please one sees the light of day Steve Glischinski both passengers and volunteers Kelly Lynch Hayley Enoch 50 58 FREE PULLOUT Just deserts In My Own Words: GUIDE>> Nevada Northern thrives Heat, hard labor, Ride this train! on mentoring young and sometimes Your 2018 railroad fun railroaders eager to work a rattlesnake guide to tourist trains on arid railroad delight A student works summers and railroad museums Robert W. Scott on a track gang in Nevada George G. Tate << ON THE COVER One of two operating Mallets in the NEWS U.S., Niles Canyon Railway’s Clover Valley Lumber 2-6-6-2T No. 4 6 News & Photos steams near Sunol, Calif., on July 2, 2017. Photo by David Crosby 11 Don Phillips 16 Fred W. Frailey 12 Interview: Hays T. 18 Brian Solomon Watkins Jr. on CSX 20 Locomotive 26 West Coast bonanza: 22 Technology Nine steam locomotives, 24 Passenger 4 states, and tons of fun 34 Santa Fe 4-6-2 in Kansas DEPARTMENTS 38 Creating a 5 From the Editor mainline excursion 60 Preservation 44 Tourist lines on 62 Hot Spots Class I tracks 64 Ask TRAINS 50 Nevada Northern’s 68 Gallery time machine TRAINS Magazine (issn 0041-0934, usps 529-850) is published monthly by Kalmbach Publishing Co., 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI, 53187-1612. Periodicals postage paid at Waukesha, Wis., and at additional offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to TRAINS, P.O. Box 62320, Tampa, FL 33662-2320. Canada Publication Mail Agreement #40010760. FROM THE EDITOR EDITOR Jim Wrinn ART DIRECTOR homas G. Danneman PRODUCTION EDITOR Angela Pusztai-Pasternak JIM WRINN ASSOCIATE EDITOR David Lassen ASSOCIATE EDITOR Brian Schmidt ASSOCIATE EDITOR Steve Sweeney Flourishing or floundering EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Diane Laska-Swanke SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Scott Krall We celebrate railway preservation in this issue with our SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Drew Halverson focus on tourist railroads and museums. But for every LEAD ILLUSTRATOR Rick Johnson PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Sue Hollinger-Klahn shining triumph, there are still dozens of dismal failures LIBRARIAN homas Hofmann COLUMNISTS Fred W. Frailey, Don Phillips, Brian Solomon out there: uninished restorations, boards in disarray, CORRESPONDENTS Roy Blanchard, Michael W. Blaszak, Al DiCenso, Hayley Enoch, Justin Franz, Steve Glischinski, disappointing visitor experiences, among other concerns. Chase Gunnoe, Chris Guss, Scott A. Hartley, Bob Johnston, David Lester, David Lustig, Bill Stephens Resiliency is one of the hallmarks of leadership. Exhibits fall apart and are CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR Bill Metzger American railway preservation. We have never repaired or replaced. CUSTOMER SERVICE great museums. We have gorgeous restored In railway preservation, as in life, all it phone: (877) 246-4843 steam and diesel passenger and freight takes for evil (rust, closure, scrapping — Outside the U.S. and Canada: (813) 910-3616 Customer Service: [email protected] trains. We have entire railroads thanks to interpret “evil” in the railway preservation Digital: [email protected] the tenacity of impassioned individuals sense as you see it) to lourish is for good Back Issues: [email protected] who didn’t know the meaning of the word people to do nothing. Don’t volunteer, don’t ADVERTISING SALES phone: (888) 558-1544, ext. 625 “stop.” Others have faced adversity and donate, don’t participate, and nothing good email: [email protected] come back stronger than ever based on the will happen. Sadly, rust and neglect never EDITORIAL phone: (262) 796-8776 will of those entrusted with these treasures. take a day of. email: [email protected] he Nevada State Railway Museum, pic- So, once again, my challenge to Trains fax: (262) 798-6468 P.O. Box 1612 tured below and part of Dave Crosby’s West Nation is to look around you and ind the Waukesha, WI 53187-1612 Coast steam tour on page 26, is a good ex- railway preservation challenges that stir SELLING TRAINS MAGAZINE OR PRODUCTS IN YOUR STORE: ample. Heavily damaged by looding in early your soul and ire your imagination. See phone: 800-558-1544 Outside U.S. and Canada: 262-796-8776, ext. 818 2017, it was back and better than ever by the what you can do to make the diference email: [email protected] time Dave got there last summer. Sparkling between lourishing and loundering. Let’s website: www.Retailers.Kalmbach.com jewels like the Inyo steam locomotive attest save more of our great railway treasurers TRAINS HOME PAGE to good people, grit, and determination that before it is too late. Don’t let the rust win. www.TrainsMag.com made it so. KALMBACH PUBLISHING CO. And yet, the struggle continues. Resto- CEO Dan Hickey rations sit uninished or drag out for years. SENIOR VP, SALES & MARKETING Daniel R. Lance Entire operations are at risk for the want VICE PRESIDENT, CONTENT Stephen C. George of good leadership, and in some cases any [email protected] EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Diane M. Bacha VICE PRESIDENT, CONSUMER MARKETING Nicole McGuire ART AND PRODUCTION MANAGER Michael Soliday CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Liz Runyon NEW BUSINESS MANAGER Cathy Daniels RETENTION MANAGER Kathy Steele SINGLE-COPY SPECIALIST Kim Redmond CORPORATE ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Ann E. Smith ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE Mike Yuhas AD SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE Christa Burbank FOUNDER A.C. Kalmbach, 1910-1981 Subscription rate: single copy: $6.99; U.S.