The Crossett Western No. 10, an Alco 2-8-2T built in 1929, has been idled for its federally mandated inspection, according to Doug Auburg, treasurer and station manager for the Chelatchie Prairie. It last operated on Mother’s Day weekend 2019.
“We hope to have the locomotive back in service sometime next year, though that is completely dependent on what problems they find and how much volunteer labor is available to do that work,” he said.
Auburg says restoration may cost as much as $200,000.
The locomotive’s cab, saddle tank and fuel bunker have all been removed for repair jobs of their own. The lagging has been stripped, while boiler tubes have been removed for testing.
The railroad, which was once the Battle Ground, Yacolt & Chelatchie Prairie, operates on a portion of a 33-mile former Northern Pacific branch line that has been owned since the mid-1980s by Clark County, Wash
No. 10 is an Alco Brooks locomotive built in Dunkirk, N.Y. It was later sold to Hammond Lumber Co., and was retired as a static display in the mid-1960s. Pete Replinger bought the locomotive in 1974, who leased it to the railroad in 2002. Restoration was completed in 2006 and the locomotive pulled its first excursion trains in December of that year.
The GoFundMe campaign has a goal of $50,000. No deadline has been set to reach that goal.
