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main Cardan driveshaft was rebuilt to original Maybach specs by the successor company, MTU Friedrichshafen. The night before starting, the motor
was properly preheated to bring block temperatures up above 100°F per the manufacturer’s instructions, something not always practiced by the SP. After a few seconds of cranking, the motor issued wisps of white smoke. After a minute and 40 seconds of continued crank- ing, Wise gave the nod to open the fuel racks. The engine barked and coughed, belched a thick puff of gray smoke and brown soot skyward, struggled briefly, and then settled into a rock-steady 680 r.p.m. idle. Cracking open the fuel rack released the mellow sounds of a diesel most had never heard before in their lives. Those who did recall KM sounds said the motor’s music was exactly as
they’d remembered. SP 9010 is now ready for more fine-tuning of the Maybach, after which it will be used to test the operation of the remaining rear Voith hydraulic trans- mission. Wise says it’ll still be a while before the KM is ready to solo down the ten-mile right-of-way of the Niles Canyon Railway, but after half a centu- ry’s slumber, it’s no longer an impossible dream. For more details, visit the project website at
http://sp9010.ncry.org. —BOB ZENK
Texas State Railroad Regroups
The Texas State Railroad Authority announced in mid-February that most of the workers laid off by operator Iowa Pacific Holdings will return to the TSR
in Palestine to prepare for the launch of the regular excursion season at the beginning of March. In December, the board gave IPH a deadline of March 30 to resolve certain issues regarding the operating contract. According to a report in the Palestine Herald-Press, the board would be willing to forgive lease payments and debt in exchange for IPH releasing control of the railroad. The board would then be free to search for a new operator. The Texas State Railroad dates back to
1883, and has been leased by a number of private operators over the years. Iowa Pacific was awarded the contract in 2012, and worked to expand both passenger and freight service. Financial difficulty has forced IPH to renegoti- ate contracts and reconsider operations across the country.
Major Milestone as Maybach Comes Alive
Following years of careful analysis and repair, the forward Maybach 16-cylinder diesel coughed to life for the first time since 1968. Volunteers from the Pacific Locomotive Association celebrated this important milestone on February 14, which will help complete the restoration of Southern Pacific 9010, the sole survivor of a fleet of Krauss-Maffei diesel-hydraulic locomotives built for the SP in the 1960s.
PHOTO BY DEXTER DAY
Steam Double-Header on Grand Canyon
A rare double-header powered by Grand Canyon Railway 2-8-0 No. 29 and 2-8-2 No. 4960 operated for a photo charter organized by Lerro Productions on February 7-8. No. 29, a veteran of the Lake Superior & Ishpeming, operated solo on the first day, then was joined by the ex-Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Mikado for the finale.
PHOTO BY MARK FRANKO
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