WRC Projects

Wasatch Railroad Contractors is pleased to announce that we will be attending the Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Steam Threshers Reunion scheduled for September 2-6 2010. WRC will be operating 15-inch gauge live steam locomotives.  Additionally, we will officially unveil our new 15-inch gauge Cagney replica riding cars. Our operating display will be located near the exit of the Midwest Central Railroad’s round trip tour of the park grounds. WRC will operate the train daily for the entire event.

Included as part of our display will be:

• Locomotive No. 2, built 1911 (scheduled to operate)
• Locomotive No. 1310, built 1904
• New Cagney replica riding cars Nos. 307 and 435
• 150 feet of track for operating and demonstration
• One vertical boat boiler
• Original 1904-construction Cagney Boiler, dissected for boiler maintenance education.
• PENDING – One additional Cagney Class D locomotive to be offered for sale.

Locomotive No. 1310, a beautifully restored 1904 Cagney Class D locomotive is currently for sale through WRC. WRC has two 15 gauge Steam locomotives for sale, and both can be viewed at the show. Additionally, WRC will showcase an example boat boiler as well as our 1904 boiler that has been dissected for viewing. If you have ever wanted to see first hand a WRC boiler of any of our other products, this is the place! Mention to our staff that you saw this posting and receive a free pair of work gloves… Perfect for operating your favorite steam locomotive!

This appears to be an exciting year for the reunion. The reunion itself is celebrating 60 years and the Midwest Central Railroad is celebrating 50 years. More information about the Old Threshers Reunion can be found at www.oldthreshers.org

See you in four weeks!

Take a look at this at this old photo from the early 1900’s…

This was the Cagney Locomotive Works in Niagra Falls, NY at its prime. They built 12 5/8-inch, 15-inch and 22-inch live steam locomotives and train sets (among other things) and made a real go of it for the first 25 years of the 20th Century. The trains were a world-wide attraction. Locomotives and trains still operate as far away as South America and South Africa, not to mention those still in operation here in the States at zoos, amusement parks, museums, and with private hobbyists.

Now take a look at this…

These photos, though black and white (sepia) were not taken in the early 1900’s. In fact, they were taken just two weeks ago at the WRC shop in Cheyenne, WY. Take a closer look in the right picture, that is not six, but seven (7) 15-inch gauge live steam locomotives in one photo, all of which are either receiving, have received, or will be receiving new ASME “S”-stamped boilers provided by WRC. Not only are we providing the boilers, we are also performing rebuilds, final application, and assembly of a number of these fine machines.

Other Boilers

The 15-inch Live Steam project is not the only project in the shop. The next photo of Swanton Pacific No. 1913’s boiler. Wasatch is building an all new Code boiler for the 1913. It is hoped that this boiler will be out of the shop by mid Winter 2010/2011. Though the new construction is of welded design, it will appear to be original as the customer has requested rivet fascias to be installed along with round corners to preserve the original look of the locomotive.

What about Boats?

Yep, we do that too! Here you see yet another vertical marine boiler, almost completed. Wasatch already shipped a few of these boilers and has orders for an additional 6 boilers of this type.

Boiler Re-cap

That would be a total of ten (10 Cagney Type Boilers) one Swanton Boiler and six Vertical boat boilers, not to mention the other customers we are working with to finalize orders for new boilers. In the world of restoration, 17 total boilers on order, sounds like a growing concern to me!

Future of 15-Inch Steamers

This note does not constitute a formal announcement, merely a teaser. Wasatch has begun full construction two 1911 Replica Cagney Class D locomotives (15 Inch). These new machines will come complete with roller bearings, CAD designed, CNC-machined running gear, code boilers, new safety valves, optional firing methods (propane, coal or fuel oil), complete operators manual, choice of color and finish specifications and much more. Additionally, we have finished two steel replica Cagney Coaches. The entire train set will appear on a new web page we will announce in the next month or so. The finished locomotives will look a lot like this:

If you are interested in seeing WRC and our products, feel free to attend any of the following shows.  We would be happy to meet with you in person.  The 1911 Cagney Class “D” Locomotive will be on display at the hobbyist shows.  We also plan to display our new riding cars as early as fall this year. Please keep in mind that this schedule could change at any time.

Midwest Old Threshers – 2010 Reunion

September 2-6, 2010 – Mt. Pleasant, IA. A large variety of steam powered equipment will be on display. Find out more at www.oldthreshers.org.

Tourist Railway Association, Inc. (TRAIN) – Annual Convention

November 2010 – Alamosa, CO. TRAIN is an organization that represents tourist railroads all over the U.S. www.traininc.org

PENDING – International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA)

November 20-25, 2010 – Orlando, Florida. You can explore the IAAPA web page by visiting www.iaapa.org.

WRC crews have spent a great deal of time in Switzerland working on 141 R 568. During the late 2009 inaugural runs the 568 encountered a few problems. WRC is working to repair such items as the feed water heater system, minor boiler repairs and more. We expect 568 be back out and running for early fall and possible mid summer excursions behind the William Cook Rail Swiss Classic Train. You can see the train and read it’s history here at the Swiss Classic Train web page.

WRC aided the Union Pacific to ensure that No. 844 is ready for it’s long summer season.You can see the 844’s rigorous schedule here at www.upsteam.com.The 844 had it’s driver tires turned this last winter. A great deal of running gear work was also completed during the winter of 2009-2010. No. 844 left Cheyenne last week on April 2, 2010 for a thirty-day tour to Texas and return. WRC wishes the UP all the best on this long trip.