GSMR #1702

[back10506]

Those generator cabooses they have are hideous. I really wish they would get an old baggage car and convert that for use as a generator car. The look of the trains would be much more uniform.

[yq190fan]

@borderailAROK Thanks! I'll be sure to look for that album.

[nsman06]

@TubaFreak1989 Hey man just in case you havent heard yet GSMR just bought a Swedish steamer B&ML 1149. She is a high drivered 4-6-0 and still has all of her Swedish couplers. So it sounds like maybe this year of 2011 will mean a semi revival of steam at GSMR.

[288jh]

HAAAAAA lol im good friends wwith one of the conductors... 722 is more likely to be restored than her! :'(

[Strasburg1991]

@TubaFreak1989 how do you know itll be 2010? shes still in pieces

[kenjr29mfl]

Great video. Hopefully they will restore her.

[TRR12fan]

Great Video! I sure do miss her.

[goldcoastflyer]

Dufus its state owned

[yq190fan]

@goldcoastflyer GSMR is actually owned by a group called American Heritage Railways. Yes, it was originally state-owned, but AHR took over in 1999-2000.

[SR722]

Steam was the railroad's big money-maker, and without it, the GSMR's ridership has dropped significantly. Hopefully someone will get the money to bring the 1702 back.

[TNtrainboy15]

Poor 1702 and 722. Both great steam locomotives having to sit in slumber until someone willing to rebuild them will wake them up.

[ncrailfan]

Great work man! gota love that PS4 whistle.

[yq190fan]

Thanks! I wish she was still running.

[EmSTrO7x3]

@yq190fan

Me Too

[traintownofcowee]

Sadly its prolly not gonna return this year either. Im an employee of GSMR and Im at the shops often. Rumors are of purchasing another steamer instead and/or getting help from the state.

[yq190fan]

I hate that for you guys. I'm sure a lot of folks and you all miss the steam.

[MarkConductor775]

@traintownofcowee What's the story behind 1702 and its non-op?

[dude12ify]

they should buy one of the steam engines that is owned by the grand canyon railway. since they stop there steam program anyways

[yq190fan]

You're right that they run both trips, but the Tuckaseege River excursion only ran about 12 times in 2009.

I haven't heard or read anything on 1702 returning in 2010, however.

[EmSTrO7x3]

Why was steam engine # 1702 removed from service?

[yq190fan]

1702 is out of service awaiting boiler and firebox work. Their last concern as of present it returning steam to te rails.

[litespd56]

I didn't realize that 1702 was out of comission. I was a fireman, and later an engineer on 1702 when it was owned by the FEVR RR in Nebraska. I spent a LOT of weekends in the cab of that locomotive, and have MANY fond memories of it. For the person asking about the whistle...I don't know what the original whistle that it had was. We had a member of FEVR that had a steam loco whistle collection, and we ran several different whistles on it...it even had a whistle from a UP Big Boy on it once.

[traintownofcowee]

The original whistle was removed and is owned by the original founders of GSMR I believe.

[dgmarklin]

I've heard that rumor too but last time I saw she was still sitting bare in the yard, far from a steam-up. I know GSMR has been having some rough times, all railroads are currently. They stopped running trains out of Dillsboro except for "Fall Colors" season. I love that railroad, that locomotive, and the people that run that place.

[amtrak101]

why did they put a hancock steamboat whistle on her? and does anybody know what her original whistle was?

[yq190fan]

This whistle was supposed to be a replica of a Southern Ps-4 whistle. Her old whistle was a 5-chime of some sort. Also, there is another whistle in my video I can't identify.

[50B114D]

Thanks for posting, nice vid. The 1702 was always one of my favorites. She last operated in the Fall of 2004. GSMR is in bad economic shape due to the economy and returning the 1702 to service is the last of their concerns.

[yq190fan]

I hyaven't heard anything like that. I sure do hope so, though.

[traintownofcowee]

Thanks for posting this video. I myself work for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and it kills me to see our steamer out of service. Thanks for posting to show everyone its golden years on GSMR. We all miss 1702 and hope someday she will return to service.

[yq190fan]

Thank you very much, traintownofcowee. I'm glad you like the video. I just wish I had more footage of 1702.

[SouthernRR4501]

I hope so too, you will probably get more riders.

[Conrail6370]

Nice Video, Nice Locomotive too.

Len.

[yq190fan]

Thanks. I agree that 1702 is one great engine. Too bad she's been out of service since about 2005.

[NS9647]

Yeah. She's been out for about 5 years. Sad.