Part 2 -- V&T Railroad: The Ed Gallegos Show, Virginia and Truckee #29

This video from Virginia City is Part II of the Ed Gallegos Show, this for some is one to skip, it starts out strong with Ed talking about steam, then you really have to like steam locomotives to watch the rest. It shows him lubing and greasing the locomotive (V&T #29) and explaining things along the way. In each video Ed spazzes out at least once, and in this video he does not disappoint.

About a year ago I met Ed Gallegos for the start of his workday at the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. The audio can get a little scratchy because Ed was wearing my cheapo wireless electret mic -- in a couple shots you can see this piece of technology clipped on his pants. Ed is the fireman and hostler for the Virginia and Truckee Railroad's #29 steam locomotive. He can be seen in other videos firing the V&T #29 up the hill from Carson City.

Some of these shots may be included in the upcoming Unauthorized Biography of the Virginia and Truckee Railways. I started out planning a standard railfan video of all the footage I've taken over the last couple years related to the V&T Railroad (the real one) and the poseur government project known as the Nevada Commission to Reconstruct the Virginia and Truckee Railway. Whatever the final form is, it will be shot all in HD, available on Blu-Ray and it will also be available on letterbox DVD.

Ed's a crackup, he goes through the pre-run lubrication, starts the fire, builds pressure and gets this old steam locomotive ready for another days work on the Virginia and Truckee Railroad.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• virginia
• truckee
• railroad
• railway
• reconstruction
• fireman
• lube
• fire
• steam
• boiler
• tender
• water
• blower
• atomizer
• oil
• ed
• gallegos
• railfan
• video
• locomotive
• train
• engine

[virginiatruckee]

Wait a couple hours, I am now posting the news report showing when #8 was moved to Gold Hill, I will only leave it posted a short time and then I will pull it down.

I also have video showing #8 in Gold Hill I will post that later tonight. I have covered most of the story. John Tyson, V&T Commissioner, would like to be able to run #8 on the commission tracks but so far has not gained any traction on this idea.

[virginiatruckee]

But I have spoken to a few life members of the real FRSL who say there was never a vote, they were never consulted about taking the locomotive to NV.

The FRSL, under Tyson, has never filed any paperwork with NV Sec of State and therefore cannot enter a contract or raise money until they get re-instated in CA and file in Nevada.

I know the original FRSL members would like to see #8 return to Plumas county but they have taken no action after a few years. So I think the status quo is it stays.

[virginiatruckee]

when Boynton took the locomotive from Plumas County to the V&T. #8 was given by Plumas County Fairground Commission to the original Feather River Short Line non-profit, formed in 1958. The members were never consulted about the locomotive leaving CA and the Fairgrounds Commission put a condition that it not leave Plumas County.

Boyton ran it for the V&T, when he passed away Michael Tackett took over caretaking it. Then before Tackett died he asked John Tyson to handle it. wait for more details.

[virginiatruckee]

These questions require a much longer answer than I can provide in comments. Briefly, the real Feather River Shortline is a non-profit corporation in California. It's current status is suspended, according to the CA Sec of State website. John Tyson is the acting head of FRSL, and he told me FRSL had been reinstated in CA, but it's apparently not true. FRSL cannot engage in any business activity while they are suspended. There's a long history about a dispute with the Portola museum years ago...

[SierraRailway]

Ah, but where was the 8 supposed to stay? Does the FRSL still exist physically? I've never heard of it still operating or anything. Do you think the engine will ever return to the FRSL?

[virginiatruckee]

It did run when the V&T turned it back over to the new leaders of the Feather River Shortline. Never mind that the original members of FRSL were never consulted, that's a long story too. In theory the 8 was never supposed to leave Quincy / Plumas County. The V&T did only use it, you're correct they never owned it. The Feather River Shortline people (John Tyson) took it to Gold Hill and shrink-wrapped it. One correction, this video must be from before 2009 because #8 has spent two winters...more

[SierraRailway]

But does the engine still run? Is it the legal action that keeps the V&T from using it? It was just used on the V&T for excursions wasn't it? The V&T never owned it did they?

[virginiatruckee]

... he has pieces of the boiler and opinions from FRA people that the damage wasn't what the FRSL claimed. Rather than reopen legal action, the V&T honored an agreement, did a lot repairs and returned #8 to the rogue leader of FRSL, V&T Commissioner and media personality John Tyson.

Then, more recently, Kim Fegert, supposedly the Chief Mechanical Officer of FRSL, showed up at a Commission meeting and made several claims about damage to #8. He even said people died from the negotiations. Right!

[virginiatruckee]

For your first question, I forget exactly, I think it was early in the 2009 season, as you note, before FRSL #8 was sent down to Gold Hill and repainted.

For your second question, you have really asked a whopper. It depends who you ask as to the answer. Before Tom Gray came onboard, there was supposedly a low-water incident, there was legal action and the V&T agreed to do a lot of repairs. People continue to beat up the V&T over this.

At the same time Tom Gray has evidence to the contrary...

[SierraRailway]

How long ago was this shot? It looks like the 2-6-2 #8 is still in the engine house. Now its down at Gold Hill. BTW, what happened to the 8 that made the Grays stop running her?