Preservers of the Historic Ma & Pa Railroad
Preservers of the Historic Ma & Pa Railroad
The journey of Ma & Pa locomotive No. 82 to Muddy Creek Forks ends...
The descent into High Rock is straight but steep. In heavy rain the truck with No. 82 on board crept down the hill at a walking pace.
The following day as we prepared to unload the locomotive onto the track, it was raining again. The truck was pulled to the north side of High Rock Road to make room for the cranes to set up over the track.
With cranes in place and the locomotive trucks already in place on the rails, No. 82 was pulled into position parallel to the track. With continuing rain, the traffic of heavy vehicles was churning High Rock into a sea of mud.
By noon everything was ready. No. 82 was lifted from the truck and slowly lowered towards its trucks.
Maneuvering a locomotive hanging by cables from two cranes to precisely align the body with the trucks proved to be a challenge. But after about 20 minutes, and several abortive attempts, the truck and body bolsters slid together and No. 82 was safely on the track.
The rain stopped, the trucks and cranes packed up to go home, and Society volunteers set to work to reconnect the brakes, speedometer cable, and side bearing clips. By late afternoon No. 82 was ready to move, and the Society's 18-ton Plymouth was ready to pull her to Muddy Creek Forks. The Plymouth performed admirably in moving her 124-ton sister and did not need the help of the Burro Crane that was added to the train consist just in case additional motive or braking power was needed.
Parked at the station platform in Muddy Creek Forks, No. 82 looked right at home despite the fact that 27 years had passed since her last visit.
Appearing to pass the store and station platform in Muddy Creek Forks, No. 82 recreates a scene not seen since the original station platform was removed in 1954. After a year and a half of preparation, and 46 days after beginning her journey in Thomasville, No. 82 had reached her new home.
By the end of June No. 82 will join caboose 2007 on a new siding currently being constructed by Society volunteers. The switch is finished and operable, the west rail for the siding is spiked in place, and spiking of the east rail and ballasting and tamping are in progress. Here No. 82 will be easily accessible for restoration and display.
all photos unless otherwise noted are by Craig Sansonetti