Hanging out with an "honorary" steam engine. Tremont & Gulf #30 sits at the depot in Rusk, Texas with her photo freight, sharing the yard with one of the Texas State Railroad's diesel-electric locos. TSR #7 is a 1947 Alco RS-2, which is a type that has a propensity to smoke profusely when the throttle is opened, and is therefore worthy of being designated an "honorary" steam locomotive. Back in their heyday, the RS-2s even carried a "fireman." The Texas State Railroad rosters a total of 8 locomotives, including 4 steamers and 4 diesels. At the moment, the only active steamer is the Tremont & Gulf #30, which normally operates as TSR #400. The next loco in line for restoration to service is a beefy 2-8-0 Consolidation which operates as TSR #300. That locomotive needs a 1,472 Service Day Inspection, but is otherwise intact and ready to go. Two other steamers, a 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler, and a 4-6-2 Pacific, which are TSR #201 and TSR #500 respectively, are both currently in pieces and represent longer term projects.
Not
just heritage schemes, not just commemorative schemes - this album is devoted to some of the world's most interesting paint schemes, past or present.
