Grizzly Flats 1st Steam Up date

[Pullman]

I am sure some one knows the answer here. Need the info for a piece I am writing on the #2.

It was 1942, but what was the date for the first official steam up of the Emma Nevada at the Grizzly Flats Railroad?

Of course there are photos of the event we have seen...

Thanks in advance,

Roger

[Steve DeGaetano]

The article on Ward in the book Great Toy Train Layouts states that "By 1943, the engine was completely restored to its original condition." Nothing further.

Nothing turns up in The E Ticket magazines.

In John Kimball's "For Ward" to my book on the Ward Kimball, he writes that the backyard railroad was featured in a Life magazine article in 1944. Maybe you could dig that up? It was the April 10 issue. I know trains Magazine did at least one article in the 1980s, but I wouldn't know which year or issue.

Sorry...that's all I got.

[Varnish Car]

The Trains February 1982 issue mentions the 1943 completion date of the restoration and also references a January 1942 issue that had an 8 page article on Ward and Emma. I also have a 1946 issue of Mechanix Illustrated with an article on the Grizzly Flats (and a great color cover photo of Emma under steam) that also mentions Ward purchasing the loco in 1938, but no specific date for the first steam up.

[Unfortunate Bystander]

The April 10, 1944 issue of Life Magazine has been preserved on Google Books. It states that Ward bought the locomotive in 1938 and then worked on it for three years. It mentions boiler testing in the SP shops soon after purchase.

https://books.google.com/books?id=8VAEA ... 22&f=false

[Unfortunate Bystander]

The August 1947 issue of Popular Mechanics has been preserved on Google Books. It states that Ward worked two years to change Emma's appearance and put her boiler into shape.

https://books.google.com/books?id=1t8DA ... &q&f=false

[Steve DeGaetano]

Could this date have been lost to history? Perhaps not noted? I wonder if John Kimball has any information.

[Pullman]

Here is what I have found:

First Steam Up was May 22, 1943. From a trusted source.

First Visit by Walt as Chief Engineer was November 20, 1945. This date came from Broggie's book, page 59.

From what I could find, Ward would fire up the locomotive on occasion, but some of his neighbors in San Gabriel were not crazy about the coal smoke generated by even the 500 foot railroad.

Thanks all!

Roger

[Locoboy5150]

From what I could find, Ward would fire up the locomotive on occasion, but some of his neighbors in San Gabriel were not crazy about the coal smoke generated by even the 500 foot railroad.

Dang NIMBYs have been around for a *long* time!

[Bruce R Pier]

Which is why Chloe became the motive power of choice, being a wood burner and all........

[Unfortunate Bystander]

As a follow-up to the two magazine articles I referenced above it's interesting to note that the June 9, 1956 edition of the 'Grizzly Flats Gazette' states:

The first locomotive on the road was #2, which was acquired in 1938 and completely restored during the following six years, to its original appearance.

Presumably written by Ward or Jerry Best or one of the family...

---john.