Steam & Preservation

Contemporary mainline steam excursion operations, museums, tourist railroads. Learn about restorations, talk about techniques, and discuss the future of railroad museums. If you're new here, please read our forum policies.

Last post 04-27-2008 8:14 AM by lrfogle. 11 replies.
Rate:
Sort Posts:
Page 1 of 1 (12 items)
01-27-2008 1:51 AM
Offline BurlingtonJohn
Not Ranked
Joined on 01-29-2001
US
Posts 120

Mark Twain Zephyr on the move

Courtesy of the EJ&E and Illini Railists, the Mark Twain Zephyr is on the move as of Thursday, 24 January.  While no specific routing to Granite City is posted, I humbly submit that it would be a dream come true if it could move south on the old CB&Q K Line from Burlington Iowa to St. Louis.

Regards & Everywhere West,

Burlington John

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1027853
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1027863
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1027868
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1027871
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1027880
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1027837
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1027896

01-28-2008 7:20 PM In reply to
Offline lrfogle
Not Ranked
Joined on 12-26-2001
Posts 31

Re: Mark Twain Zephyr on the move

Sure wish we at Creston could have offered more so that route would be down the "main line"!  Thanks for the great photos!
01-30-2008 11:32 AM In reply to
Offline vsmith
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on 12-20-2001
Smoggy L.A.
Posts 9,328

Re: Mark Twain Zephyr on the move

If they are considering restoration to operational stauts, then they should plan now to get the crews currently working on the Flying Yankee restoration to work on this one once the Yankee is finished. This should be a very similar project. Depends how complete the set is. 
01-30-2008 9:11 PM In reply to
Offline bobbygreg
Not Ranked
Joined on 11-04-2003
Posts 19

Re: Mark Twain Zephyr on the move

I am curious, I remember years ago seeing it in the  park where the Old Threshers Reunion is held in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. That was back in the sixties,  where has it been after it was removed from there?   If I remember correctly it looked rough even back then.  Thanks.
01-31-2008 12:33 PM In reply to
Offline DMUinCT
Top 500 Contributor
Joined on 11-27-2006
Southington, CT
Posts 956

Re: Mark Twain Zephyr on the move

  It's For Sale !

www.railmerchants.net   fourth item down, click for full details

02-02-2008 7:08 PM In reply to
Offline KayBee
Not Ranked
Joined on 07-23-2006
Goochland, VA. USA
Posts 7

Re: Mark Twain Zephyr on the move

From the Railmerchants.net site:

"Plans are under consideration to move the historic trainset to milepost 256 on the CB&Q Chicago to Denver mainline at Fairfield, Iowa. There it would be displayed and made more accessible to potential buyers."

If anyone finds out where it went please tell!

02-10-2008 7:15 PM In reply to
Offline EJE818
Top 500 Contributor
Joined on 01-19-2003
Joliet, IL
Posts 1,591

Re: Mark Twain Zephyr on the move

It is going to Granite City, IL to be restored and put on display at a new railroad related park there.
02-11-2008 10:08 AM In reply to
Offline DMUinCT
Top 500 Contributor
Joined on 11-27-2006
Southington, CT
Posts 956

Re: Mark Twain Zephyr on the move

 Remember, The Flying Yankee is being restored for operation.
03-17-2008 1:13 PM In reply to
Offline dkparks
Not Ranked
Joined on 07-26-2006
Posts 10

Re: Mark Twain Zephyr on the move

Don't know when it arrived but I noticed over the weekend it is now sitting in the yard in Madison, IL. You can see it coming off the overpass on Route 203 on the east side. It is in the same yard as the passenger cars that are for sale. (Sorry I don't remember the name of the business).

It appears that they have the lead unit in the work building. I will keep an eye open and if I can get some pictures, I will post them.
04-06-2008 10:38 AM In reply to
Offline Steve Hughes
Not Ranked
Joined on 01-23-2005
Posts 6

Re: Mark Twain Zephyr on the move

Thanks so much for this info & photos.  20 years ago when I lived in Kansas City I was taking my son to the zoo in Swope Park and took a short cut though a little industrial park, Ford's Crossing, I think.  To my total surprise I saw the *** Joe, Becky Thacher, Huck Finn, & Tom Sawyer sitting next to some industrial building.  No one was around so I stopped & climbed aboard.  The diesel engine was still in the power car & all the stainless steel siding was intact though the steel screws were rusting away.  I am sure I have some photos of it somewhere.  How I wished it could have been displayed at KC's Union Station but that building had not yet been restored.  After I left KC I learned the owner of the train set had died & his estate had sold it for a restaurant in Chicago.  I am not certain of all those reports, but I do remember seeing this wonderful trainset.  I hope where ever she goes, she will receive better care & be properly preserved.  Please continue to keep us posted on the progress on the Mark Twain!  stevehughes@centurytel.net

04-07-2008 4:35 PM In reply to
Offline LineBear
Not Ranked
Joined on 04-07-2008
Posts 1

Re: Mark Twain Zephyr on the move

The thing that bothers me is that the "Effie Dean" appears to have never existed and was never a part of the consist.  (See  http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1027868 ) 

My theory on this mysterious car is that it appears to me to be the original Pioneer Zephyr car 500, which was on display with the Mark Twain Zephyr consist when it was sitting in vandalized neglect at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.  As to when or even why it acquired the name "Effie Dean", I have no idea.

04-27-2008 8:14 AM In reply to
Offline lrfogle
Not Ranked
Joined on 12-26-2001
Posts 31

Re: Mark Twain Zephyr on the move

Heard a rumor that one or two of the Zephyr trains were purchased and moved to the Middle East some time ago.  Wonder if that is true and if so, where and who has them?  Are they being used? 
Page 1 of 1 (12 items)
Copyright © 2009 TRAINS.COM
Powered by Community Server (Commercial Edition), by Telligent Systems
Subscriber and Member Login
E-mail Address:
Password:
Remember me
My Profile
Screenname: (get your screenname)
Search Community
in