Glenbrook's front office. An NSRM Engine Crew poses for a portrait in the cab of the newly restored, narrow gauge locomotive "Glenbrook". In the left seat, keeping the fires burning and the steam pressure up, is museum volunteer (and RP Contributor) Nick Hovey. At the throttle this day is fellow volunteer Kyle Ketten. Throughout this day, these two young gentlemen periodically shuttled the locomotive and its short train back and forth between the north and south ends of the yard, providing cab rides for museum visitors and photo opportunities for enthusiasts like me.
Built in 1875, this engine came from an era when railroad locomotives were still treated like works of art....and this one is no exception. In the case of Glenbrook, the museum staff chose to preserve as much of the original fabric of this engine as possible, while still having a fully-functioning locomotive, that should easily be capable of passing an FRA Form 4 inspection, with a few additional modifications. Instead of replacing her boiler completely, as has been done on some other recent restorations, significant portions of the original boiler, notably the firebox section, were preserved. Interestingly, this engine was originally built with cross-head water pumps, and she still sports an operational one on the Engineer's side.....the only one I have ever seen on a working steam locomotive.
