The Columbia River Belt Line Railway #7, aka The Skookum, is being nudged on to the ramp leading to the trailer that will take it to The Niles Canyon Railway in Sunol California. This unique early logging Mallet Locomotive with an even more unique and interesting story, has been plying the rails of the Oregon Coast Scenic Railway for the past few months after being restored by the crews of the OCSR and Roots of Motive Power.
For the next few months, it will be drawing attention at Niles, but that won’t start for a couple of weeks. As I write this, the Skookum and its tender are on the first day of a 3 day, tortured route to Sunol.
This photo depicts a rather unique operation, the use of a steam engine (McCloud River Railway #25) to shove another steam engine up a ramp and on to a trailer equipped with it’s own set of rails. The Chief Mechanical Officer of the OCSR is watching carefully as the driving wheels hit the short wedge. After the locomotive is on the ramp, he will climb into the cab and work the air brakes, so she doesn't roll too far.
