Working Up a Head of Steam : History Buffs Hope to Get Old Locomotive Running Again

Almost 100 years after it helped conquer the West, a 75-ton “iron horse” is on its way to being reborn.

The Mogul-class steam locomotive, built in 1900, might well have been rusting in some weedy field by now.

Instead, the Mogul--which made the run from Yuma, Ariz., through California to Portland, Ore., for the Southern Pacific railroad in the early part of the century--may be chugging down the track again.

The Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society is pouring much of its time and money into refurbishing No. 1629 in hopes of laying down track and running it as a tourist attraction at the Heritage Junction Historical Park in Newhall.

In their wildest dreams, historical society members see her on the main line--the same track on which the Metrolink runs.

But that day may be a long way off. The history buffs are short of money and manpower and will have to struggle to meet their goal of having the engine operational by November 2000, 100 years after it was built in Schenectady, N.Y.

Slowing them down is the $150,000 cost, governmental red tape and disagreement within the historical society.

Some of the society’s members question putting so much of their money into making an old locomotive run again. They would prefer a “static display,” letting it just sit in the sun to be admired.

But the group of volunteers who donate their Sundays to the train’s restoration say a steam locomotive--especially one that moves--is as important as any of the historical structures that the society has preserved.

“A static-display train is not a real train,” said Bob Bennett, one of the volunteers, who works in railroad salvage and says he will keep working on Engine 1629 until it’s pulling cars again.

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“To see a train like this just sitting hurts real railroad people deep in their heart. You’ve got to feel the engine’s power, hear the hiss of the steam, the train’s whistle. It’s a living, breathing piece of history.”

In the Mogul’s heyday, it was oily and black, the knobs and levers unstained. Today, the throttle is copper-colored from rust and the clocklike gauges are cracked.

The breakdown began when Southern Pacific, foreseeing the end of the steam engine era, stopped maintaining the Mogul years before retiring it in 1957.

The engine made a comeback on the silver screen when singing cowboy Gene Autry bought it for use in some of his movies, and it appeared in the television series “Gunsmoke” and “Wyatt Earp.”

After that, it languished for years at Autry’s Melody Ranch in Placerita Canyon until members of the historical society persuaded him to donate it to them in 1981.

The restoration began in 1987, but the work has gone slowly. Fewer and fewer people know anything about steam locomotives. The tools the volunteers needed for repairs don’t exist anymore. They wanted to rebuild the boiler--the most important part of the locomotive--but had to wait until the blankets of dangerous asbestos inside the boiler were removed.

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They did make some strides, such as replacing the throttle valve and overhauling the air compressors, and they are busy rebuilding the boiler.

“We’ve had to consult with experts from all over the country,” said Norman Harris, who oversees the project. “And we’ve received some substantial donations, but in order to stretch the money as far as possible, we’re doing all the work we can with volunteers.”

Harris and his group know that if they don’t do the job right, state and federal regulators won’t let the train move an inch. Before it runs on the Metrolink line, the train would have to be in top shape. In its prime, the Mogul did 54 mph wide open, while MetroLink passenger trains top 80 mph.

The boiler must meet safety and air-quality standards--not an easy feat, considering the Mogul was originally designed to be powered by two sweaty guys pitching coal into a firebox. Harris said the Mogul will eventually run on oil-fired burners.

Some historical society members favor dropping the project because of its cost.

“There is some concern on the board that the project is going to take more funds than we have,” Harris said.

He and his crew aren’t going to worry too much about that now. Harris said he can hardly wait for the day when the boiler is able to build enough steam to sound the six-chime whistle.

“It’s a beautiful sound,” Harris said. “I’ll be able to hear it from my house, sure.”