Back yard projects. We've all got 'em. Labor-intensive and perhaps expensive jobs that will need to get done at some point. Such is the case at Connecticut's Valley Railroad. You are looking at Valley Railroad #97 (ex Birmingham & Southeastern), a 1923 Alco 2-8-0, which has been active on this popular tourist line for over 40 years. At the end of the 2010 season, her FRA Form 4 Boiler Certificate expired, and she was taken out of service. With the newly rebuilt SY #3025 coming on line just a year later, and her stablemate Mikado #40 rapidly approaching the end of her own boiler certification. the Valley Railroad crew had some decisions to make. It was determined that 40 was in much better shape than 97, so the focus for the near term had to be the 40. The 40 is currently receiving some heavy maintenance on her running gear, and when her Form 4 expires in 2014, the boiler inspection will be done shortly thereafter.
So what will become of 97? Eventually, she will be rebuilt. Unfortunately, she needs much more than just a boiler inspection. This locomotive has not had any heavy maintenance in a very long time, so she needs a thorough overhaul. For the time being, the 97 has been parked on the display track at the entrance to the Essex Yard, where you see her in this photo. In early 2012, some preliminary survey work was done on her by the Valley crew, in order to get a rough idea of the scope of repairs that will be required. As time permits, the crew will develop a plan, and when the priority work on 40 is done and the funds have been allocated, the rebirth of 97 will begin. No time constraints have been announced for this project. Suffice it to say that 97 will likely be greeting visitors here at the entrance to the yard for a few years to come.
