Anatomy of the York 17. America's newest steam locomotive, the NCRY #17 "York" pauses in the New Freedom Yard, just prior to being put to bed at around 6PM on a warm summer evening.
Despite having to conform to some rather modern Federal Certification Standards, the York 17 is actually a very reasonable representation of an 1860s-era, wood-burning, 4-4-0 American Locomotive. She was built by the Kloke Locomotive Works in Elgin, IL, and contrary to some stories that are out there, she's not a copy of the Leviathan 63. David Kloke's personal engine (the 63) was built as a copy of the Central Pacific Jupiter, The York, on the other hand, was mostly built as a copy of the Union Pacific 119....with a few modifications. Most notably, the York was built to look like a wood-burner, whereas the 119 is a coal-burner. York also has a strap-iron, cow-catcher pilot that is very typical of an early 1860s, east-coast engine. Both the York 17 and the Leviathan 63 were built with the plans that were created by O'Connor Engineering, for the two National Park Service replicas that exist at the Golden Spike National Historic Site in Utah.
York's concessions to the Code of Federal Regulations include modern Janney Couplers and air brakes. The coupler and air hose on the pilot are the most obvious give-aways that she's a replica. The air pump is located along the running board on the left side of the engine and the brake reservoir is positioned laterally between the first set of drivers. An original 1860s engine would have had the dangerous link & pin couplers and only a hand-brake on the tender. York's front and rear headlights look like oil lamps, but they are in fact electric. Because a steam-powered dynamo would detract from her authentic look, the power is provided by a small gas-powered generator hidden in the back of the tender. York sports crosshead pumps just in front of the drivers on either side, but both are shiny brass fakes. She is equipped with more modern injectors on both sides of the cab. Although she looks like a wood-burner, the York actually burns waste-oil. She makes nice dark plumes for the cameras, but does not shower her passengers with sparks or embers. Her tender holds 600 gallons of fuel, and 2500 gallons of water. She uses about 1/6th the fuel supply and about half the water on her 20-mile excursions at New Freedom. Her cab is equipped with all of the appliances that the FRA now requires of any steam engine, including steam and brake gauges, a speed indicator and dual water glasses.
So while she may look like she belongs in a museum, the York actually incorporates all of the latest safety innovations that a steam engine could have.
