Eureka! There are but a handful of 19th Century, wood-burning 4-4-0 Americans left in existence. Most are stuffed and mounted in museums, but a few are still considered "runners". Nearly all of those only operate on a couple of days per year and they typically don't go anywhere or haul any load. And then, there is Eureka. Privately owned by Attorney Dan Markoff, the 1875-vintage Baldwin you see here is the only 4-4-0 wood-burner of her age that still occasionally hauls wilderness excursions with paying passengers. Although her owner cares for her like a doting father, he also believes she wasn't built to sit in a museum. So, just about every summer, Mr. Markoff puts this little beauty on a flat-bed and takes her to one of the 3 ft. gauge railroads in the American West, most often to the Durango & Silverton. There, she'll run a series of excursions for serious steam enthusiasts and photographers. Unlike most of her contemporaries, Eureka's adventures are limited more by her volunteer crew member's vacation time than by concerns about her age or condition. For although most of Eureka (except for the cab and pilot beam) is original, historic fabric, she's still in very good condition. The TLC she receives from her owner is evident. The little boiler on this engine may be 135 years old, but it's still certified at original operating pressure and as demonstrated in this scene, Eureka can still handle a trainload of folks.
