A colorful tree-tunnel. Valley Railroad Mikado #40 kicks off the final day of steam passenger operations on the Valley Railroad, hauling a string of 7 heavyweights north through a colorful tunnel of fall foliage, just shy of the Old Deep River Road crossing.
The 2020 steam season at Connecticut's Valley Railroad was shorter than normal and much more limited in scope, starting in late June and running through the end of October. Operations were conducted on the weekends only, with trains at substantially reduced capacity to meet state safety guidelines during the pandemic. The 40 was the only active steamer this year, with the 3025 held in reserve, most likely to save the service days on on the latter engine. The 40's Form 4 is much more recent, so she has plenty of service days left. The Valley's other engine, the 97, which underwent a boiler inspection a couple of years back, was in pieces again this year, as the railroad took advantage of the reduced operations tempo to get some much needed work done on her drivers, tires, and other running gear. Even after the boiler inspection got her back up and running, the 97 was still a very tired engine. By the time she emerges from the current work, that will all be changed and the Valley will finally have 3, fully operational steam engines.
