Feel free to PM me if you want more information than I share here....

info@wrrc.us

The locomotive was cosmetically restored by Wasatch to be installed in a new museum that was being built right where the locomotive sat. The museum, funded mostly by local business leaders and the City of Houston fell apart due to some funding and legal issues related to the property. The legal matters would have cost more to resolve than the net gain impact of the project so the project was scrapped.

The City of Houston is not interested in seeing the locomotive scrapped. They may want it moved and they may need to move it. The city has been good to work with. If the locomotive can have a new home, so be it.

The tender was donated by the City of Houston to the Heber Valley Railroad and yes, we at Wasatch facilitated that move and donation. The UP 618 at HVRR is being converted to burn oil and most of the parts on the 982 tender match those of the tender currently used on 618. The deal was a win-win as the tender or tender parts would be used and not scrapped while the rest of 982 would be in the museum. HVRR is and has been using parts of the 982 tender in the restoration of UP 618 and I have witnessed all of this first hand.

The 982 is in rough shape. It will take a lot to get her road worthy and indeed, she would need a new tender, but that can be solved...

Kindly yours,

John E. Rimmasch
Wasatch Railroad Contractors