As to why McCloud wanted it back...in 1996/1997 the McCloud Railway was at its pinnacle. Freight business, while in retrospect was nowhere near enough to ensure the long term viability of the railroad, was still at least decent, enough to keep two full time crews busy. The Shasta Sunset Dinner Train made its maiden voyage in June 1996, and the railroad regained title to the #25. With this background, the management decided it wanted to repatriate a Baldwin diesel as part of this heritage/tourist movement. FRRS purchased at least three Baldwin S-12's from U.S. Steel, primarily to be used as trading stock for other equipment the museum might want. McCloud Railway made the offer and brought the unit home. McCloud also reached a deal to acquire former McCloud River #31 from the Magma Arizona, but transportation costs doomed that deal.

The only serious efforts the McCloud Railway made to bring the unit back into operation came about 1997/1998, after the #25 returned to service. The #30 had been equipped with remote controls during its US Steel days, and McCloud considered returning the locomotive to service and using it on excursion trains along with the #25, with at least some thought given to having the crew aboard the #25 also operate the #30 using the remote controls. I've also heard there was some thought given to constructing some sort of a boxcar-like shell over the unit to disguise what it really was. This never got beyond the planning phase, as by this point the railroad was struggling for its survival due to the massive storm damages suffered in the winter of 1996/1997 and the pending loss of 40-50% of the freight business.

The #30 remains in McCloud and may be sold, or at least placed up for sale, in the near future.

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV