Early last month, I was fortunate to be able to spend 3 days observing, riding and photographing the new "Steam into History" (SIH) operation in New Freedom, PA. This new tourist railroad is operating a brand new, 4-4-0 American Standard, built by the Kloke Locomotive Works in Elgin, IL. The new locomotive designed to look like an 1860s-era wood-burner, and is loosely based on the design drawings developed by O'Connor Engineering back in the late 1970s for the two engines that firm built for the Park Service's Golden Spike National Historic Site. The "York 17" as she is called, is really an oil-burner with air brakes, and all of the other appliances that the FRA now requires.

The new "York 17" runs on a roughly 10-mile stretch of rehabbed track that was historically part of the Northern Central Railway. The excursions operate out of New Freedom and make a round-trip to Hanover Junction, currently using replica coaches leased from another operation. SIH expects to begin taking delivery of some replica coaches of their own beginning this month.

Obviously, the main attraction of this new operation is the beautiful new engine. Quite simply, there is no other tourist railroad with anything like it. An additional draw is the restored depot at Hanover Junction and the rich history of the place. Abraham Lincoln is said to have stopped there on his way to Gettysburg in November of 1863, and the group has Matthew Brady photos that purport to show the man himself standing on the platform. What struck me was just how sharp Brady's photos were. If the bearded gentleman on the platform isn't Old Abe himself, he could fool me.

Here is a small photo album of shots that I took during those three days. Click on the thumbnail images for full-screen views. Check out the link that I put on the Hanover Junction shot to see some of the Brady pics. The guy did some amazing work.

To the photos.

/Kevin