From all of us here at Wasatch Railroad Contractors, we wish you a Merry Christmas! Enjoy the holidays, be safe, and we hope you all have a happy and prosperous New Year.

Shortly after Train Festival 2011, WRC made a quick trip to Benton Harbor, MI to visit Eden Springs Park, home of the legendary House of David Amusement Park. WRC delivered two Cagney locomotives, one to Art Sullivan for his railroad in New York, and the other to Carey Williams for use at the new Eden Springs Park.

John Rimmasch talks with both Art and Carey about their respective locomotives, and Carey gives us a brief history about Cagney locomotives as well as the House of David.

WRC had the opportunity to attend Train Festival 2011 in Rock Island, IL. John Rimmasch had an opportunity to meet other show participants, including locomotive crews from Nickel Plate No. 765, Leviathan No. 63, and Flagg Coal No. 75. We are pleased to present this as our first half-hour episode.

You will note that we get a brief view of the Carey Williams Cagney locomotive at the start and end of this episode. Stay tuned for our next episode which will feature more of this Cagney at its new home in Benton Harbor, MI.

Our next show appearance is planned to be at the 2011 Live Steam Regional Convention (Titled: 7½″ Gauge & Beyond) held at the Hesston Steam Museum. The convention is planned for September 23-25, 2011. You can find more details about the convention at DiscoverLiveSteam.com or a special page on the Hesston Steam Museum website.

This is the conclusion to the Steve Lee Interview. Steve has a project he’s working on, and we’d like your help. Watch the video first to find out the details. When you’ve finished that, click on this link here, or find a new option available under the “Contact Us” menu item.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsN_POg3o_A

John E. Rimmasch, WRC Chief Executive Officer, sits down at the Cheyenne Botanical Gardens for a friendly conversation with Steve Lee who recently retired from the Union Pacific Steam program earlier this year. As Steve is now enjoying retired-life, the main topic is history, ranging from Steve’s late father who was a World War II veteran, to railroading history and historic railroad preservation. With the historic ex-Union Pacific No. 1242 nearby, Steve and John talk a little bit about the history of that locomotive, as well as a few memories of sister locomotive No. 1243 before its placement in the Durham Western Heritage Museum in Omaha, NE.

We are very grateful to Steve for taking the time to sit down with us. We hope you enjoy Part 1 of this two-part series.