All of us who enjoy steam railroading in the Pacific Northwest — especially when it was operated at the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad — can rejoice in knowing that steam may soon be returning to that railroad for all to enjoy after a four-year absence.
After a long court battle, which saw action taken against one of the owners of this rare Alco 2-8-2 tank steam locomotive who removed parts off that locomotive without the permission of the other owners, all of those parts have been returned and that will make the locomotive whole again.
Now, because it took some time to restore this locomotive in the first place, it will take awhile to get the parts back on this steam treasure and have it running again, but local Yacolt steam preservationist and majority owner of the locomotive, Jim Styres, is determined to make that happen sooner rather than later.
For myself and everyone else who enjoys steam railroading we would all like to thank Styres and his many supporters who fought the good fight to make sure that this fine historic steam locomotive would someday run again. These efforts are appreciated more than you will ever know.