Say it isn't so: retiring George

I heard that my favorite engine George is going to be retired and ran for the last time this past weekend. George is my favorite locomotive at the park. I always looked forward to the Holiday weekends becasue I knew they would be running it. With its awesome bell, and awesome green color it is an amazing machine. Hopefully they will keep it and but it on display like they did with Albert.

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Dan Haverlock
"How do you own disorder?"

Title of the thread sounds familiar! LOL;)

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http://www.magnummania.com
jerry@magnummania.com
*** This post was edited by Magnum "Candy" Man 10/4/2002 3:12:03 AM ***

Indeed, it is so, though it saddens me greatly to say. The short form is that current legislation prohibits the public operation of riveted boilers unless operated by specifically licensed persons, effective October first of 2002. Though this was primarily aimed at the amateur operation of poorly maintained steam tractors, the law does in fact apply to Cedar Point as well. Unless repealed, or the park gets an exception or licensed operator, George will sit.

Ironically, George is the newest engine (1947) as well as the largest, most powerful, and generally coolest. Judy and Myron are much older, though they (and Ward Kimball) were outfitted with new (welded) boilers from Shop Services during the 1990s.

What worries me the most is what will be the fate of the rest of the CP & LE RY? It would be a shame for a family park with "Something for everyone" to loose one of the few rides that truly everyone can participate in.

I'm proud to have ridden behind George during his last run. It was very sad to hear the host at Frontier town say "This is the last green train of the evening", and even sadder to hear at Funway "This is the end of your ride, and everyone must exit". I think they may have said more than they knew.

I can only hope that the park has the foresight to give blessings and cooperation to the local effort to put the CP & LE on the National Register of Historic places. It would be a fitting tribute to the long legacy of rail roading at the Point.

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- Raptor Dave

Why all the gloom and doom Dave? Just because they can't use one engine doesn't mean one of the park's most popular rides will go away. Furthermore, if what you describe is true, perhaps they can get someone licensed to run that engine.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

...or dare I suggest the alternative, that of replacing the boiler with a welded boiler...

I suppose this all goes back to that accident at the Medina County Fair last summer. Question: Does Ohio law not already require licensed boiler operators? Personally, I have often thought it interesting that Cedar Point would have three steam locomotives in current test and current licensure when they only run two trains...it just seems like an unnecessary added expense...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Agreed on both of Jeff's counts.

"A" doesn't follow "B" directly, and George being side tracked doesn't imply the removal of the ride. However, a recent Register article covering the possibility of national registry also mentions one individuals concern that the rail road may be being considered for removal. I'm not saying "It's going", I'm saying "don't take it for granted".

As to licensing (or even welding) anything is possible. Let's hope for a CP miracle!

Licensure has been required for boiler operation, but this is different. This is a more specific license, kind of like a CDL is specific to a type of vehicle.

Keep in mind that though the engines do have some new parts, they're not new and steam is an entire world unto itself. It's not like Magnum where you have a pile of spare wheels and a few carrier bearings in case something wears out. If you develop a problem with the valve train or a slide rail, you have to wait for or build a new part. If you need reliable up time with two trains, you'll need a third engine. Even with the excellent maintenance of CP, things wear and it takes time to get them renewed. Anyone intimate with steam operations (like Steam Town) can attest to this. Probably the most cost effective way for the park to keep enough spare parts to stay operating is in the form of an operational locomotive.

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- Raptor Dave

Excellent point. Which begs the question...

Does CP have a third locomotive with a welded boiler?

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Yes, "Ward Kimball" (AKA the Disney engine) has a welded boiler. It is in the style of the late Maude L, meaning it has an integral tender. As such, it has a particularly long wheel base (even longer than Maude's), and may have difficulty negotiating the torturous curves of the line. It is possible to cut the locomotive down, and this may be what they do if they are serious about running it (and actually keeping it on the track). The only snag here is that there may be other problems with Ward that aren't as obvious.

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- Raptor Dave

Geez, I remember waiting in line for MF that weekend and watching them transferring off George. Little did I know the sadness of that moment.

Does anyone have a good picture of George? I snapped one that day but I'm missing the very back of the engine, so in my picture it says "orge R."

On a somewhat related note, Myron Hetrick, the man whom the "Myron H." was named for, passed away on October 3. He worked as a railroad superintendent for the CP&LE for 19 years.

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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

Interesting.

What do you know about Mr. Hetrick?
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- Raptor Dave

...for instance, do you know which 19 years, or in what year Myron H. was named for him?

--Dave Althoff, Jr.