The locomotive behind my logo

I have had a few people ask me what inspired my current logo for my channel. The logo was designed by my good friend and mentor, Rebecca Westmas but the engine behind the logo was inspired by a special machine.

The engine design was inspired by ex. McCloud River Railroad #9 a 2-6-2 prairie engine. The locomotive was built in 1901 by Baldwin Locomotive Works to navigate the tight twisting and temporary tracks of the McCloud River Railroad hauling the large logs to the mills. The locomotive changed hands several times until it was made to run on a tourist railroad called the Kettle Moraine Railroad where it became a star attraction to the line. She was lovingly cared for and restored by my friend, Steven Butler and his family, on their line. After a while suburbia encroached in on the railroad forcing it to shut down, the tracks now part of a rail trail. The engine was stored inside nice and dry until Steven sold the family engine to Jerry Jacobson, founder of the Ohio Central Railroad System and the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum.

This is where I first met the locomotive as I used to work at the museum and it was instant love at first headlight. The frontier style look, the wood cowcatcher and cab and yes even those tiny wheels it all just screamed American railroading. There were times I used to stay late volunteering time to give the engine a good cleaning and polishing. During my tours of the roundhouse I used the locomotive to do cab tours, show how you climb in and out of a cab of a steam locomotive and I would ring that melodious church sounding bell for the guests who seemed to really enjoy it. 

The locomotive is said to be restored one day but for the moment has been given a thorough cosmetic restoration by the expert team and can still be enjoyed by guests to this very day during the tours. 

I do look forward to the day where I can see that engine run and hear its beautiful whistle once more but until then I'm very happy to share its story and of her current home the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum located in Sugarcreek, OH. 

To learn more about #9 and the museum go to www.ageofsteamroundhouse.org.