The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad (D&GV) now has a third Heisler on their extensive geared engine roster. The locomotive, numbered 2, arrived at the railroad in the week of September 18th, 2023 and was pictured being moved around by Shay No. 2.
The Heisler was built in 1929 for Fisher Lumber Co. in Arkansas. It then traveled to Tennessee before being purchased for tourist service in the 1960s by Robert Johnson for the Dry Gulch & Tombstone Railroad in Virginia. It was then displayed in Alabama by John Tisdale for being brought to his warehouse in West Virginia in 2002. It was recently purchased by Stuart Thayer, who the D&GV acquired it from.
A full operational restoration is planned for the locomotive but no timeline has been given.
No. 2 joins two other Heislers on the railroad. Cass No. 6 was the main power for the Durbin Rocket from 2016 to 2022 and is temporarily out of service in need of maintenance. No. 6 is only two builder numbers away from No. 2. Heisler No. 1607 is stored in Durbin, WV awaiting restoration.
Image from Cass Scenic Railroad Facebook page.
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