THE SAGA OF STEAM ENGINE #39
This is the story of an iconic steam engine that was created at the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Junita Shops in June of 1929. The locomotive was one of the last models of the popular C-5 Class, a C-5s. The engine, a 4-6-0 locomotive built for the demanding service on the Long Island RR. Engine #39 served Long Islanders from 1929 through 1955 pulling passenger as well as freight consists on all of the branches of the LIRR.
In 1955, Engine #39 along with Engine #35 participated in the “Operation Changeover” end of steam ceremony at Hicksville. The LIRR – under the auspices of the parent organization at the time – The Pennsylvania Railroad – had decided to move to an all electric and or diesel fleet. The two steam engines were donated one each – to Nassau and Suffolk – to serve as historical artifacts for each county.
At this point, Engine #39 found its way to a static display at the Stony Brook Museum. Number 39 was sighted at the entrance to the museum and was a very popular exhibit for the next twenty years.
In 1980 a group headed by Joseph Paul Ratti & Ron Ziel and named ‘The Steam Locomotive 39 Preservation Fund, Inc. took possession of the engine and had it moved to the railyards at Riverhead, L.I. The dedicated group of volunteers worked tirelessly and actually made progress in bringing the engine back towards working order. Time and circumstance made it more and more difficult to realize the long desired success of the restoration. By 1993, the Preservation Group was disbanded and the partially completed engine along with the assets of the Committee were placed in limbo with the New York State Supreme Court.
Also in 1993, a newly formed group – The Railroad Museum of Long Island was awarded ownership of Engine 39 along with all the rolling stock, equipment and supplies of the former non-profit. Realizing that fact that “Times Were A changing”, The Railroad Museum of Long Island Execs and Board of Trustees decided to enter into a deal with the Strasburg RR Org. of Pennsylvania to have that organization complete the restoration of Engine #39. As an important part of the deal, Strasburg would obtain the use of the engine on their railroad for and extended period of time before it would eventually return to Long Island it would serve as an operational – though static demonstration piece. The key piece to the RMLI / Strasburg Agreement lies in the fact that ‘RMLI RETAINS OWNERSHIP OF ENGINE #39 THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. In actuality, once the engine is restored and added to the units on the Strasburg RR, RMLI will be receiving leasing fees that will be adding to our financial bottom line her on Long Island.
As an aside, we have had an excellent relationship with Strasburg as they previously restored our operational HP Porter Steam Engine #1 which returned to L0ng Island in 2019 following a four year restoration in Pennsylvania. (This steam engine may be seen in local parades, at special events and as a functioning exhibit at our Riverhead Center.)
So – WHAT MAY THE FUTURE HOLD FOR ENGINE #39???
Once the unit is restored and operational, it will join the fleet servicing guests at the Strasburg Railroad for several decades. During that time – RMLI as a well known provider of ‘Bus Trips” to such places as The York Model RR Event, or trips to the Essex Steam Train and Steamboat Program in Connecticut – the plan would be to set up ‘Special Trips” to ride behind our Beautiful Engine #39 on Special Long Island Appreciation Days as we ride the steam train to Paradise in Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
Once the established contract for restoration and usage by Strasburg has been satisfied, we would bring the unit back to Long Island with the plan have it become a Static Display – probably at our Greenport Museum where we may be able to provide an appropriate engine house in conjunction with the ‘in place’ steam powered turn table. Since to engine will still be operational, we would be able to power up and move to and from the engine house and onto the turn table to serve as an operational exhibit.
OUR ULTIMATE GOAL – TO HAVE ENGINE #39 AS A PRIMARY EXHIBIT FOR THE AMERICAN TRI-CENTENNIAL IN 2076!