IRON MOUNTAIN RAILWAY RUNNING ON STEAM AGAIN

JACKSON -- The St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railway is running on steam again.

Railway officials announced that Engine No. 5 is back in operation after being out of commission for more than a year.

The steam engine's boiler was refurbished last year, and the firebox, valves, brakes and sanders were rebuilt by volunteers Lois Caron and Oliver Groseclose and railway mechanic Jaret Keith.

"It should help with our tours," said Teresa Brown, railway manager. "The steam engine is what everybody comes to see."

The coal-powered engine is one of the few operating in the United States. While it was out of commission, the 1926 Chicago Commuter Cars and the 1945 New York Central coach were pulled by diesel engines.

Rebuilding the engine was no picnic, said Caron, a retired mechanical engineer who helps with maintenance and as an engineer for the railway.

Because many of the steam engine's parts are no longer available, volunteers had to design and fabricate the needed parts themselves, Caron said.

"Since we had no book to go by, no manual to go by, no drawings, no nothing, it was basically just taking one system at a time," Caron said. "The only way we could find out what was needed was to get to a certain part, find out if it was broken, then design the part, take it home and make it and bring it back to the assembly."

Winter cold, spring rains and scheduling difficulties all contributed to the delay in getting the work done, Caron said.

The railway, which has been around since 1986, runs excursion trips from Jackson to Allenville. For more information, call 243-1688 or (800) 455-RAIL.