Rayonier No. 2 A Willamette Lives Again Mt Rainer Scenic

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Rayonier employee Jim Gertz purchased Rayonier #2, a Willamette geared locomotive, from his employer when steam was giving way to diesels on the company's Clallam (Sekiu, Washington) operations. Jim hauled the loco to his home, built a shed around it and there it slumbered in safety for several decades while awaiting a return call to action.

In January 2008, the shop crew at Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad in Mineral, Washington, began the daunting task of restoring the #2, one of only six Willamette steam locomotives in existence to operation. Under the guidance of General Manager Brian Wise, the expert crew painstakingly brought the locomotive back to good-as-new condition.

Jim Gertz saved the locomotive from the scrappers, and the MRSR crew brought it back to life again. This video is a look at that story.

In addition to views of the Willamette during its media introduction, its first scheduled public run day and a Santa Claus train, there are also segments on a behind-the-scenes shop visit during the rebuild and some commentary from Jim Gertz.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this DVD support the steam preservation efforts of the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad.

Total run time, about 60 minutes.