By Dan Busey / dan.busey@timesdaily.com

It’s taken about four years, but the Red Bay Museum has added a steam locomotive, a tender and a caboose, much of it made possible through the generosity of a local businessman.

Scotty Kennedy, the curator of the Red Bay Museum, said the city acquired a 1939 Illinois Central Railroad caboose about four years ago with the intention of displaying it in the city park.

The city purchased a lot across the street from the Red Bay Museum and relocated an old wooden water tower that was once used to provide water for steam locomotives.

“Bob Tiffin with Tiffin Motor homes always wanted a steam locomotive,” Kennedy said. “He thought it would be neat to have one.”

Kennedy said a locomotive built in 1923 was found in Pennsylvania where it had been in storage for 67 years. He said Tiffin had the locomotive and tender restored in Pennsylvania.

The tender arrived in Red Bay on Aug. 19 and the locomotive arrived Aug. 20.

“We’ve been ready for a while,” Kennedy said. “It’s been quite an ordeal getting it here. It had to come through five states, and we needed permits from all five states.”

The locomotive was placed on tracks with the aid of two large cranes, Kennedy said.

Kennedy said the wooden water tower will be flanked by two sets of railroad tracks.

The caboose will be on one set of tracks while the locomotive and tender will sit on the other set with the water tower in between, he said.

“I can’t begin to tell you what he’s done for our town over the years,” Kennedy said of Tiffin. “He’s helped numerous organizations out. He loves history, trains and old cars. “He’s just excited to have one and share it. He’s that kind of person.”

According to a news release that cites Christopher Coleman of the East Broad Top Railroad History Site, the locomotive was located in Mt. Union, Pa. It was built in 1923.

According to Coleman, the engine was the last steam locomotive bought by the East Broad Top (EBT) and was the most powerful.

“She has been in the Mount Union engine house since 1956 and has succumbed to some damage as a result of the roof leaking,” Coleman said in the release. “The roof was repaired in the early 1990s and the building resealed.”

Despite the damage, which included surface rust and graffiti, Coleman said the 68-ton locomotive was restored.

With the locomotive, tender and caboose set in place at Red Bay Railroad Park, Kennedy said landscaping can be added and protective covers built over the locomotive and caboose for protection.

While Tiffin took care of the locomotive purchase, restoration and delivery, Kennedy said the city and several local donors provided funding for the caboose purchase, additional property and the removal of the water tank removal and its reconstruction.

He said the caboose cost $12,000, the property $30,000 and $45,000 was spent removing and rebuilding the water tower.

Additional donors include Tiffin, the City of Red Bay, the Red Bay Museum, Community Spirit Bank, Sunshine Homes, Sunshine Dog Food, Red Bay Civitan Club and a grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority.

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