These passenger cars on tracks along Biddle Street (Route 6) in Kane were sold Friday at a liquidation auction for the Knox and Kane Railroad. After a morning session in Kane, the auction moved to Nansen and Marienville. The auction continues today in Marienville.

Buyers from at least 11 different states showed up to bid Friday at the Knox and Kane Railroad liquidation auction in Kane.

The auction was held at the railroad property along Biddle Street (Route 6).

Auctioneer Mike Peterson of Jamestown, N.Y., speaking from a headset microphone, auctioned off the railroad’s “rolling stock” – including two steam locomotives, a diesel locomotive and several passenger and freight cars.

Dave Conrad, representing the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat in Essex, Ct., was the big winner Friday with a successful bid of $100,000 for the 1989 steam locomotive made in China.

“We plan to restore it,” Conrad said after buying the engine.

The Chinese locomotive reportedly is one of only three in the U.S. A fourth was sent to the U.S. aboard a ship that sank in the Pacific Ocean, a source told the Kane Republican.

Alan Maples of Scottsboro, Ala. submitted a successful bid of $60,000 for the 1927 Baldwin steam locomotive.

“I collect antique locomotives,” Maples said.

Although he lives in Alabama, he operates the Everett, Pa. Railroad, which hauls freight. He said he plans to restore the steam locomotive and bring it to his Everett Railroad site. He said the locomotive once was used by the Huntington, Pa. and Broad Top Mountain Tourist Railroad. He said this railroad went out of business in 1954.

Harold Tenney, a partner in Ford City Equipment, purchased the GP-9 diesel locomotive for $35,000. He said his company plans to “restore” the engine, which once was used in a railroad in Western Maryland.

The auction is expected to signal the end of the tourist train business in Kane.

The Knox and Kane Railroad operated excursions from Marienville to the Kinzua Bridge State Park near Mt. Jewett. The train stopped in Kane for passengers.

The Kovalchick Corporation of Indiana, Pa. has acquired the tracks and other property formerly owned by the Knox and Kane Railroad. Kovalchick is marking its 80th year in the scrap, salvage, recycling and railroad business. The company is expected to pull up the tracks for scrap unless a buyer comes forward to operate a tourist train.

George Kovalchick represented the Kovalchick Corporation at the auction Friday and participated in the bidding.

Kane Mayor Doug Caldwell, one of several Kane residents at the auction, said “it’s a sad day” because the tourist train was “a big part of the community” for several years. He said the liquidation auction marks “the end of an era.”

John Hafer, grandson of former Knox and Kane Railroad owner Sloan Cornell, said he is “sad” to see the railroad property sold at auction. A Marienville resident, he worked on the train for 19 years.

“It’s just the end,” Teri West said in describing the auction. She is the daughter of Cornell, who now resides at the Lutheran Home in Kane.

West, who lives in Warren and also worked on the train, said her family has been involved in the railroad business for years. The family formerly owned a tourist train in Gettysburg.

The tourist train from Marienville to the state park began in 1987 and continued until 2004. West, who attended the auction, said the tourist train lost riders and money after a tornado toppled the midsection of the Kinzua Bridge in 2003.

As Peterson opened the auction, he said the railroad equipment is being sold “as is where it is.”

“Once an item is pronounced sold, it’s your responsibility,” Peterson told the waiting bidders. He said the successful buyers have until July 1, 2009 to “remove items from the premises.”

“It’s your responsibility if you leave it here,” he warned.

Peterson said trucking companies have expressed an interest in hauling items from the site. He said buyers also have the option cutting up the railroad equipment for scrap “on the site.” “Do not leave a mess behind,” he said.

After completing the auction at the Kane site, Peterson and his crew moved to the Nansen siding near Hickey Lane off Route 66, just south of the rail crossing in Nansen. Several pieces of equipment were located at the Nansen site.

The auction then moved to Marienville where it will continue today. Many smaller railroad items will be included in today’s auction.