Omaha Zoo Railway "Riva"

Riva is a side tank engine that operates on the Omaha Zoo Railway.
== History ==
Riva was built at Krauss works in Linz: Austria. Its first owner was the M.A.R. (Mori–Arco–Riva del Garda) Railway in northern Italian region of Trentino-South Tyrol, where it served as number 2 alongside two identical sister engines, "Arco" and "Lago di Garda". The railway was closed when Italy entered the World War I in 1915. The railway was on the front line and then sustained heavy damage, while "Riva" was sent to work on the Heeresfeldbahn (field military railways) in the Eastern front. From 1918 to 1941 it served an industrial railway in Stryj, Poland. The Second World War brought another stint in military duty before the engine finally ended up on the State Railways of Romania (CFR) as number 395–104.
"Riva" operated on the CFR's Alba Julia–Zlatna line until 1968, when it was finally retired and sold to Plasser and Theurer, an Austria-based builder of track maintenance machinery. Fortunately for the little engine, an American representative of Plasser and Theurer became aware of the Omaha Zoo's search for a second locomotive, and in 1974 arrangements were made for "Riva" to be donated to the zoo. Restoration took place in the Union Pacific's Omaha shops. The overhaul consisted of major running gear work, the installation of American air brake equipment, and conversion from coal to oil firing. The locomotive was then painted, and missing parts such as the headlights and bell were replaced. The reborn "Riva" entered service at the zoo in 1976 during the annual Family Night/Members' Day event, and has operated almost every year since. A major multi-year overhaul took place in the early 1990s and another in 2000–2002. During the winter and spring of 2005, the water tanks were replaced and the air tanks (added in 1976) were moved to a concealed location, returning the engine to a more historically correct appearance. The engine lost its light green and black paint scheme and was repainted all dark green with maroon wheels. The engine was given a new bell in 2013.
== Trivia ==
* The engine is the oldest of all the locomotives operating on the Omaha Zoo Railroad.
Category:Built in 1890
Category:Locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Omaha Zoo Railway
Category:European Railways
Category:Narrow-gauge steam locomotives
Category:Narrow-gauge locomotives
Category:Narrow-gauge
Category:Narrow-gauge rail
Category:Side tank locomotives
Category:Tank locomotives
Category:0-6-2 locomotives
Category:0-6-2 steam locomotives
Category:0-6-2T steam locomotives
Category:0-6-2T locomotives
Category:Passenger locomotives
Category:Locomotives featured in media
Category:Six-coupled locomotives
Category:Krauss locomotives
Category:Restored locomotives