Most of yall probably forgotten about me lol. Well I'm sorry I haven't been active lately, I've been busy with college and trying to have a personal life. Sadly my HO Scale layout will have to take a back seat to college, but after I get out I'm sure it'll move up to the front seat. My friend is also talking about leasing an actual full size steam engine, This is what it should look like But thanks to the museum its gone to rust, so we're (yes I'm in it too) going to try to rescue it, we're already talking to two coperaiton that deals with steam preservation. Well Wish us luck.
Lots of luck and success! If I were 30 years younger I would be willing to quit work and come help restore the old girl. What a fine looking beastie!
Sean, I wish you the best! Thats a big job ab responsibility to accomplish! Where might that loco be located ??? Its Pennsy I see an M-1a (if I'm not mistaken on the class) but sure is a 4-8-2 "Mountain".... Welcome back from your absence!
Cool! I recognize that beast. She resides at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania! I would love to see her restored. Russ
Well it does upset me the sorry condition that the museum let it go in, its rusted now, the paint has grease and grime all over it, you can't even see the number plate on the front of it anymore! Thats why as soon as we get backing from NCTM (North Carolina Transoprtation Museum) and a huge grant money we're going to rescue this engine and restore her to her natural beauty. The reason we need the NCTM is because they have all the tools and know how of restoring a steam engine. The grant money is to pay for the engine and cars itself. We're also working on getting 5 cars for the engine, and for the rest of the cars we'll rent from time to time.
I wish you guys a lot of luck! It would be EXTREMELY worth it though and I am sure that you could get other railfans behind such a project as well. Happy railroading! Russ
Welcome back! it certainly is a very good idea to try and rescue such a beautiful loco! i hope things work out with it, and shes as good as new in no time [ 28. February 2003, 20:12: Message edited by: UNION_PACIFIC_STEVE ]
Well the museum did take care of the cosmetic part for us, alot of good that did, we still have to tear it down and re-build it to make it meet FRA Standards.
Indeed it will be quite a project. Having been involved in similar work, I know what you have ahead. Hope you can see it through. It will be fantastic to see such a machine roll proudly again! Good luck! Boxcab E50
Hi Sean. Got quite a project there , good luck on it. If I can ask, just where and how did you go about getting the grant? We have the only N&W 4-6-2 at the Ohio Railway Museum that really needs some money . Over the past couple years we have painted her, but I would really like to get her running again. The guys at Ohio Central looked at her about 10 years ago and found her in fair condition, but I expect it will cost at least a half million to do a compleat restoration. Just a bit more than we have right now ......Mike
It would be great to see that locomotive under steam again. The scope of a project like that is huge. My only exposure to a steam locomotive restoration was when I was very young. It was 1978 or 79 and I had the privilege to see ex-Reading T1 2101 restored at the home shops here in Reading. They did everything from repairing the firebox to replacing the bearings on the main drivers. I was one of the first to see it completed, what a thrill! Are you going to start a web page on this project? If not, post updates here regularly. Good luck!
There should be an organization that gives grants to restortation projects like this, all we need is $200,000 to get started. We're also accepting donation. As soon as I get the organization email address I'll post it on here. Anyways we're already working out a way to move her to NCTM. Which is a good thing hehe.
Yes we do plan on making a website for our project. We have already formed our own NON-Profit group called "North Carolina Steam Train Preservation Organization AKA "NCSTP" We've been working on this since december. Thank you all for your "Good lucks" it will be a long hard road but to see her run under her own power will be worth it
