The following is posted on today's (7/15/09) Trains News Wire. http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=5321 Steam, diesel relics to be saved from scrapyard Published: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 ROANOKE, Va. - Three Norfolk & Western steam locomotives will be removed from a Roanoke scrapyard for restoration after more than a half-century of rusting in their places. The Virginia Museum of Transportation, the Railroad Museum of Virginia, and North Fork Lumber Co. will each get one of the engines. VMT has been working for 30 years to save the engines. Virginia Scrap Iron & Metal Co. will donate them to the museums. The company recently sold its Roanoke scrapyard to make room for an expanding clinic, which enabled the deal to take place. As part of the agreement, VMT will get N&W M2c Class 1151, the Railroad Museum of Virginia will get Class M2 No. 1134, and Will Harris/North Fork will get M2 No. 1118. The M2s date to 1910, while the M2c arrived in 1911. The three were among the oldest engines on N&W's roster in the 1950s, when they were sold for scrap. In addition to the steamers, two Chesapeake Western Baldwin diesels will be saved. VMT will restore one and use the other for parts and scrap. The two railroad museums will each get one N&W steam locomotive tender from the deal, while North Fork Lumber will add an N&W maintenance-of-way-service flatcar. "We are excited to be taking action on the lost engines and to be able to put together such a wonderful coalition of partners to make it happen," said Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr., VMT's executive director. "The lot engines will be saved, but it will take additional funding and support from the community to restore these pieces and put them on display." All equipment is to be moved by Sept. 30.
