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The Controversy of AT&SF Locomotive #3463

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Chuck, You have hit the nail on the head.  I believe scrapping #3463 is very much a possibility as this odd scenario plays out.  The overall project of the Minneapolis group will require a lot of serious fundraising, including federal funding, which is currently a volatile issue.  Just moving the engine to Minneapolis will cost $300,000-$500,000.  They have estimated the cost of building a new, modern locomotive out of the remains of #3463 to be $3,000,000. This will probably require new parts for at least half of the locomotive, plus all of the engineering and design that must go into a completely new locomotive in terms of thermal dynamics and modernized machinery.  Just to rebuild the current historical locomotive to operating condition would probably cost at least $1,500,000.  So I would say that their estimate for the new locomotive is extremely, unrealistically low. Pie-in-the-sky dreams at underestimated costs are a red flag to investors.  Therefore, I believe that there is a high probability that this project will lose steam or even die. The plan was to move the engine this fall, but I would not be surprised if the engine is still sitting in the same place a year from now, facing an indefinite future.  If the deal falls through, Great Overland Station will become desperate over the condition of the locomotive, a lack of funding to do anything with it, and the rising liability.  The city and county will join right into the desperation.  That is just the kind of distressed situation that leads to an impulsive decision to scrap a locomotive. So, I do not think there is much chance, if any, to undo the deal between the Minneapolis group and GOS, but I do believe there is a very good chance that the deal will simply fall through.  And if it does, I would say that there is at least a 50:50 chance of this scrapping scenario developing. To head this off will require someone with vision to step forward just in time.  Saving the engine under those circumstances will require a quick action by someone with a vision.
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