I just returned from 4 days of railfanning in Altoona, PA and the topic of the K4 came up in conversation with two local residents on two separate days.
They both said that the Union Pacific at one time offered to rebuild the K4 to operational condition but that the people that own/control the 1361 refused the offer.
Is this true?
Depends on what "people in Altoona" you were talking to and how much they actually know. The locomotive is owned by the Railroader's Memorial Museum in Altoona, so if they're not members or former members, I'd definately question the accuracy of the statement.
If it were true, realize that the Union Pacific wasn't offering to do it for free. And rebuilding a steam locomotive definately ain't cheap.
The boiler will soon be headed for some place in Georgia to be totally rebuilt. Currently it, and the rest of the major components are still sitting at Steamtown NHS in the roundhouse awaiting disposition.
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