jrinnorthcountry63 wrote:does anyone know offhand how many russian decapod usra 2-10-0's are left operating in the usa? i know of the one on the strasburg railroad. i figure it must be small number say like 7 or 8 left operating.
Frisco 1630 is currently laid up at IRM awaiting wheel work. As soon as that is done it will be back in operation.
Bert
An "expensive model collector"
As far as I know, the Frisco 1963 is the only currently operating 2-10-0 (and its in the shop now, as Bert said)
i figure it must be small number say like 7 or 8 left operating
The Frisco Russian is the 1630 belonging to the Illinois Railway Museum at Union.
The Strasburg Decapod is not a Russian; it's a Baldwin Standard.
SAL 544 is a Russian, not operating, at the NC Railway Museum (Hysteric Sphincter Shops) at Spencer.
Ol' Ed
Years and years ago I happened to be at the Illinois Railroad Museum the day the rolled the 1630 out of the shop for the first time in steamable condition, and was being coaled up. I think Dave Conrad, one of the real wizards of steam, was in charge of steam operations at the time. It shined like a new car, and soon thereafter RustOleum used a picture of the 1630 in their magazine advertisements.
I saw it in May during the Chicago & North Western Historical Society tour of the Illinois Railroad Museum (which was very depressing -- clearly the size of their collection has far outrun their available resources for even basic conservation of many items, much less cosmetic restoration, much less getting stuff back into operation such as the Tuskegee 2-6-2.). Anyway it looked to me like it was going to be a long long while before 1630 would be back in operating condition.
Dave Nelson
dknelson wrote: . I saw it in May during the Chicago & North Western Historical Society tour of the Illinois Railroad Museum (which was very depressing -- clearly the size of their collection has far outrun their available resources for even basic conservation of many items,
.
I saw it in May during the Chicago & North Western Historical Society tour of the Illinois Railroad Museum (which was very depressing -- clearly the size of their collection has far outrun their available resources for even basic conservation of many items,
Some would argue that they are doing basic conservation by keeping the equipment from being scrapped. They have very few "basket cases" laying around. I have noticed an increase in the throw paint on it so it looks OK way of thinking in the last couple of years. Overall I think they do a good job with what they have , but I also think that two years without an operating steam engine is hurting them.
dknelson wrote: Anyway it looked to me like it was going to be a long long while before 1630 would be back in operating condition. Dave Nelson
Anyway it looked to me like it was going to be a long long while before 1630 would be back in operating condition.
From what I understand the 1630 is not that big of a fix once they put in the drop pit. However putting in the drop pit is a big deal from them and that is what is the hold up. And do to the Russians modifications to fit standard gauge, it could not go offline to be fixed.
A drop pit and possibly a wheel lathe are also holding up a return to steam of U.P. 428. I think they were able to run 1630 a few times last year or the year before for special occasions. It has received the mandated FRA modifications and had some flue work a few years ago. I'd sure like to see a 1630 428 double header
The 90 is NOT a Russian. It's a 1924 Baldwin "Standard" Decapod, of which twenty or thirty were built for various railroads with light axle loading requirements. Gainesville Midland ran four of them in the 1950s, three of which came from the Seaboard Air Line. Three of them still exist, but not in operating condition.
SAL 544 is a Russian preserved at the NC Museum at Spencer. That was its original number, but it was sold to the GM and ran as its 206 during the 1950s.
Look at a photo of the 90 and a photo of a Russian. You can't mistake them. All they have in common is the wheel arrangement.
Actually, the better-known Strasburg #90 is the last currently operating decapod, because IRM #1630 is under maintenance.
I have rare INSIDE footage of her in the shop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtcSxo1FkIc
The Land of the Lime Green and Yellow!
[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4ivk2zhp5E]
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