I was curious who was responsible for turning her into a gutted out hulk looking like she's waiting for the end in a scrapyard, over the past decade?
Appears she's changed hands a few times the past decade and was wondering where the neglect occurred? She was is pristine cosmetic and mechanical shape as of 1997/1998 or so, supposedly in "preservation". But I guess that's just a temporary term...
Current owner is Ed Bowers of Vintage Locomotive Inc. (VLIX), a dealer but also preservationist. He acquired the unit from a dealer in Pennsylvania, RMDI, who had purchased the unit from the B&O RR museum which was the owner of the unit.
When owned by RMDI, the main generator for this unit was removed and sold to the Deleware Lackawanna RR for reuse in one of its Alco's. According to Mr.Bowers the only major components this unit needs to be operable are another generator and possibly traction motors, I do not recall if he said that they had been sold as well. The L&N paint job the unit recieved when on loan to the museum in Tennessee was a not a high quality paintjob and has not held up well which accounts for why this unit looks so rough.
When it comes down to it though, this unit is in safe hands being owned by Ed Bowers and among the largest collection of existing L&N locomotives to be preserved at the Southern Appalachian Railway Museum. It will eventually be restored to operation but there are several other projects under way.
Bryan Jones
Sounds much better than it seemed initially, glad to hear its in good hands now.
What happened to the headlight housing and air horns? Its just plated over now and looks strange without either. Stripped as parts by RMDI?
Yes, this unit is in great hands. We all owe a great debt of gratitude to Ed Bowers for his work trying to preserve historic equipment. Besides all of the L&N units he has saved at the SARM he is also the man who saved the last existing UP Alco C630 (also operable) and the first GE U23C among others.
More than likely the parts you speak of were removed while at RMDI, though I can't confirm that.
1616 is in a good safe place, generally locked inside the fences at K-25 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Right now, while SARM would love to return it to duty, it is behind several other projects and dollars are a bit tough to raise right now. However, everyone can enjoy the coverage of the L&N C-420 that SARM restored last year and uses on many of their regular trips as well as several photo events.
Bart Jennings
Southern Appalachia Railway Museum
Leo_AmesI was curious who was responsible for turning her into a gutted out hulk looking like she's waiting for the end in a scrapyard, over the past decade? Appears she's changed hands a few times the past decade and was wondering where the neglect occurred? She was is pristine cosmetic and mechanical shape as of 1997/1998 or so, supposedly in "preservation". But I guess that's just a temporary term...
Without seeing a picture, this likely also points out the problems of outdoor storage. Paint can quickly fade and also start to peel when exposed to sun and rain. This can be significantly delayed by using top quality surface preparation and coatings but that takes real money (estimate perhaps $25,000 and up for a quality job). Restoration of missing or damaged items is extra. As Bart Jennings of the SARM indicates, funding is always a problem so he would welcome your financial help.
A quick paint job often works wonders, at least temporarily, but in 5 years it needs to be redone. So if a museum has 20 pieces of equipment outdoors, this approach implies repainting 4 of them each year just to keep ahead. And few have the volunteer manpower to achieve that in addition to all the other tasks that urgently need doing. For secure long-term preservation some form of shelter is critical.
John
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