Nope. It should be directed at me. Railpace announced the preservation plan for B&LE 643. I added the comments about other 2-10-4's for context. Gimme a dope slap. That was a brain hiccup.
Tom
Tom, that wasn't directed at you, it was directed at Railpace. They should SOYTINTLY have known better...
Wizlish:
You caught me!
I'm very happy to admit that I forgot about T&P 610. Thanx for keeping me honest.
ACYFrom the new April, 2015 Railpace: ... She is the only non-Santa Fe 2-10-4 in the U.S. There are 2 CPR 2-10-4's in Canada.
... She is the only non-Santa Fe 2-10-4 in the U.S. There are 2 CPR 2-10-4's in Canada.
That is interesting, as I had no idea the T&P had merged with ATSF.
True, getting the beast to Sugarcreek would be very expensive, and I understand that the current owner wanted too much for her, considering the cost of moving her to Ohio.
I suspect the cost of moving that engine may be the biggest hurdle, and possibly the reason Mr. Jacobson declined the offer to buy the engine. It's generally understood that she has to be partially disassembled and moved over the highway because no railroad will accept her. Moving her to Tarentum (25 - 30 miles within the same county) would be cheaper and easier than moving her to Sugarcreek (In the next State, 106 highway miles by the shortest route. The trip might have to go by a more circuitous route). Logistics and permitting for an interstate move of this kind would be problematic.
I'm crossing my fingers and hoping all the potential snags can be overcome.
I agree with ACY and Shclimm. I do wonder how many classic end-cab EMC and EMD switchers are still active.
The owner of the B&LE 2-10-4 had an opportunity to sell her to JJJ (Age of Steam Roundhouse), where she would be cared for and maybe even run.
But the owner's asking price was WAY too high, so there she still sits.
ACY TR: I didn't address any of those issues because I know nothing about the terms attached to the grant, or whether the money will have to be shared with other projects. I've seen billions spent on various projects that I personally consider ridiculous, starting many years before you were born. I am happy to see my tax money spent on a project that I consider worthwhile for a change, at long last. The fallacy of return on investment in regard to preservation of steam locomotives has been beaten to death on these forums (fora?), and I don't intend to let this happy news be dampened by such a cynical attitude. If profitability were the main criterion, we would probably scrap every existing steam locomotive. Do we keep the Gettysburg battlefield, or Valley Forge, or Old Ironsides, because they are profitable? To be honest, they may actually be profitable. But if so, they are profitable because they are important to Americans because they are important elements in American History, and THAT is why we keep them. That Bessemer 2-10-4 has faced a highly uncertain future for several years. She is important to the history of railroading, particularly in the Pittsburgh area. She is the only survivor of her type, the largest surviving B&LE steam locomotive, and the only existing B&LE steam loco still located in "home" territory. Wash your keyboard out with soap. Tom
TR:
I didn't address any of those issues because I know nothing about the terms attached to the grant, or whether the money will have to be shared with other projects. I've seen billions spent on various projects that I personally consider ridiculous, starting many years before you were born. I am happy to see my tax money spent on a project that I consider worthwhile for a change, at long last. The fallacy of return on investment in regard to preservation of steam locomotives has been beaten to death on these forums (fora?), and I don't intend to let this happy news be dampened by such a cynical attitude. If profitability were the main criterion, we would probably scrap every existing steam locomotive. Do we keep the Gettysburg battlefield, or Valley Forge, or Old Ironsides, because they are profitable? To be honest, they may actually be profitable. But if so, they are profitable because they are important to Americans because they are important elements in American History, and THAT is why we keep them. That Bessemer 2-10-4 has faced a highly uncertain future for several years. She is important to the history of railroading, particularly in the Pittsburgh area. She is the only survivor of her type, the largest surviving B&LE steam locomotive, and the only existing B&LE steam loco still located in "home" territory.
Wash your keyboard out with soap.
All very true. I would also add that in community development, the concept of ROI is different than in the case of a profit-making endeavor. The total benefits, direct and indirect, must be included in any estimate. Just off hand, various benefits that may well occur in that community as a consequence of the display of a rare 2-10-4 beyond the benefit to a building contractor for the shelter might include increased tourism revenue to local area businesses which might in turn lead to some renewal of the local economy and increased property values. Of course, just as in business, the investment may not generate any economic benefit. However, as Tom pointed out, preservation of history has other benefits to our society beyond the purely venal ones.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Um excuse me---How is spending$ 250,000.00 in tax dollers vis vie Federal Community Block Grants on pavilion to shelter a stationary steam engine going to create enough jobs to get a return on investment? If the engine were to be restored and moving that would be one thing then you would have jobs. Better yet to give the tax $$$ to a live musuem like Western Maryland or Steamtown"The town has received a Community Development Block Grant, and intends to spend $250,000 on a pavilion to house the engine. She is the only non-Santa Fe 2-10-4 in the U.S. There are 2 CPR 2-10-4's in Canada."
I'm glad to see the B&LE 2-10-4 may get a display shelter, but I would rather have seen it go the rail museum in Greenville.
From the new April, 2015 Railpace:
Buffalo Creek & Gauley 2-8-0 no. 4 is to return to West Virginia from Spencer, NC. The engine had been displayed as a faux SR engine for many years, but can go home to W.V., now that Spencer has a proper SR 2-8-0 to display. No. 4 is going to the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley "for restoration and operation."
Bessemer & Lake Erie 2-10-4 no. 643, long stored outdoors in McKees Rocks, PA, "may finally enjoy good fortune." I'm not sure what "may" means. The town of Tarentum, PA is located just a short distance upstream from the point where 643 and her sisters hauled ore trains across the Allegheny River on a bridge right next to the PA Turnpike. The town has received a Community Development Block Grant, and intends to spend $250,000 on a pavilion to house the engine. She is the only non-Santa Fe 2-10-4 in the U.S. There are 2 CPR 2-10-4's in Canada.
Durbin & Greenbrier Valley has activated former B&O GP9 6512, and intends to restore her to B&O livery.
ACL SW9 690 (blt. 1951; later SCL 172) is working at the Coors Distribution Center S. of Elkton, VA. She is Coors 172, currently in a red Coors livery. It seems this one should be watched. If Coors decides to retire/replace her some time in the future, she would be a very nice addition to the Spencer collection, restored to purple and silver. They have no diesel switchers from any of NC's four largest railroads (ACL, SR, SAL, N&W).
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