If you were given $5,000,000 to restore a train it would be....

[DigitalGriffin]

I'm sure it's been asked 1000's of times before, but I was wondering,

If you had $5,000,000 to be used to restore a train and take it out of mothballs, and restore to working order, what would it be and why?

My vote: the H-8 (2-6-6-6) at the B&O museum down in Baltimore. She's in real real bad shape and might not be saveable. But I would act now before she deterioates any more.

While there is one in "decent" condition at the Henry Ford museum, there are only 2 left of the biggest baddest beast in the east.

[TomDiehl]

It would be a tough choice, between steam and classic diesels.

On the steam side, I'd like to see the NKP 759 restored. If not possible, one of the Reading T-1's that could stay in NE Pennsylvania

On the diesel side, I'd like to take a trip to Michigan and see if I could get hold of the last two Baldwin RF-16's, my favorite of the early diesels, and I understand, the last two of them in existance.

[trolleyboy]

Wow tough choice. that's years of operating money for oue museum,however our first two cars in the collection have not operated regularly in years,both need complete top to bottom rebuilds,bout $1m of it would do, and 1326, a double trucked deck roofed TR car from 1915 and 55 a single trucked arch foofed 1917 car from the Toronto Civic railway would be back up and going, the rest of the money would be used for mainline and storage building repairs, construction and upgrades,heck i bet we could make two or three other cars operational as well. www.hcry.org

Rob

[Gunns]

LOL half a mill would fin***he 2926... we should have the tender back together tis year (maby as soon as next month)
Gunns

[GN-Rick]

GN 2584, GN 3059, GN 2523, GN2507, GN 1147, GN 1246

[PBenham]

The N&W A class 1218, but I wonder if $5 extra large would do it.[:(] BTW Digital Griffin, If $5 extra large could get an H-8 out on the road, I'll be there, if only to experience the earthquake that puppy would start as it rolled by me at, say, 60 per![:p]

[vsmith]

How about this...

exSP #3025 4-4-2 Atlantic w/ 81" drivers and 3 or 4 restored coaches, this engine is rusting in peace here in L.A. at Traveltown Museum in Griffith Park[:p]

[PBenham]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

How about this...

exSP #3025 4-4-2 Atlantic w/ 81" drivers and 3 or 4 restored coaches, this engine is rusting in peace here in L.A. at Traveltown Museum in Griffith Park[:p]

I may be a died in the wool easterner, but this girl does look very nice! Well, now I know why it appealed to me! Erie had a group of high wheel 4-4-2s from Baldwin in classes E3 and E4, built as compounds and simpled when they were superheated, if not before! See them in Fred Westing and Alvin Staufer's "Erie Power" Pg.232-245.

[Anonymous]

A Big Boy!

[Anonymous]

I don´t know if 5 mills would be enough, but if I could restore a whole complete train, then it would be SP´s 1950 15 car Sunset Limited complete with Mail/Baggage car, Baggage Dormitory, Sleepy Hollow Coaches, Pride of Texas Coffee Shop, Audubon Diner, French Quarter Lounge and the 10-6 Sleepers with the Blunt End Sleeper too. And the probably best feature would be the 4449 deskirted and painted black pulling the train!!!

[Anonymous]

I don´t know if 5 mills would be enough, but if I could restore a whole complete train, then it would be SP´s 1950 15 car Sunset Limited complete with Mail/Baggage car, Baggage Dormitory, Sleepy Hollow Coaches, Pride of Texas Coffee Shop, Audubon Diner, French Quarter Lounge and the 10-6 Sleepers with the Blunt End Sleeper too. And the probably best feature would be the 4449 deskirted and painted black pulling the train!!!

[Anonymous]

the V&T in carson city nevada is being resurrected to travel to virginia city. think of it: a 1:1 scale toy train using most of it's original equipment.

the five mil would go a long way toward finishing this one that has already begun. if not the five mil, at least send them what you can (the nevada state railroad museum in carson city, nevada).

[JanOlov]

Without any doubt I'd get this train back among the living.
As Stevie Wonder sings......Isn't she lovely........?

[PBenham]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DeLuxe

I don´t know if 5 mills would be enough, but if I could restore a whole complete train, then it would be SP´s 1950 15 car Sunset Limited complete with Mail/Baggage car, Baggage Dormitory, Sleepy Hollow Coaches, Pride of Texas Coffee Shop, Audubon Diner, French Quarter Lounge and the 10-6 Sleepers with the Blunt End Sleeper too. And the probably best feature would be the 4449 deskirted and painted black pulling the train!!!

$5 extra large would get you started. Another $45 extra large would get you home!! And I'd think twice about going west to photograph and ride that consist! Since, I ain't rich, and live in a Soviet Republic that taxes the[banghead][censored][censored][censored][X-)][X-)][banghead][*^_^*] out of single folks like me,well If they have a sale for when I would need to go out there on a budget Airline of some fame[:p] then, I'm going!

[trainboyH16-44]

I'd restore CP 5935 to active service, yes the 2-10-4, not the SD40-2! And if there was enough left over, I'd tackle a CP 2900 4-4-4!

[West Coast S]

SP GS-6 4460 or the AC12 4294, both are the only existing examples, oh' i'd also, locate or produce the correct whistle for 4449 while I was at it. The remaining funds would be allocated for operating cost and manitaince and to purchase a sixteen car excursion fleet.

Nuff said!!

Dave

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GN-Rick

GN 2584, GN 3059, GN 2523, GN2507, GN 1147, GN 1246

1147 all the way

[Anonymous]

Note: the C&O Allegheny has been moved indoors at the B&O Museum, which seems to have all kinds of money lately. Cross your fingers.

My choice is the last mainline camelback, CNJ 592, a 4-4-2. I'd like to see this oddball suck the ditch lights out of an Amtrak train at 100 mph.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Since my tastes tend to to run to the offbeat, it would be the original Budd-built "Prospector" on the Rio Grande.

[PBenham]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davedaddykh1

Note: the C&O Allegheny has been moved indoors at the B&O Museum, which seems to have all kinds of money lately. Cross your fingers.

My choice is the last mainline camelback, CNJ 592, a 4-4-2. I'd like to see this oddball suck the ditch lights out of an Amtrak train at 100 mph.

So would I!![8D] And she ought to burn Anthracite, as intended by her designers.[;)]

[LL675]

PRR M16755,PRR I1sa4483,(and I get to be the first to blow the Banshee!),
C&O K4 2700,one of the two surviving NYC Mowhawks. Or maybe the $ would be better spent to "grease aome palms" so that some of what has already been restored could run.......

Dave

[PBenham]

QUOTE: Originally posted by LL675

PRR M16755,PRR I1sa4483,(and I get to be the first to blow the Banshee!),
C&O K4 2700,one of the two surviving NYC Mowhawks. Or maybe the $ would be better spent to "grease aome palms" so that some of what has already been restored could run.......

Dave

The Western New York Railway Historical Society would love to have $5 extra large to fix up 4483, but we'll take what we can get. Stop by: www.wnyrhs.com to see how she is doing! BTW one of our founders has the right to let the banshee blast first,LL765, but $ talks. But I doubt Tom S. will give up the whistle cord. We have let it loose, using compressed air and that whistle is sorta LOUD!!!!

[Anonymous]

Personally it would have to be that "Little Joe" loco sitting in front of a depot somewhere in Montana. However to travel anywhere without wires it would have to have a covered wagon behind it to supply power.

[Anonymous]

I would help restore the Flying Yankee in Lincoln NH. Would really like to see this train hit the rails again.

[coborn35]

At the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, we have two pieces that I would restore. First:
Milwaukee Road Electric Locomotive No. 10200;Boxcab, one of only 1 or 2 left in the world.

Then:
Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Steam Locomotive No. 227: The Mallet

Then, if we had enough money left, I would resotre this beast:Minnesota Steel Steam Locomotive No. 7

I encourage you to look at them on the LSRM's website.
The Boxcab:http://www.lsrm.org/Education/ElectricLoco.asp

Steamers:http://www.lsrm.org/Education/steam.asp

[Anonymous]

A shay of any kind

[Anonymous]

Here in Dallas, at the Age of Steam Museum, we have a GG-1 and UP Big Boy I'd love to see restored. What beauties they must have been in their day!

[monkeyman2]

One of these ol' gals, or maybe one of the roanoak engines... I Can't decide :(
And maybe a Real B&O Switcher for the B&O Museum to use on the excursions instead of the ex RBMN One there using now.

[jlampke]

I'd like to see the GS-6 4460 restored to perfect operating condition, plus about 12 or 16 cars; parlor, observation, dining, etc., etc., running regularly with 4449 from Sacramento to Portland.
John

[daveklepper]

How about a complete California Zephyr running from Newark to Emeryville, CA with a GG-1 pulling it Newark Philadelphia and the E-5 from Union heading the consist the rest of the way.