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

[nssr9169]

DM&IR YELLOWSTONE 2-8-8-4........

[Anonymous]

Many of the ones I like to see up and running have already been mentioned.

1. PRR K4s 1361....Oh right it has been in the 2nd rebuild process for the last 10 plus years!

2. PRR K4s 3750....Just in case the 1361 takes another 10 years. And the possibilty of double heading with the 1361.

3. Baldwin Sharks....Either rebuild the 2 RF-16's in Michigan or an all new set of A-B-A PRR BP-20 Passenger Sharks in the as delivered paint scheme so it can operate between Pgh and Philly....daily!

4. Aerotrain....It is possible with all new technolgy built in.

[railfanespee4449]

I'd use 1 million to restore the Boone & Scenic's 2-8-0

I'd use the rest on \the Camelback

[CANADIANPACIFIC2816]

If I were given a sum of money this large, I would use it to restore to operating condition #5629, a Burlington Route O-5B class 4-8-4. And if it were possible to build from the ground up a CB&Q M-4 class 2-10-4, using the original blue prints from Baldwin, then that is what I might use the money for.

And if I had a few million dollars to spare, I would donate it all to keep certain big steam locomotives in operation and to cover their maintenance expenses, locomotives such as Milwaukee Road 261, SP 4449, SP&S 700, just to name a few.

CANADIANPACIFIC2816

 

 

 

 

[UP #119]

I am not sure if this fits the description, but I think I would find the most decrepid looking steam locomotive in any place, and restore that.

[Repairman87]

This is such a no brainer.

I would restore the Mark Twain Zephyr, currently languishing in anonimity in Illinois.

Regards,
Burlington John

 

I totally agree here is a website for it.

http://www.railmerchants.net/mt-zephyr.htm

[Anonymous]

If I had that money to invest, I'd spend it on restoring a couple of RS3's.  Alco diesels are fast becoming an endangered species, so I think restoring and maintaining them is an important part of railroad history. 

Plus, I happen to know of an RS3 (no engine or genset) up for sale in the Miami area...

 

 

[james saunders]

This is the one that I'd fix up. It's a Queensland Railways 1720 class GL18C (EMD 8-645E engine) built in 1966.


QR 1722 at Redbank Workshops

She's currently at Redbank workshops after a level crossing crash, however as QR are starting to retire the class, she may never be repaired. Some of the later members of her class have been re-conditioned and upgraded and will see a few more years.

I'd spend a few dollars on her bringing her up to the same condition/status as her younger sisters (except for their new yellow and red paint job-repaint her in the old blue and white). She would then be passed to a local historical group with mainline access (there's only one that I know of in Queensland) to be used for regular running days.

Any remaining funds would be spent on acquiring/upgrading some old timber long distance passenger cars. The intention would be to then go touring on a regular basis with selected groups of people around Queenslands' various underutilized outback branch lines.

...and US $5,000,000 is more like $6,800,000 Australian dollars so I'll keep the $1.8 for me!

 

I'm gonna miss those 1720's when they are gone, I hope they keep a few for Kuranda

[james saunders]

I'd buy an SD70ACe

 

really though, any steamer!

 

James

[Mimbrogno]

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.

I'm afraid you can forget about seeing the sharks. The owner, John Larson, used to be very gratious towards railfans (he is one himself), however, there were some that were not so kind to him. After the Sharks had been vandalized (the airhorns, builder's plates, and I believe the bell also were stolen and never seen again. Airhorns and builder's plates were stolen from other Baldwin locos as well), he has locked them away in a shed. This is not the first time he was robbed either. After this kind of treatment he refuses to let any railfans on his property what so ever, and will personally arrest on the first site of one. He will change his mind if the property is returned and an appology made, but until then he refuses to let himself get burned again. I personally keep an eye out for anything that was taken, if I ever find any evidence of it, I will do everything in my power to return the property. I would appreciate it if others would do the same. The c/ns on the builder's plates are 75361 and 75372. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of these items, please contact me. If you youself have them, please don't be afraid to return them. If you contact me, I will not press charges and will not even tell John your name if you so desire (you don't even have to tell me). All I want is for those sharks to be whole again. I'll tell you one thing though, if ANYONE vandalizes "MY" Baldwin DRS 6-6-1500 (actually the AZ RR museum's; I assist in maintaining her), I will run you over with the old girl!

Baldwins are the best!
Matthew Imbrongo
Mechanical Vollenteer, Arizona Railway Museum

[Anonymous]

Prorably a entire California Zephyr Train Set or the NW 611.

[daveklepper]

My candidates would include a GG-1 and a string of "clocker" Budd coaches restored to their orgiinal deluxe Senator/Congressional interiors, operable still in the NY-Washington corridor (but not north to Boston, different power now., one of Amtrak's still-operating Heritage diners could be added.)

or the Pennsylvanina State K-4 with a string of classic P-70's, a heavywieght diner and a heavywieght 6-wheel parlor-obs.

or the E-33/EF-5 in Connecticut with modern electricals to operate in the corredor

or the Flying Yankee or the Nebraska Zephyr and the E-5

 

I would have chosen the California Zephyr, but isn't the Canadian as operated now a pretty good stand-in?

 

[ChooChooMike]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Ray Dunakin

I'd love to see a Big Boy under steam!

More realistically, I'd use the dough to get some steam power into running condition at the San Diego Railroad Museum again, and then put the rest into a trust to pay for the upkeep on it so they'd be able to run on a regular basis.

Ray - I've been volunteering on the steam team at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum for that last couple of years. We would LOVE to get steam running again, that would certainly bring even more folks out. Last time the our 2353 (4-6-0) ran was around year 2000 just after it was used in the Pearl Harbor movie. We're trying to get an accurate estimate on the boiler/firebox repair.

We're also partially diassembling our Coos Bay 2-8-2T little Mikado. We removed the superheaters tubes this past weekend so we can start removing the flues and start checking out the boiler condition. We looking at possibly restoring that one instead of the much larger 2353. The smaller engine would be much less expensize to run/maintain.

All it takes is $$$ [:D]

Mike

[clash]

I'd pull one of the CB&Q, S-4 Hudson or 05 Northerns out of the park and restore it. Then I'd try to get a small fleet of heavyweight passenger cars restored if there was any money left over.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RaymondLowey

The PRR GG1 would be my choice. to see that Engine under the wires of the NEC would be awesome.

Unless you put in a brand new generator or transformer, you could never do that due to environmental concerns. The GG1's used a coolant that gave off PCB's.

[Anonymous]

Am I allowed to build a brand new PRR T-1 since there are none to restore??

[METRO]

Probably an Alco RS2 (there's probably still one of those sitting around somewhere) and a couple of heavyweight coaches to go behind it. I'd have to put that engine into the Boston And Maine maroon and harvest gold Minuteman scheme.

As for steam, there's a beautiful Rock Island 4-6-2 rusting out at the IRM. I'd take that and a couple old Chicago commuter coaches too.

Cheers!
~METRO

[BurlingtonJohn]

This is such a no brainer.

I would restore the Mark Twain Zephyr, currently languishing in anonimity in Illinois.

Regards,
Burlington John

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Sancho1
You probably couldn't operate big boys everywhere though due to the size.

[#ditto] There is no probably to it. The Union Pacific has been asked this many times. The answer is that they could and would restore a Big Boy if there was any place (practical) it could be operated. There isn't, so they won't. It would be pointless and a waste of money to restore a Big Boy only to have it run forward and backward down a few miles of track in the middle of nowhere. If one has seen the 3985 under full steam, there would not be that much difference.

QUOTE: Originally posted by 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.

I don't know if that counts as "restoring" or not.... And I think It would take a whole lot more than $5M.

I think I would have to agree with eric1987. The NW 1216 and 611 could probably be done cheap. One would only have to remanufacture the parts that the NS destroyed on purpose to get them going again. With the left over money I would have liked to restore a AT&SF Baldwin 2-6-2 sitting in Lamar CO., and save the WS SD45 fleet.

[Anonymous]

The PRR GG1 would be my choice. to see that Engine under the wires of the NEC would be awesome.

[Anonymous]

No contest. I'd restore either N&W's 1218 or the 611. They are the finest steam locomotives in the East, and they deserve to be running. It might not take much ca***o restore them either; both are in excellent condition. It's time for them to come out of retirement.

[VAPEURCHAPELON]

georei,

I am sorry to report that PRR didn't preserve one single member of its J-1 class 2-10-4s.

[Anonymous]

Wow so many different but great answeres. Hmmmm, if iI had to choose an engine to restore I would have to pick the Pennsy's J-1 if I would be able to find any.

[trainguy21]

I would love to see the old NP engine displayed in the city park in Auburn, Wa. restored and running again. I've watched this unit slowly rotting away for over forty years.

[Anonymous]

This is the one that I'd fix up. It's a Queensland Railways 1720 class GL18C (EMD 8-645E engine) built in 1966.


QR 1722 at Redbank Workshops

She's currently at Redbank workshops after a level crossing crash, however as QR are starting to retire the class, she may never be repaired. Some of the later members of her class have been re-conditioned and upgraded and will see a few more years.

I'd spend a few dollars on her bringing her up to the same condition/status as her younger sisters (except for their new yellow and red paint job-repaint her in the old blue and white). She would then be passed to a local historical group with mainline access (there's only one that I know of in Queensland) to be used for regular running days.

Any remaining funds would be spent on acquiring/upgrading some old timber long distance passenger cars. The intention would be to then go touring on a regular basis with selected groups of people around Queenslands' various underutilized outback branch lines.

...and US $5,000,000 is more like $6,800,000 Australian dollars so I'll keep the $1.8 for me!

[Ray Dunakin]

I'd love to see a Big Boy under steam!

More realistically, I'd use the dough to get some steam power into running condition at the San Diego Railroad Museum again, and then put the rest into a trust to pay for the upkeep on it so they'd be able to run on a regular basis.

[VAPEURCHAPELON]

Since I don't have any real idea how steam excursions and rebuildings and museum business in US works I cannot say for sure what I would have in mind:

-I think that much money should be enough to build an engine new! Perhaps not ordered by a certain Co., but organized by a handful of guys with real knowledge, and parts being made in several backshops.

With that money I would start to build the second of the awesome PRR S-1 6-4-4-6! Not only in my eyes the most spectecular thing ever on rails! And very likely the fastest of all steamers. But of course I would build it with newer technologies:
- Lempor draft
- star-shaped tubes and flues
- GPCS
- poppet valves
- roller bearings also on rods
- and especially some improvements on its running mechanism that it wouldn't have the same problems with curves as its original had.

These improvements are very few considering what would be possible today, but I have in mind that the engine should LOOK almost the same as the original 6100.

Once completed and ready to run I think there would come some matching cars around very quickly.

And since I am steam locomotive fireman and engineer by myself I would try to get the project leader interested to allow me also to run this beast from time to time.

I have no idea where to get so much money from. Or even to get interested these fellows having it to give it for such a project. But I am amazed that in UK a project of a new built mainline steamer (built using blueprints from an old prototype) is nearly completed - prove that all is possible!

Dreams and remembrance are the paradise one connot get displaced from.

[youngengineer]

personally i would like to see Denver and Rio Grande Western #683 at colorado railroad museum, last surviving D&RGW steam locomotive, although a the cab forward at california would be pretty awesome

[Anonymous]

Sir Nigel Greasley 4-6-2 LNER A4 pacific # 60008 Dwight D Eisenhower

[Anonymous]

You probably couldn't operate big boys everywhere though due to the size.