Trains News Wire report of Chinese locomotives in U.S.

[Anonymous]

This is quite shocking! I am very intriqued to know why any American company would buy steam locomotives from overseas, when we have many fine specimans avail right here in U.S. Now, for the most part steam is steam no matter who makes them, ie: Lima, Baldwin, ALCo, or even from esteemed manufacturers abroad. But what gives here? Has Ross Rowland sold 614 yet? If not, her proud face, and fine crew would do fine gracing the countrysides of Iowa. What of 1225? 1218? 610? etc, plus any number of NKP Berkshires stored around the country. Many C&O Berkshires could be restored to service. The Chinese locomotives were rebuilt (to U.S. standards) before shipment. Is what happened in the car industry ( more toyotas than chevys on road now ) happening here to U.S. railroads? And just as important, why steam? We fans KNOW why but U.S. railroads sold us and them out back in the 50's. Did Mr. Rowland save his data on the ACE project? Wouldn't the ever so graceful 611 (N&W) be a good choice? We know shes beggin! You see this article has raised some very interesting questions. And there must be a very good reason for this move. But what on earth could be worth turning our backs on the blood sweat and tears poured into making such grand machines, which undoubtedly, have now been all but forgotten. After all these locomtoves have given us, day in and out, they surely have earned their second chance ( and 3rd and 4th etc). Whilest it is a great day in America when one hears the sound of steam, no matter what the builders plate says, we owe it to ourselves and to the people who have saved and preserved steam all these years and MORE importantly to the locomotives themselves. Or was all in Vain?


Sincerely,

Power at Speed

[tree68]

Simply put, you can count the number of US steam locomotives that have operated within the last 5 years pretty much on your fingers and toes (you might have to borrow a hand or two), and all are/were in museum-type service.

The Chinese locomotives were hauling mainline freight up until just a short while ago. Bringing them up to FRA steamer standards was comparatively easy - I'm sure they were pretty close to start with.

Check on how much it cost (and how long it took) for Fort Wayne to overhaul the 765... And it was in active service just prior. Rebuilding something that's been sitting in a park for the past 20 (or many more) years is going to make building a new one from scratch look pretty good. Trains did an excellent article a while back on the resurrection of UP 3985 - it was no easy task, and they had other "park" locomotives to scavange from.

What happens to them now remains to be seen. Someone may decide to "Americanize" them and put them in active service. Us diehard railfans will know the difference, but John Q won't, and if we're smart, we'll just say "See - this is how railroading used to be," and leave it at that.