Greetings,

I'm curious as to why nothing has been accomplished in regards to rescuing the above mentioned locomotives? I mean there's complaints that not many N&W locomotives were saved. Also, one typically hears preservationists saying, "Well, if such and such locomotive turned up in a scrap yard, I'd be there to save it." Granted there's costs such as the 200 hundred thousand dollars or so for acquisition plus logisics plus any mitigation, plus restoration. It is said these locomotives are in bad shape, but are nonetheless the last of their kind (from what I understand). Nonetheless, these are and have been endangered locomotives that could become part of nice display. Perhaps we could see some team work innolved in splitting up the costs. So why haven't these been saved?

Thanks,
Gerald Kopiasz, President
Heartland Railroad Historical Society

PS Let's not overlook the other equipment there such as the Baldwins.

Heartland Railroad Historical Society
hrrhs@aol.com

> Greetings,

> I'm curious as to why nothing has been
> accomplished in regards to rescuing the
> above mentioned locomotives? I mean there's
> complaints that not many N&W locomotives
> were saved. Also, one typically hears
> preservationists saying, "Well, if such
> and such locomotive turned up in a scrap
> yard, I'd be there to save it." Granted
> there's costs such as the 200 hundred
> thousand dollars or so for acquisition plus
> logisics plus any mitigation, plus
> restoration. It is said these locomotives
> are in bad shape, but are nonetheless the
> last of their kind (from what I understand).
> Nonetheless, these are and have been
> endangered locomotives that could become
> part of nice display. Perhaps we could see
> some team work innolved in splitting up the
> costs. So why haven't these been saved?

> Thanks,
> Gerald Kopiasz, President
> Heartland Railroad Historical Society

> PS Let's not overlook the other equipment
> there such as the Baldwins.

Gerald, as one who has been to the Virginia Scrap Iron & Metal to negotiate the purchase of a driver wheel (sitting separately from the "lost locos") in the scrap yard only to be told differing stories each time as to whether it was available, the short answer is this: The owner has to want to do something with them before anyone else can help.



Wrinnbo@aol.com

My guess is that no one has really tried. With so many good engines out there that need funding and manpower, I doubt that anyone has gone to the owners of these engines and said "we want to save these engines and have the money to do it". Lets face it, there are lots of engines that could return to steam or even just restored as a good display for a lot less money than it would take to do either for even one of the Roanoke engines. There is only so much cash to go around though, let us all hope for a steam loving multi-billionare who wants to save everything.

> Gerald, as one who has been to the Virginia
> Scrap Iron & Metal to negotiate the
> purchase of a driver wheel (sitting
> separately from the "lost locos")
> in the scrap yard only to be told differing
> stories each time as to whether it was
> available, the short answer is this: The
> owner has to want to do something with them
> before anyone else can help.

Hey Jim. When you were there, did you get a close look at the lost locos? I know Dick Jenkins says they are pretty dilapidated, and the pics on his site certainly support this, but did they look beyond a restoration to steam? It's been said that with enough money, no locomotive is too far gone. I guess I'm just hoping a bit too hard that some day maybe we'll see one of these engines alive again. Thanks. Seth

P.S. Has anyone gotten a close look at the locos in Galt, Ill. on the Northwestern Steel and Wire siding? Perhaps these could be adopted as well?



upacific@copland.udel.edu

> My guess is that no one has really tried.
> With so many good engines out there that
> need funding and manpower, I doubt that
> anyone has gone to the owners of these
> engines and said "we want to save these
> engines and have the money to do it".
> Lets face it, there are lots of engines that
> could return to steam or even just restored
> as a good display for a lot less money than
> it would take to do either for even one of
> the Roanoke engines. There is only so much
> cash to go around though, let us all hope
> for a steam loving multi-billionare who
> wants to save everything.

Well, Seth, like Bill Purdie always said in response to that question: I'd need a shop and a drop table; add to that today, a UT machine....

the answer is nobody knows but what we do know is that the engines did get stripped many years ago of useable parts for the (i think) SR excursion program.

From my last look in 1996, they were pretty bad.



http://nctrans.org
Wrinnbo@aol.com

Bill Gates (or Paul Allen ?)-are you listening ?
One would think that at least one of these guys would be a railfan...

> My guess is that no one has really tried.
> With so many good engines out there that
> need funding and manpower, I doubt that
> anyone has gone to the owners of these
> engines and said "we want to save these
> engines and have the money to do it".
> Lets face it, there are lots of engines that
> could return to steam or even just restored
> as a good display for a lot less money than
> it would take to do either for even one of
> the Roanoke engines. There is only so much
> cash to go around though, let us all hope
> for a steam loving multi-billionare who
> wants to save everything.


locosvcmgr@yahoo.com

> Bill Gates (or Paul Allen ?)-are you
> listening ?
> One would think that at least one of these
> guys would be a railfan...

I heard Warren Buffet is.

Gerald Kopiasz, President
Heartland Railroad Historical Society


Heartland Railroad Historical Society
hrrhs@aol.com