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 Post subject: Roanoke NRHS Acquires ex-Norfolk & Western "Redbird" GP9 514
PostPosted: Sun Aug 18, 2024 2:20 pm 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 1:51 pm
Posts: 11672
Location: Somewhere east of Prescott, AZ along the old Santa Fe "Prescott & Eastern"
From the Chapter's Facebook post:

Quote:
The Roanoke Chapter is proud to announce the acquisition of Norfolk & Western passenger GP-9 #514. Built in November of 1958, the 514 was part of the second batch of “Redbirds” which were purchased to replace steam on the N&W’s passenger trains. Placed in service in Portsmouth, OH in December of that year, the 514 served on the N&W as passenger locomotive until the end of passenger service in May of 1971. The N&W and Norfolk Southern continued to operate these GP-9s in freight service through the 1980’s, with the 514 being retired in 1987. It was sold to a scrap yard in Illinois along with several other 500-series locomotives, but its fate worked out differently. The 514 was re-sold to the Tennessee Southern Railroad in 1992 and was used there until 2004 when it was sold to Indiana Boxcar. The locomotive was repaired and placed in service as a switcher at a co-op in Indiana. It was taken out of service earlier this year as a result of some mechanical problems and the Chapter has purchased the locomotive.
The locomotive will be prepared for shipping this fall and will be heading back to Roanoke, VA for repairs and restoration into its as-delivered “Redbird” paint scheme. As one of only two surviving, un-rebuilt N&W passenger GP-9s, the Chapter believes that it deserves to be preserved. The locomotive retains its original dual control stands, dynamic brake, and other unique features for N&W passenger service. We will share more on the future of the 514 over the next several months.
The Chapter would like to thank Keystone Cooperative and their employees for their assistance in this acquisition. They have worked with us over the past 8 years to ensure that the locomotive can continue to share the history of the Norfolk & Western and railroading in Southwest Virginia.


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 Post subject: Re: Roanoke NRHS Acquires ex-Norfolk & Western "Redbird" GP9
PostPosted: Thu Aug 29, 2024 8:06 pm 

Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm
Posts: 6443
Congrats to the Roanoke Chapter of the NRHS on acquiring N&W GP9 #514. I believe that the chapter also has on its roster, N&W 4-8-0 # 1118, one of the "Lost Engines of Roanoke" and I wonder how its restoration was coming along. Were they ever able to find a tender for the Twelve-Wheeler?

Les


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 Post subject: Re: Roanoke NRHS Acquires ex-Norfolk & Western "Redbird" GP9
PostPosted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 12:17 pm 

Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2019 11:07 am
Posts: 57
Les Beckman wrote:
Congrats to the Roanoke Chapter of the NRHS on acquiring N&W GP9 #514. I believe that the chapter also has on its roster, N&W 4-8-0 # 1118, one of the "Lost Engines of Roanoke" and I wonder how its restoration was coming along. Were they ever able to find a tender for the Twelve-Wheeler?


Les:
The Chapter has been unsuccessful in finding a tender thus far. We've been offered a tender frame, but thus far the cost of moving it seems prohibitive.

Not much has been done to 1118 at this point, and sometime in the next few weeks, it will have to be moved to a new base for the Chapter, as we are forced to move out of our home of almost 44 years. We will officially discuss that when we have details confirmed.

The 1118 and N&W combine body will have to be trucked out, and that is the next phase of the move.

Best
Ken Miller


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 Post subject: Re: Roanoke NRHS Acquires ex-Norfolk & Western "Redbird" GP9
PostPosted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 3:15 pm 

Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm
Posts: 6443
Ken -

Thanks for the info.


Les


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 Post subject: Re: Roanoke NRHS Acquires ex-Norfolk & Western "Redbird" GP9
PostPosted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 5:27 pm 

Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm
Posts: 2436
klmiller611 wrote:
we are forced to move out of our home of almost 44 years.

I don't recall this topic being discussed here. Among other things, I wonder what will happen to the National Heights Pullman sleeper sweat-equity project that those guys have been working on for around 15 years.


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