A recent Trains article

http://www.rrdc.com/article_04_2008_more_chinese_steam_TRAINS.pdf

about the RJ Corman acquisition of the Chinese QJ through Railroad Development Corp. mentioned “another” railroad was interested in acquiring a Chinese QJ 2-10-2. It can now be revealed that that railroad is the R&N.

Tyler Gloss, VP of Operations stated the road’s reasoning succinctly. “The QJ’s are relatively new, and operation doesn’t involve the consumption of a historic locomotive. Parts will likely be obtainable through Multipower International for some time. Our former GM&N 425 is a great engine, but it’s relatively light and wasn’t meant for long trains in mountainous areas. Returning 2102 to service would involve an excessive use of capital. The QJ’s 59” inch drivers provide for nearly as much tractive effort as the 2102, and peak horsepower at the lower speeds that are more in line with modern tourist train operating speeds, especially in mountainous areas. The key thing is we know that any excursions requiring five or more coaches would need diesel assistance and with a steam engine in the lead, we expose our fleet to particulate exhaust that can congest intake filters and cause other problems. Additionally, we will have the opportunity to have double-headed steam. With these two locomotives, we can finally consider longer trips and operations North of Tamaqua. In some sense they are historic as 2-10-2 types were bread and butter engines of both the Reading Company and Lehigh Valley Railroad, portions of whose former rights of way we operate.

Some technical improvements will be sought, including installing Lempor exhaust and the R&N will “seriously consider” cross balancing the drivers and installing lightweight alloy rods to improve the QJ’s notorious issues with balance and ride quality. However, joked Mr. Gloss, “the first thing that’ll be changed is those cartoonish red wheels-they’ll be painted black”. The rest of the story is posted at:

http://railroad-underground.blogspot.com/

Interesting.....

Should we assume that the loco they will acquire is already in the USA as number 4 and 5 of the 5 original RDCC locos were cut up in China last December.

Others may be available in China of course including 7126 from the last 20 built in 1988 at Pingdingshan (PDS).

PDS which will most likely complete its dieselization this year has the capability to perform one last QJ frame up overhaul if required too.

TH

But then this article is a little to close to April 1st also!

TH

As noted in the other post in the Interchange, the acquisition is a lease-with-intent-to-purchase arrangement for QJ 2-10-2 7081, with options to purchase on 7002 and 6998 (and maybe more), funded by a new grant program from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The purchase of the other two locos will be dependent upon the results of the efficiency improvement experiments mentioned by "Superheater".

The wheels not be painted black. They will be painted cartoonish blue!