Railroad Associates of Hammond,Indiana have acquired former Nickel Plate
Road 2-8-2 #624 from the city of Hammond,Indiana. The locomotive, built by
Lima in 1922, has been on display since 1955, and was featured in Ron Ziel's
book, "Twilight of Steam Locomotives", written in the early sixties. As of
now, plans are being made to take the locomotive out of the park where it
currently resides, and find storage so that heavy restoration may take place.
At this point,there is no definite date for return to service.

Hayes S.


crzhaze@rrmail.com

When Ron wrote about the Mike, he quoted another railfan as referring to her as "two hundred tons of junk". Severely vandalized, the locomotive has been considered a typical park display tragedy. Congratulations to the railfans who are going to rebuild her. They can't do any worse than what was being done to her. Maybe we'll see NKP Mikados in tandem one day. Good luck to you! Keep us posted, particualrly when she is moved out.


glueck@maine.edu

Hello Hayes,

It is good to see some interest being put into an old park girl. Do you know who is involved with Railroad Associates and where might view their press release? It would be interesting to know how they are approaching the project (for-profit, non-profit, etc...) and what the long-term goals are.

Interesting news. She sure needs good caretakers!

Now what about the "J" Mike in Gary? ;-)

Rob Davis

> Railroad Associates of Hammond,Indiana have
> acquired former Nickel Plate
> Road 2-8-2 #624 from the city of
> Hammond,Indiana. The locomotive, built by
> Lima in 1922, has been on display since
> 1955, and was featured in Ron Ziel's
> book, "Twilight of Steam
> Locomotives", written in the early
> sixties. As of
> now, plans are being made to take the
> locomotive out of the park where it
> currently resides, and find storage so that
> heavy restoration may take place.
> At this point,there is no definite date for
> return to service.

> Hayes S.


trains@robertjohndavis.com

Click on the link:

The Times of Northwest Indiana
Les@A-Trains.com

As far as someone "taking some interest," we tried for DECADES to rescue this locomotive, but were always blocked by persons who promised that any day now, the locomotive would be protected, cleaned up, restored, etc., etc. Never happened, of course.

As recently as last winter, we received an inquiry from a city official as to whether IRM would take this locomotive--and then the official refused to return our phone calls. Looks like we know why, now.

This is a VERY tired locomotive (check out the drivers and--if you can see over the junk--the firebox), which has been sadly abused during years of park display. If somebody is REALLY going to protect and preserve it, wonderful; more power to them.

Now, about the EJ&E Mike in Gary...


kevinmccabe@avenew.com

> Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 #624 from the city of
> Hammond,Indiana. The locomotive, built by
> Lima in 1922, has been on display since 1955.

In my opinion, there should be a long-range program for Steamtown to acquire these neglected and un-wanted "park engines" from municipalities all across the USA. Why ?

1. It would be a way for the Fed. Gov't. to help these communities to eliminate a "hazard" without the loss (to scrap) of any historic engines. Let's call it an off-shoot of the "superfund site" system.

2. It would help enhance and "Americanize" the locomotive collection at SNHS.

Hang on!! I'm NOT BASHING !

Nothing against any past or present plans for this particular locomotive.

This is a constructive suggestion for improvement.

I'm looking forward to the thread that will probably follow.

Steve Gilbert
R E A D I N G

What a great idea! Your main points of "Americanizing" the collection, building a backlog of projects, and providing safe haven for locos that are considered eyesores for municipalities has loads of merit.
To dovetail and expand on those thoughts-(some is editorial and some gets a little off track)
Steamtown could and should provide the location (as hoped for at the dedication) for training future generations of students of steam. A sad fact of life is that the population of artisians and craftsmen of steam is dwindling daily. In the interest of preserving and fostering the most significant time period in American history and culture, the Scranton site is a prime facility for this purpose. The equipment, machinery and resources are there and the American people who own it should appreciate it and get full benefit from it. It is a gift to all of us with the NPS serving as stewards and hosts.
Here we are, 35 years after Nelson Blount's death and his vision is, for the most part achieved. A real life roundhouse and shop, museum serving as a home for his collection. He spent a fortune grabbing what was not destroyed by scrappers and made it available for all of us to experience and ride behind. The condition of the collection is at an all time high.
I feel that certain pieces of equipment deserve to retain optimal original fabric. Besides, how many pieces of ANY type of equipment have a high percentage of what the manufacturer presented on the birthday of the piece to the customer?
I suggest that an effort should be made to retain as much as possible the material in present form. But remember, the railraods updated, backshopped and changed locomotives to suit specific needs to the degree that little through the years is original.
An example.
My ex CPRail Fairmont car looks much like it did in its last days of service on the Mactier Sub in Canada in 1995. Due to various shoppings and rebuilds and use by CP, no serial numbers match or they are completely gone, but I am aware of the car's significance and contribution in keeping CP tracks and signals in top shape.
It was a nondescript piece of MOW equipment. I am glad I have owned it since 1996 and am proud to use it when I can. Upon taking delivery of it some sheet metal and frame pieces needed renewal. Due to availability and cost, alternate but appropriate materials were used that I feel do not detract or diminish the car's historical of finacial value. I feel that this is in step with what a MOW mechanic would have done in a section house somewhere. Available materials, economic sense and keeping it simple.
I hope I didn't wander from the topic too far but NKP Mikes and Steamtown get my firebox hot.



bigboy4884@charter.net

Was Ray Kammer the fellow involved in acquiring the C&O 2707 2-8-4 from Cleveland or was that someone else?

The overall article was good, but I sure wish we'd stop talking to the media about being train geeks since we got a toy train at the age of two. Preserving this huge piece of iron is a serious and worthwhile pursuit that will ultimately benefit our society. While we might enjoy doing it at times (and at times not), it is not just a useless passtime (like golf, for instance) for our amusement.

ryarger@rypn.org

> Was Ray Kammer the fellow involved in
> acquiring the C&O 2707 2-8-4 from
> Cleveland or was that someone else?

> The overall article was good, but I sure
> wish we'd stop talking to the media about
> being train geeks since we got a toy train
> at the age of two. Preserving this huge
> piece of iron is a serious and worthwhile
> pursuit that will ultimately benefit our
> society. While we might enjoy doing it at
> times (and at times not), it is not just a
> useless passtime (like golf, for instance)
> for our amusement.

Yes, Ray owned the 2707 before it was obtained by IRM.


kevinmccabe@avenew.com

Doesn't she have the original NKP 587 Tender? Someone posted that it would be neat to see the 587 tow her original tender for a time. I don't know if it is the same one or not, but I seem to remember that the original tender was swapped from a 600series Mike for the 587 tender as the 587 had been retired and her tender stoker was still servicable. One of the 600 series had a tender failure and they were swapped. The problems were corrected when 587 was restored. Almost sounds like the D&RG 490's tender mix-ups.
Steve
> Hello Hayes,

> It is good to see some interest being put
> into an old park girl. Do you know who is
> involved with Railroad Associates and where
> might view their press release? It would be
> interesting to know how they are approaching
> the project (for-profit, non-profit, etc...)
> and what the long-term goals are.

> Interesting news. She sure needs good
> caretakers!

> Now what about the "J" Mike in
> Gary? ;-)

> Rob Davis


sacarlso@scj.com

#587and the #631 on display in Bloominton, IL. switched tenders.

rich_young@afbisinc.com

Here's a link to #639 in Blommington. That sure looks like a USRA tender.

Rob

http://nkprr.railfan.net/639/nextpage.html

> #587and the #631 on display in Bloominton,
> IL. switched tenders.


http://nkprr.railfan.net/639/nextpage.html
trains@robertjohndavis.com