This is not a report - got it?
Sometime ago, a rumor was being circulated that the B&O Museum was being looked over for a locomotive for the CSX to rehabilitate and run. There was talk of the Allegheny, #1604, as a candidate. Others have mentioned the streamlined Hudson. The best choice of all would likely be Greenbrier, #614. Does anyone have a sound, reliable, update on any of these rumors? Is 614 safe in her current storage? Does anyone have a photo of her in storage? Has CSX given any thought to running one of it's own?
Again, this is an inquiry, not a rumor!


glueck@saturn.caps.maine.edu

> Sometime ago, a rumor was being circulated
> that the B&O Museum was being looked
> over for a locomotive for the CSX to
> rehabilitate and run. There was talk of the
> Allegheny, #1604, as a candidate. Others
> have mentioned the streamlined Hudson. The
> best choice of all would likely be
> Greenbrier, #614. Does anyone have a sound,
> reliable, update on any of these rumors?

Yes--they are rumors, as you say, and there is no truth to any of them.

614 is not owned by the Museum--it was conveyed to Ross Rowland in exchange for the fire-damaged Reading 2101. 614 was stored at the Museum for a time in the early 90s, but they wanted to see it go, as they had no responsibility for it, no say in its maintenance or condition, and it was taking up track space needed for other purposes. Ross ultimately did take the engine away, to the New Hope & Ivyland for reconditioning, and then to New Jersey Transit where it ran the series of excursions. Ross then put it up for auction last year (presumably to concentrate his resources on his then-new excursion operation in Victoria BC), but the auction ended without an acceptable bid being received. Since then, the Victoria operation has folded as well.

I myself have since heard a rumor--I emphasize RUMOR--that NJT has attached a lein or other judgement against the engine to compel Ross to pay back rent for storing it on their facilities.

So that's where things stand with 614. As for the rest, I have heard nothing from the Museum to indicate that they have any intention of leasing out any of the large engines in their collection to anyone for operation under any terms or circumstances. Nor have I heard any credible evidence that CSX is remotely interested in having a steam program. If they were, I'm sure they would do a deal with Ross/NJT for 614 before considering anything in the Museum, even if the Museum were intersted, which I have no reason to beleive it is. 614 would be the ideal engine for that purpose, far better than the Allegheny, or the Yellowbelley (which is really just a modified 4-6-2 and a very light engine for mainline excursion service).

I would write all of this off as exaggerated foaming and pay no attention to it.

eledbetter@rypn.org