The mayor of Hamlet definitely needs to talk to the mayor of Pemberton.

Speaking from the standpoint of someone who has spent the last few weekends "slinging it" on an N&W caboose, one should not underestimate the value of a product called "paint".

Isn't that the LAST known SDP35 in Hamlet?
That defenitely CANNOT go to scrap under any circumstances.

IIRC, there is another SDP35 at the South Western Portland Cement complex in Victorville, CA. Not 100% sure though, its been many years since I have been there.

The one in Hamlet has had the Steam generator removed and the body shortened. The one in CA is still original only SAL unit left in original spec.If its still there?

Still there as of April 2011.http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=51843

Anyone want to write South Western Portland Cement and ask them if they will consider donating the unit once its days of service are done?

First, identify an appropriate AND WILLING home for this unit. You could justify putting this thing anywhere from Miami to Richmond to Birmingham; strong candidates would be the North Carolina Transportation Museum, South Carolina RR Museum (out of place on the Rockton & Rion, but fits a mission statement?), Savannah's roundhouse museum, and Gold Coast in Miami.

I would suspect that this would be a perfect mission for the SAL/ACL Historical Society: http://www.aclsal.org/ . But don't let me stop a well-qualified individual from at least making an appropriate exploratory query as to the possibilities. SWPC has assisted in the preservation of their former FM's; I don't know if that was purchase or donation, however.

Don't forget Squaw Creek Southern No. 11:

http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=372226&nseq=0

It's been de-turboed, but much of the *ahem* original fabric is there. Now, back to the subject at hand: why won't the museum paint the Hamlet equipment?

Here's a 2007 photo of SAL 1114, the unit in question. The paint's pretty chalky, but it doesn't look awful:

http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=215705&nseq=26

Looks like this one retains its d/b and by extension, probably is still turbocharged, if it has its prime mover.

Walt L.

At least the town wants to work with the museum, the town even offered to lease the units so they could paint them.

A quick and dirty paint job would solve the problem for long enough to line up a real solution. I'd question the viability of any organization incapable of coming up with a few hundred dollars for hardware store rustoleum and a few weekends to work volunteers.

Of course, with the hurricane heading that way, they'd be well advised to wait for a week or two.

dave

Hmm. The sign in one photo I linked to says "This locomotive and caboose are owned by the National Railroad Museum and Hall of Fame" and gives the address. So they're NOT owned by the museum? Or are they owned by the museum and located on city property . . . like in Pemberton?

Has anybody been to this museum? If so, what was your impression?

Walt L.

I would say the North Carolina Transportation Museum would be ideal as they have ACL E3A #501 and how appropriate would a display of one of the first ACL passenger locos and one of the last SAL passenger diesels - the beginning and the end of pre-Amtrak passenger diesels be side by side? One never knows what a letter may result.

That sounds like a plan to get it saved when it's service is done, but who has the contact info for both the quarry and NCTM?