I suspect it was nonsense, but there were rumors a decade ago, of one of the two Allegheny's being brought back to life. Story was that an engineering team looked over 1604, but it never went further. A 2-6-6-6 under power would be an amazing thing to experience.

It is indeed true that the C&O #1601 was given an engineering inspection about twenty years ago. Several patches were found inside the firebox, but overall if I remember the report correctly #1601 was in very good shape.
Of course, the game has changed much in those twenty years. It might be of interest that C&O #1646 was originally chosen to go to Greenfield Village but it still had flue time left and #1601 ended there instead. Just think, that locomotive has been stored inside for almost fifty years.
Concerning B&LE #154. I was lucky enough to have seen the #154, Union 0-10-2 and B&LE #643 inside the roundhouse in Greenville,PA in the very late 1970's. What struck me most then was how wonderful their condition was, they looked to be in complete condition and fresh from service !

Kevin

Kevin -

The Union 0-10-2 was in service as Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range #604 through the 1950's and possibly into the early 1960's. Would be interesting though to know just when the last operation of the two B&LE engines occurred.

Les

I was unaware of 1601 having been inspected. Good little piece of trivia to know. I was referring to 1604, the other surviving Allegheny, at the B&O Museum. That old girl's been up to her neck in deep water at one time, and practically on her side at another. Glad she's under cover, albeit difficult to appreciate her size in her narrow stall.

I don't know what kind of inspections could be made on the C&O 1601 with all the appliances and lagging in place.
I've been inside that firebox and it's tired.