Scot,

Thats the one! As I recall KRM wanted it badly and committed to paint, etc., but has done absolutely NOTHING to it (other than possibly swiping/swaping its batteries to another unit -- unconfirmed) since they got it. We all know how they treat L&N diesels up there -- 770. The unit was reported running but with minor gremlins when it left Nashville. Just sitting is never good for them. Anyway, the word on the street is that it will most likely be moving out of there at some point.

Did you guys forget the U28B at RMNE? Their #2203

2203 is a U23B, famous as "The last U-boat"
(and no, no one forgot..it has already been mentioned in this thread! ;)

Scot

Several high-hood ex-SR versions still in action on the Georgia Central:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=367967

Sooooo...........................Now that we have ascertained that there is some merit in saving an ex LV U23B, do we start a sub-group of an already existing group to do so.
This could take the form of all interested parties joining the ARHS or similar and forming a sub-group to work towards an end goal. I would be happy to see it preserved statically if that meant the difference between preservation and not.

Oh... and if we ended up with 2 LV U-boats in preservation- then all the better.

I'd be interested in the pros and cons of this and perhaps some local guidance on whether a more suitable group existed. Perhaps Scot and ADM4 could offer their thoughts.

Wes

Does Scotty have any update on the status of the Sayre U23B?
They will be in service for a while still too, Georgia Railroad loves them as far as I know.

I think we need to determine what the status of the Sayre project is, and if any existing LV related groups are interested in the other one. I would be willing to contribute where I can.

The LV U23B's are the best candidates for preservation as they have the distinction of being the last new locos the LV received, which adds to the reason one or more should be saved, that coupled to fact that the very few LV locos have been preserved (two?).

Plus the LV units had the best paint job of all the U23B's...

As far as the locomotive able to be sent to Sayre, Yes, it can be shipped out whenever the funds come up. As far as the goal for cash to bring it home, They are about 50% of the way to acheiving it. Anyone have an extra $2,500 they can throw their way?

Could it be that part of the issue of coming up with the money to place the one at Sayre might be potential donors hesitation to contribute to what amounts to the next generation of park locomotive. We all know how some of the first generation of park locomotives have fared. Many have been saved again and pulled from parks around the country to be put into museum collections.

Personally I would rather contribute to a project that would see a locomotive preserved in a static railroad museum or operating collection and would gladly contribute to such a cause. Several groups around the country have seen success of a quick funding campaign to save a significant piece. We have seen this with a few different pieces of California Zephyr rolling stock. Might this be the better way to approach it rather than expecting a group to front the money themselves? The model seems to work, its just a matter of a group stepping up to accept the unit and the fund drive being marketed correctly.

An operable locomotive also has the potential to be leased/loaned to a local shortline to help re-coupe some of the expenses of acquisition and eventual restoration. Whether you like the URHS or not they have had several successful partnerships that have provided operating restorations and repaints of several classic EMDs both in correct and representational paint schemes.

Kevin O

Speaking on behalf of the ARHS, which I can do as the President, here are our issues:

1) We don't have a POC (point of contact) with the Owner, so we don't know what their plans are for this engine.

2) We don't have a place to put this locomotive, since it's too new for Steamtown to consider. The F's fit in well to tell the story of the end of mainline steam in the USA- U-Boats, not so much.......

3) Money, money, money/time, time, time......

Having said that, we would certainly like to see this unit restored to LV paint and *MAY* be able to act as facilitators for the acquisition (extra-heavy emphasis on MAY).
Keeping a pair of F-units running is time-consuming enough for our volunteers.......

I would listen to any group who can develop a solid plan for saving this baby and then be willing to talk to the rest of my Board about said plan.

The project had enough steam in the first year of it's conception, It raised 45% of the cash neeeded to move the locomotive. After that though, like Scotty said, the Society lost the member in charge of getting it back to sayre, and it took a background to other tasks. This Locomotive isn't a park locomotive either. The sayre historical society has a display track for it and a few other pieces of equipment to be displayed on.

This is a very old topic, but just to comment on it:
The KRM has a lot of funding issues at this point and is barely able to afford number 152's restoration. They have plans for 770 to have a cosmetic restoration. 770 also was stripped of its parts before being donated, so the museum couldn't do anything about it. The VLIX #5323 is owned by VLIX and the museum has negotiated with them about working on it because many volunteers say it would be very cheap and quick to work out some mechanical issues with it to put it into service; however, VLIX won't let them work on it. The museum had plans to repaint it back to the L&N paint scheme, but until VLIX negotiates they can't really do much.

I don't know where you get your information, but it is incorrect and inaccurate.

I apologize. At the time I may have mistyped/miscommunicated some things. The plans for 770 are not considered official, as they are purely volunteer run and aren't receiving help from the director. To my knowledge (and the museums site) 770 was stripped of most of its parts. VLIX #5323 is the real locomotive that seems to throw everyone off. From what volunteers have told me, they want to get it running again and say the mechanical issues would be easy to fix, but due to being owned by VLIX the museum doesn't allow them to work on the unit. As for painting into L&N colors, volunteers have stated they'd like to due that as well, but any plans were probably rumored only.