At that time, there would have been 3 steam locomotives in the shop plus the rebuild of the prime mover, generator, and electrical system in the NKP 514 was just a couple months away. I think that would have been a bit much for the 6 full time shop mechanics and a few volunteers (yes they were allowed in the shop back then) to handle.

I know that I started this but however the more I think about this I think the core pieces of the collection are

CN 47, 3254, 3377

CP 2317

B&M 3713

Reading 2124

BLW 26

UP 4012

NKP 759

DL&W 565

find the others new homes. personally I would like to see the CP 2929 go to AOS, and NKP 44 to FWRHS for the headwaters junction if that's still in play I don't know.

that's my thoughts for now

I would say Rahway Valley 15 is absolutely important to Steamtown as well. It was Blount's second engine, ran at the Bellows Falls location, was fairly local to Scranton, and I believe there was documentation showing it was shipped at least once at the DL&W's Scranton shops in its original career. That one is relatively presentable and is usually displayed in the yard with a short freight train.

Agree about 15 and there are a few others, like Grand Trunk 6039 and IC 790, and a couple of the smaller tank engines.

John

CNR 47 should be stripped to the frame and meticulously restored for active operation. MEC 519 , if there's anything left under the asbestos, is another operating candidate.

Definitely agree about # 47, since it would be well suited to their operations and since it is important in Steamtown's history, and while I would love to see 519 get some attention it's another piece that has been pretty much ignored since Steamtown moved to Scranton 40 years ago. At this point, I think it would be best deaccessioned to another museum, maybe one in New England if possible.

John

Although I rarely have reason to disagree with you and have no chance of challenging your mechanical judgment, there's a little more to the story. (And I have Bob's blessing to disclose any and all pertinent facts).

Whatever the mechanical condition of the engine at the time:

Project 113 became aware of Steamtown staff taking a busman's holiday at another operation and publicly announcing that they would do anything possible to prevent the visit. I still have the email I sent to then Superintendent Conway alerting her to these reports at 113's request, and she responded that they were concerning.

As to the permit, I helped Bob with the initial draft (still have it, and would post it here, but it's pdf and it required the disclosure of the names, addresses and phone numbers)
and he would have modified it appropriately or discussed the issues at hand. However, the NPS was really concerned about $50 fee in the appropriate medium, which I think was a cashier's check. but I'd have to review.

Finally, "declined" is not the proper description of the determination. Bob called me to asl where the process stood and I used the occasion of an IHS Board Meeting to discuss the matter with Superintendent Conway of the concern for lack of communication. She thanked me for my "not so subtle" reminder. I told her "look, it's your call, but after a couple of years and multiple meetings (where Bob went to the park, not the other way around); she never followed up. If there was an internal determination, it was never communicated to him.

Within the last two years; a Steamtown associated person approached Project 113 about reconsidering the idea. I was asked if I could get a message, either directly or indirectly to the person that "we're not going through that again".

As I said, I have no basis to dispute your mechanical judgments; but the failure to simply pick up the phone and call to explain the determination and thank Bob for his consideration was a huge mishandling of the matter and anybody that is familiar with the matter would certainly be reluctant to invest time and effort.

Shepard's messes, including attempting to get a partner organization's employee disciplined or terminated because he deigned to take and posa a picture of the then just redone #4012, spoiling a promise she made to another individual to have first dibs, well that was atomic level reputational destruction.

How would the 113 get to Steamtown? Like who owns the tracks that would be part of that? Is that an easy thing to do?

Reading and Northern to Taylor Yard just outside of Scranton.

Delaware-Lackawanna goes to Taylor but I don't know of R&N and D-L interchange directly or via NS?

In any case, it would have to over a few miles of NS track from Taylor to the Bridge 60 right outside of Steamtown's yard.

R&N equipment has been to Steamtown but not in a number of years.

Joshua

So coming out of Steamtown there is a wye with tracks that head to Taylor yard - is that NS?

My R&N can buy Steamtown if there is such an easy connection! Haha.

Steamtown doesn't own or control most of the tracks it operates upon.

The R&N has a beefy 4-8-4, close to if not 20 well-maintained coaches and is crushing it with the ability to have varied offerings in equipment and venues.

And there were warnings about developing competition from the R&N, the Allentown and Auburn as well the Stourbridge Line provided from multiple people with experience in competitive markets. I'd say they didn't respond to the developing threat, but I actually think they couldn't, because they don't generally have competition.

Now the issue with getting any visiting equipment to Scranton is those couple miles of NS trackage from Taylor to Bloom (South leg of the wye); alternatively, at least in theory, entry could be made at the East end (Slateford Yard). Either way, we're now talking about the brave new worlds of PSR and PTC.

True... R&N would have to take over the DLRR as well in my little dream world.

There are so many railroads in that region - they are all doing great and I don't competition is an issue. If anything, it attracts more and more railfans to the area.

The line from Taylor to Bloom isn't mainline is it? Not sure why PTC would be an issue.

That is NS mainline trackage that runs N/S at the west end of Steamtown,

I'm not sure whether PTC is used there or not; the point of the reference to PSR and PTC is that in the last ten years; railroads have become more regimented in their operations and so special movements will require more consideration.

Oh I didn’t realize it was part of the mainline - I know tvrm runs over a portion of NS when they go to Summerville but that’s definitely not mainline! Haha