http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nyc/nyc-s6894adf.jpg

2/25/2006

J

I am sorry if I have missed the news but has 6894 been unloaded or is it still sitting on the flatcar?

Thanks.

John Bohon

It was unloaded early last week.

James

I didn't realize there would be interest in this part, but the engine was unloaded first thing on Monday of last week, as soon as the cranes arrived. It was reunited with the tender later in the day. The flat car was also returned later in the day and has since shipped out. The "paperwork" still isn't done, but at least the engine has been unloaded. The rigging work hired out to Mr. Godbey and his crew in Cincinnati was of excellent quality and we thank him for his effort in this transportation process. Quite a number of people on this board talk about moving engines around, but I guess I'd caution everyone that this kind of thing isn't cheap to do and is more difficult than simply "lifting it on a flatcar". I should have final cost figures in a week or two if anyone is interested, your mileage may vary.

The engine is well lubricated and rolls fairly easily. It is presently placed near the Dearborn Tower location on the south end of our yard. I think this link should take you to a photo of the unloading:

http://madisonrails.railfan.net/leadin/w6894_1b.jpg

The Madisonrails site will have some more photos of it as well and is worth a look anyway for the towers and stories.

The next steps will be getting the engine a little more presentable in the short term, working to cap the stack, and reinstall the cab windows. There are quite a few items needed for the cosmetic restoration that will have to be found such as valves and gauges and other small parts. At this point we don't really know exactly what we need in this area as we don't know what style brake and boiler gauges it would have had. One of the more difficult things will be trying to come up with a print of an Alco Pittsburgh builder's plate to make a reproduction for the engine. Any help would be appreciated.

We haven't yet come across many photos of the engine at all. The Alco Historic Photos folks don't have a builder's photo and none of this engine in NYC service have surfaced. Perhaps something taken when is was at Nicholson Terminal & Dock or the Wyandotte Southern will surface at some point. The NYCSHS does have mechanical drawing files for the engine however, so at least some key documentation exists. We'll have to get this stuff together before any serious work starts.

David Farlow, CMO
Whitewater Valley Railroad

I grew up with this engine so am very interested in it. I remember seeing smoke comming out of the stack where bums were burning trash in the firebox to stay warm. Once the fire must have gotten out of hand and it partially burned the cab curtain. In my teens I worked at a service station beside the engine along Antietam St. in Hagerstown. Between watching girls at Dagmar Hall accross the street I spent a lot of time inspecting the 6894. Once upon a time I even had the stack covered but that did not last long. Please keep us informed about the progress on one of my favorite switchers.

Thanks,

John Bohon

Here is a link to a photo of it sitting on its depressed center flat car in Connersville, IN

http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=138829

Tom Cornillie