http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/cape/080405REEFAUG4.cfmThe Elizabeth was sunk yesterday nine miles off Cape May, NJ to serve as an artificial reef.More at: http://www.nbc10.com/news/4806563/detail.html

Well that adds to the 16 PRR K-4`s that were dump off the coast of Cape may back in the 1950`s. I was told that by an oldtimer up at the RR Museum of Pa. two years ago. He`s from NJ. and the Cement ship that is sunk off the shore line from Cape May too.Len.

Along with a T-1, right? Honestly....Seriously though, is there anything to report on the B&M 4-6-2s underwater in Maine or MA?Joshua

I know about the concrete ship "Atlantis" because it's still visible just off the western edge of Cape May Point at Sunset Beach. I *had* a perfect reply laid out with photos and URLs, but some moderator took exception:http://www.beachcomber.com/Point/Graphics/sunset.gif http://www.phillyburbs.com/shore/capemaypoint.shtml As for the supposed 16 PRR K4s's--Leonard, please don't believe everything you hear. Some of those old-timers are completely full of it. Until you see photos of the locos being dropped off a ship, presume that someone is yanking your chain. Besides which, wouldn't we have heard plenty about it from the former editor of Railfan & Railroad, Jim Boyd--a certified hard hat diver in New Jersey?

There is one B&M 4-6-2 underwater which was discussed years ago in L&RP. From what I recall, it's not too far down, and the Army Corps of Engineers sought to move it due to one of their projects. At some point the trailing truck is said to have disappeared. I suspect the "jewelry" (headlight, bell, etc) is also gone. The water where it's resting probably has some salinity, so I'd suspect it's pretty rusty at this point.

Ok. Its B&M 3666 in Portsmouth, NH.

I offten wonder how many steamers are really under any water ways. quarries, rivers, swamps, or even the oceans.just makes you wonder.Len.

guys,i do have to pull this thread back to the original subject. The Independence Seaport is to be commended for pulling off a forty ton project, that to tell the truth I did not think they had a prayer of getting done.And my old co-worker Charlie DeRoko was the guy wh got his hands dirty doing it. Good work Charlie!By the way, there are several ferries in preservation around the country.The important thing in this one was the engine!Ted Miles

Along with the J1 buried alongside Horseshoe Curve. This is beyond the realm of reality. A B8 in a quarry is one thing, but 16 K4's, uncharted, unstripped, undived upon? No way. While I love these mystery locomotive stories, especially those with some tangibility, one has to exercise some self-discipline when considering rumors.Did anyone get any images or film of the ferry sinking? I couldn't get into the MSNBC site.

From memory (not the best these days), I think the train went off the bridge between Maine and New Hampshire in 1939. Locomotive, tender and baggage car fell in the water and were left. Both enginemen perished and one body was never found, presumably swept out to sea. The accident was said to be caused by the railroad bridge being used as an anchor for forms being used to pour new footings for the nearby Route 1 highway bridge. This pulled the track out of alignment, derailing the train. In the 1980s (I think) that part of the river was to be dredged for a ship turning basin and the engine was in the way. While there was some talk of removing it from the river, cranes on barges simply hooked on and moved it out of the way underwater, without it breaking the surface. I believe the tender and car were left where they lay, but as stated, the trailing truck was brought up and apparently scrapped afterward.A friend in Vermont chartered a boat some years ago and paid some other friends who were sport divers to go down and see it. Their photos did not turn out well, as lighting was poor, so it was hard to recognize much from the pictures, other than a big fish in the firebox. A dive shop in Portsmouth had one of the side rods on display at the time. My guess is that, with todays better underwater lighting, someone probably has better photos of the engine, as it is a unique underwater artifact. There may have been photos taken at the time of the move also.If the engine could be brought up and displayed under proper conditions, I think it would be a popular tourist attraction, even though it is probably in bad shape from salt water exposure. Like the military tank previously discussed, it would probably be left in as-is condition.