In November 1984. Steamtown has pulled up stakes and given up on Vermont. A more civilized and sensible move than the recent abortion of the 4023 in Omaha.

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... ydate%3A10

Can anyone provide some background on planning for the move of this engine? Were there clearnace/weight issues? How was the engine prepared?

Wesley

If not for Mr. Kennefick, in which "Kennefick Park" is the new home of the 4023, and Mr. Davidson, who blessed and paid for the 844's rebuild (closest thing to a new 4-8-4 since 1952) the Cheyenne Steam Shop would be FLAT and the 844 and 3985 would be vegetation planters. Does the tree still grow in the coal bunker of the 4012?

Mr. Davidson can honor Mr. Kennefick any way he damn well pleases and more power to both of them.........


Background of Mr. Davidson from Railway Age

Dear Wesley:
A clearance chart covering the UP 4000s' was provided to Guilford Transportation. They cleared the locomotive from Bellows Fall to Scranton. Curves were a potential issue at the interchange between the Green Mountain & Guilford at Bellows Falls and also getting onto Steamtown trackage off the D&H at Scranton. We lubricated the rails/flanges at both locations and there were no problems.
Preparations to the locomotive and tender included draining water from all of the roller bearing cases and topping them off with AAR roller bearing grease, cleaning all of the No. 8ET brake valves and getting the brakes on the trailing truck and the tender freed up and functioning. The driver brake cylinder cups all leaked badly and could not be renewed without lowering the front engine unit and we had no facilities to accomplish that. The "deal" I made with the FRA was that the locomotive would be moved alone (other locomotives went in groups of 4 or 5), idler cars would be positioned in front and back of the locomotive and there would be diesel locomotives at each end of the train so that if somehow the engine and tender became uncoupled they could be moved out of the way without delay. The locomotive was lubricated and off we went. We had a kerosene heater in the cab which helped a little. The trip was totally uneventful (some of the trips with friction bearing locomotives were fairly tense, especially 3713).
J.David

Thanks for that bit of history. What speed did the engine travel under tow?

Wesley

What is even more amazing is that Guilford got it there at all!

True enough, they have the right to do whatever they choose with 4023, but the move was not without serious incident. I think what bothers so many of us is the fact that 4023 sat indoors for nearly two decades, protected and by all accounts, close enough to serviceable that running her wouldn't have been unfeasible - assuming U.P. wanted to, chose to, etc. Instead, she was diplayed outdoor without protection and then recently moved to what amounts to an inaccessible site for retrieval. I just wish they had placed her nearer her home rails on that off chance...

This discussion has become argumentative.

I am locking it.

You are welcome to restart it under a new heading.