After more than one failed attempt to make it run again, it's not doing very well:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=159833

Dear heavens.

Trying to outdo the Lynchburg Kanawha for scary-loking Halloween wreck, are we?

Is this locomotive still owned by the Illinois Railway Museum?

Tom Cornillie

I believe the 2707 is the locomotive at IRM.

Bob Kutella

Is it just me, or is the building sign in the background that says "Dreamsville", just a bit too tragically ironic ??

I noticed the ironic sign as well. I think this may have been the Cleveland Kanawha, abandoned by the city and sold to private interests. Just cause she's been stripped, doesn't mean there isn't a solid locomotive present. Her parts are stored, from what I understand, and what she needs is a) a break on the sale price, and b) somebody with an action plan that includes safe storage and a rebuild commitment. Outside of that, a sanctuary for static display, like Steamtown's greater collection, would appear to be it order. Perhaps she needs donation, and that's the best option?

comming from a novice point of view.....I've seen the 755, 6069, and the 2700 in person. The 2700 doesn't look any worse then any of the others after years of sitting outside. The thing that makes her look so bad is all the missing parts. From what 've heard, the Ohio Central has all the parts. What is the biggest dark cloud over this locomotive is the no plan for the future. I'm sure we don't know "The Rest of the Story" (at least I don't), but perhaps this locomotive should be given back to St Albins from where she came. If there is any down there that still cares about here. I know one individual that is. But maybe too much time has passed for others. I had hoped that the OC would bring this K4 to life, but the OC barely does anything with the restored engines they have.

I wonder if there are any axle load issues for this engine on the OC? Is this engine heavier than the GT northern?

Anyway, considering the OC has no revenue stream for their steam program, you have to admire the dedication of the owner to his hobby.

Is there any operating need that making this engine run would fill that isn't already being filled by another one already available for use? What would be the purpose of having it restored instead of being held as a potentially useful restoration should a new opportunity arise in the future?

While I'd sure prefer to see it under a roof, perhaps waiting for a reason is a wise choice. Just because you build it doesn't mean they will come.

dave

Dave Lewandoski wrote: "The thing that makes her look so bad is all the missing parts. From what 've heard, the Ohio Central has all the parts."

Dave wrote: "While I'd sure prefer to see it under a roof, perhaps waiting for a reason is a wise choice. Just because you build it doesn't mean they will come."

While I agree that there seems to be little reason or need to restore her to operation right now, it scares me that she's been separated from her parts for so long. It would be nice to see her put back together cosmetically and stored under roof, although if she has to remain outside, perhaps her parts are safer stored as they are?

What is the ownership timeline for this engine once it left St. Albans? Was there a story behind the S.T.E.A.M. group that moved her to Ohio in the first place? Does the Dennison group hold title now, or Ohio Central interests?

softwerkslex wrote: "I wonder if there are any axle load issues for this engine on the OC? Is this engine heavier than the GT northern?"

The C&O mechanical diagrams for this class show a weight of 73,000 lbs. for all driving axles, in working order.



Todd

The one from Cleveland Zoo was the 2707 which was purchsed by a private individual and eventually traded to IRM for LS&I #34 which was then sold to the Western maryland Scenic.

2700 was from St Albins and leased to a newly formed group known as the Silver Throttle Engine Association and Museum (STEAM), STEAM brought engine to Canton and began work. After getting into it there were issues between them and the people from St Albins that I do not know enough about to comment on. The engine the was left basically abandoned in Canton for years. STEAM went on the get an Ex-W&LE 0-6-0 from a park in Canton and had it moved somewhere in Massillon at first I believe and then eventually toward Minerva, OH where it is being worked on today. What the progress is I do not know. 2700 was then in jeopardy of becoming scrap metal as the owners of the land it was on wanted it gone. In stepped OHCR and Dennison Depot & Museum. What the specifics were I can't say but that is how she wound up there. It IS NOT owned by OHCR. OHCR may be storing parts that were with the locomotive when it was rescued but that is the extent. The locomotive was badly scattered around Ohio over the years and most likely a lot parts have gone in basements.

The 2700 seems to be particularly unlucky. Originally displayed in a park, by the seventies the engine was in poor condition and missing many of her colectables. To save the engine from scrap it was moved to the Huntington shops and given a cosmetic restoration by the railroad that included the rectangular front number plate in the photo. During the restoration some of the missing parts that had gone to basements were returned. St. Albans took the engine as a display and gave it a new home behind a fence. The last time I saw the 2700 in the mid nineties it still looked pretty good. I certainly hope the 2700 has another life left in her and that some of those parts that may once again be in basements come back if a cosmetic restoration is undertaken. Though there are several of her sisters in existance it would truely be a shame to lose the pattern engine after all of these years.

John Bohon