Decorated for the Bicentennial, in 1976:

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?a ... 5_76EM.jpg

Back to the standard Conrail paint by 1980:

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?a ... 6_80DG.jpg

It is ashame they cant get this one inside out of the weather.

Actually, I don't know about its location at the moment, but it spent most of its time since its arrival at the RR Museum of Pa. inside their main display hall. I seem to recall some suggestion that it was headed outside for some further cleanup of the inside (strictly rumor material which I think they will deny or not respond to), but one can hardly say "it's a shame....." about this loco. There are plenty of other worthy candidates for the "it's a shame they can't get it inside" pity up there.......

agreed. There are so many one of a kinds there. They all deserve to be inside.
Thanks for the pics!

She has been outside in the elements for years now. Rumor had it that she was owned by the NRHS and the 4935 was owned by the state so the state owned one goes inside while 4800 sits outside. Maybe someone here can confirm?

I visited RRMPA in April of this year and found the #4800 was not only outside, but stored outside the display yard as well, not accessible to visitors. From what I could see of it, it appeared to be in black primer with no lettering. When I was there in 1995, it was at least on display in the yard in appropriate paint and lettering. The yard docent said it had been removed from display for the removal of 'hazardous material' (PCB's? Asbestos?) and he didn't know when it would be put back on display.

The 4800 was remediated with all of the PCBs removed (as were the other electrics). It is currently in black primer but I doubt it will get restored in the near future. Cost estimates for the complete restoration of the engine run at around $1 Million, so it will take a rather substanatial grant. It is owned by the state, as is 4935. Personally, I would like to see the jackets back on the steamers (removed during asbestos remediation) before the 4800 gets redone. 4800 is stable right now while the steamers have parts not designed for constant exposure to the elements out in them. Edit: I worked at the museum during the past summer.

do they still have the jacketing, ot were they tossed in the trash?

When I visited in April, the B6sb's jacketing was outside, next to 4800. I doubt the jacketing would be tossed at a museum where locomotive are not to be operated in an effort to kept them historically accurate, as operated during their service lives.

I have to agree that the steam locomotives are irreplaceable treasures, and seeing them outdoors, and hearing that outdoor display is probably the likely fate of both the M1b and the K4s, is disheartening at best. I was also told that a roundhouse is planned for the next ten years, but there is severe weathering and corrosion going on while grant applications fall into place. As I observed in an earlier post, the NKP Berkshire is severely corroded as she stands today. It may well be that another home should be found for the locomotive.

Regarding 4800, the docent I spoke with seemed well informed - to a limitied degree- and told me the engine was repainted and is awaiting her "as delivered" paint scheme, then movement indoors.

Is Bill Gates interested in railroad preservation?

Final word: I am reporting what I was told and saw, without embellishment. I would much prefer to hear the actual plans for these locomotives from the curators office. I can only speculate, and I am only too aware of how that leads to error.

"Is Bill Gates interested in railroad preservation?"

Why would you ask that question? How about Donald Trump? Warren Buffett? Any of the Walton heirs? I seriously and strongly doubt any of these people (or their financial peers) have the slightest interest in rusty old trains. If they did, I think there would be some evidence of their interest by now. You might as well ask if any "railfans have won the lottery Powerball".

People on that level of society give their money (with certain strings attached, by the way) to "acceptable social causes", like child health, literacy programs, universities and educational programs, etc. IF they were possibly interested in old trains, they MIGHT decide to own a high-end AAPRCO PV.

The jacketing was retained and stored on site.

Actually, asking if Bill Gates is a railfan is not without merit. I have heard rumors (and I believe I read a story in Time magazine) about him using/renting a train somewhere for a special event or celebration. While this is mostly in the speculation/rumor category until we can get further proof, it might be worth looking into. However, since he is more into helping defeat health problems, he might not be interested in train restoration, unless we can find some connection to a health problem (besides asbestos!) at the museum! (Toungue firmly in cheek!!) :-))

[quote="Phil Raynes"]Actually, asking if Bill Gates is a railfan is not without merit. I have heard rumors (and I believe I read a story in Time magazine) about him using/renting a train somewhere for a special event or celebration. quote]

I believe Mr. Gates toured the Canadian Rockies using the WSOR E9s and several cars a couple of years ago.

Don C.

I made the PV comment knowing about that trip. One trip on a "luxury train" does not make Bill Gates a "railfan". Are all the patrons of those CPR private car trips through the Canadian Rockies actually railfans? This is about as far-fetched as the old Dave Morgan attempts to demonstrate Nixon's "railroad interest" in Trains Magazine.

Have any rail preservation organizations/museums had ANY contact with Bill Gates (or similar well-known celebrity mega-affluent types) resulting in funding/contributions?

Howard P.
Old Cynic, CT

As mentioned by two other respondents, there is at least some anecdotal evidence that Bill Gates is at least something of a closet rail enthusiast. Although no one will reveal exact details, it was reported that the aforementioned WSOR loco and PV trip in the Canadian Rockies was supposedly a honeymoon trip for Bill and Melinda Gates. He may not be "card-carrying" like Michael Gross, Walt Disney, or Gary Coleman are/were, but it's more than likely he can tell an EMD from an Alco.

There is another precedent for "billionaire" railfans putting their monies where their interests lie. Seemingly everyone has heard of the flamboyant Richard Bramson of Virgin Records, Virgin Airways, Virgin Rail, etc. and his penchant for ballooning, but one of his primary competitors in the world recording industry (well, before downloading music seriously disrupted the way the music industry does business) is, and remains, Pete Waterman of Britain, a dollar billionaire with a much lower public profile who started collecting locomotives, and at one point was up to somewhere around 45 locomotives (mostly diesel and electric) before something (maybe crank railfans telling him what he should do with his money) disillusioned him and he started selling many of them off. He did, however, also completely underwrite the restoration to operation of the National Railway Museum's "Super D" LNWR 0-8-0, pretty much simply because he wanted to see it run again!

What I've found in my own personal experience with working with/around "wealthy" rail preservationists is that one treads lightly. If they're interested, they'll take the action themselves. It's often counter-productive to suggest to someone with money that they should help with this or that project; only they know exactly how much they can or want to spare, and they get to decide what to subsidize and why. The best thing a preservation project can do, instead of hitting up the wealthy, is to make themselves a worthy project to which someone WANTS to donate money, by showing initiative, planning, leadership, and realistic goals.