In the Pittsburgh paper recently was a statement by the Railroaders Memorial Museum that the K4 1361 is going to steam into Altoona for RailFest in early July, 2007:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 98006.html

Was this a mis-quote by the paper (which is all too common in this business)?

Don't get me wrong - I am rooting for you to get this project done, and I will be the first person there trackside to see it run. But, when NKP 765 was in similar condition in the early 2000s, it was still 2-3 years away from completion and first test runs.

Chris.

The article says for RailFest or a week or two after the event. Our hope is to still meet that timetable. We have recently (this past week) worked out some additional issues with the FRA and still hope to facilitate a July return. I do not, however, want to fuel any feelings of disappointment by telling people to come to RailFest to see 1361 and then not deliver. Come for the Museum, Curve, Bennett's E8s, and the Curve excursions.

With everything going on during the excursion weekend (July 7 and 8), if 1361 is finished, it would most likely make an appearance during the weekend or 2 after that. Still an ambitious goal - but I can assure you, 1361 is nowhere near 2 years from completion. RailFest events currently run from July 6 through July 15. Full details coming on the Museum website this week. See the ad on the inside front cover of TRP Magazine and in the upcoming issue of Railpace.

I found the Pittsburg article to be well written and informative.
I must admit to some disappointment as I was convinced that Mr. Cessna and his team had learned the hard way to stop predicting when this epic project would conclude.
Once the 1361 is fully reassembled and test steamed the project will have reached the 50% mark-no more!
The next phase is to operate the locomotive through a series of test runs with ever increasing tonnages/speeds,returning to the shop after each run to correct any defects uncovered and to do a thorough inspection. Especially in the case of this engine, which has required the replacement of so much of the systems "vital organs" this series of tests is critically important. My best guess is that done thoroughly and methodically it will take between a month and 3 months to break-in this engine. That, coupled with its current state of reassembly makes it unrealistic to expect it to return live to Altoona this July.
I'm confident I speak for the vast majority in hoping that after all thats gone into this 13 year,$2 million taxpayer dollar effort that it won't be rushed in the end to meet some arbitrary date, but rather will be finished correctly so she can be a reliable,safe machine for years to come!
To do otherwise would be a shame-IMHO.
Ross Rowland

Great news! I think you folks have come a long way and are indeed moving in the right direction. I hope I can make it this year.