Hello everyone. I hope you are all well. I was browsing Ozark Mountain Railcar today just for the heck of it, and found the page on Alaska RR #557 to be particularly interesting:

http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/steamloco557.htm

Even more so the mechanical evaluation of the locomotive:

http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/PDF ... report.pdf

I know the S-160 Consolidations have been discussed here before, so I'm not interested in its heritage so much as its current state. Is it still located in Washington? I don't know how many (if any) organizations are looking to locate a steamer for operation, but based on the evaluation of its condition, it seems this locomotive would be a much more feasible operable restoration candidate than a lot of engines out there. Is the asking price fair for this loco? They want 390K, but say it would still take 150K-250K to put the engine back in service. Not to mention the (probably enormous) transport cost to your RR. What do you all think? Have I answered my own question? And no, I'm not looking to buy, ha! God bless. Seth

Seth,

A good way to answer your questions would be to look at locomotives that were sold "Ready-to-Run" (or "as good as new") and the prices they went for.

I'd say they would be lucky to get 1/10 of what they are asking. There are just too many locomotives out there and not enough money. The 614 did not hardly get that much of a bid at auction a few years ago. You can buy a ready to run Chinese 2-8-2 for less than what they are asking, heck maybe even a QJ.

These guys will end up waiting so long trying to sell it that it might rot away to become totally worthless. It probably wont be the first time a that has happened to a piece of rail equipment.