The Whippany Railway Museum plans to restore ex-Virginia Blue Ridge, exx-U.S. Army 0-6-0 No. 4039 to service. In 1965 the 1942 Alco was purchased by the Morris County Central tourist railroad and operated out of Whippany on the Morrstown and Erie and later, out of Newfoundland on the Susquehanna until 1950. The museum obatined a TEA-21 grant in 2001 and recently arranged a $100.000 loan to finance the balance of Project 4039. The work will be done by Transportation Innovations Specialists of St. Paul Minnestoa, and the museaum is currently soliciting donations.

This was a small article on pg 20 or August 2010 Railfan/Railroad.

First was 425, then 1361, the 4501 and now 4039. Little by little, my favorite engines are making a comeback!! Could the 611 and 614 be that far behind?

And let us not forget Milwaukee 261--and the prospect of a couple of running mates for the 614 that could be "new" (my choice would be a couple of Kanawhas. . .one of which has been under restoration for some time). . .and the recent return to steam of a Santa Fe 4-6-2, and the continuing work in New Mexico on another ATSF 4-8-4. . .along with the continuing saga of narrow gauge Mikes in Pennsylvania and Colorado and Alaska, a really new 4-4-0 to keep another one company, at least three 2-8-4s from the NKP and PM, other SR 2-8-0s, and geared engines in a lot of places. . .and a 4-6-4 in Canada. . .and with all this, how much more we could do, given some breaks in railroad permission and insurance, in steam-starved places like Florida and New England. . .and the rest of Canada, too. . .