http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/restoration/no460/september2010update.shtml

Note commentary on the use of a "new" paint-removal "blasting" media:

If the engine is in that great of shape, maybe they could think of going beyond a cosmetic restoration.............. one can dream.

I thought they said the boiler when ultrasounded was too thin? I think this engine is a beaut and would love to see her run as well.

The comments on the media blast are interesting as well. With there being little contamination, does it come in under budget?

-Joe

Maybe it's the angle the picture was taken, but the front pilot looks bent.

Disregard the fact that the RR Museum of Pa.'s official policy is preservation and not operation..... if you restore this high-drivered loco, where does she run? About the only places that would offer justice for the light pulling power and high speed capabilities would be the Atlantic City line and maybe the LIRR and Northeast Corridor.

(Yes, I know "7002" ran for years at Strasburg and on the main line. I was there. Is that going to happen in 2010 and beyond? Get back to me when you get a "yes" from NJ Transit or Amtrak, and I'll start lobbying the PHMC....)

Thanks Sandy for the update. Do you know, are they going to put a boiler jacket on her? Is the reason the others don't have boiler jackets after abatement work based on economics or is there a preservation reason for leaving it off?

After I donate my imaginery money to fully restore her to full operation, I'll have them run her on my imaginery ex-PRR mainline that I own :) At least that's how it works in my imagination. O how I hate it when reality comes into conflict with my imagination. Thank you to all of you who put in very real time and effort to preserve these beautiful machines.

The jacketing and insulation are left off the locomotive to reduce damage from the elements. It's much better to have a wet/dry cycle than to have damp material constantly in contact with the metal.
Russ

Foam spacers, then jacketing, would be alright. It is terrific that she's getting such a great rebuild, if only for display. I certainly hope it's indoor display!
I have to agree, despite Museum policy, they should photograph, draw, measure, every detail of the E6s, from end to end, and then put the money towards an operational rebuild. The Century of Lindbergh's Flight is coming, and American's love this kind of thing. A place could be found to open her up, well, at least a bit.
The focal point of this restoration, however, must be how much in total, it takes to bring a steam locomotive up to modern standards. We all have had this talk before.

So in an ideal world, I'll cast my vote to operate her. In a practical world, at least for right now, fix her up, get the data, and place her indoors.

I simply adore Atlantics, and while to steam would be superb, its great she's getting some much needed TLC and gives us hope for the future.

I think an interpretive display of 460 and 7002 (with her original number for a time perhaps?) side by side or head to head would be great.

Joshua

Right, as if you would refuse to ride behind this engine down a tourist line at 15 mph? :)

That might be a matter for a sit-down discussion with the FRA. Their issue with steam does not appear to be operating speed. So it's a matter of finding an operator with the necessary speedrail. Again, Michigan may be a haven: among its diversity of lines is a very smooth 100mph line, Porter to K'zoo, vastly underused.

Yeah, but add in the cab-signaling equipment, the Positive Train Control (coming soon to a main line near YOU!!), and other doo-dads, and......... well.......... worth it?

Thanks for the update, I find the blasting info very interesting. Old school sandblasting still has it's place, but I do not like to see it used on anything that moves or some day might {move unless completely disassembled first}. Does anybody off the top of their heads have a rough cost comparison? This is my first exposure to the sponge blasting method and am quite fascinated by the process and the results they seem to have gotten with it. Depending on the cost and what is involved in clean up and collection of the media, could this be more cost effective in the long run than scraping and needle scale and intire locomotive? Not to mention to a better job of base coat/primer paint adhesion?

Hypothetical question: Being the boiler is similar in design and built/rebuilt/repaired by the same organization that built/rebuilt/repaired the famous#1361 boiler wouldn't the firebox design have the same issues? Of course people are only dreaming about getting this one up and running again, and all us have imaginations that want to see our favorites running again. Just food for thought or in my case food for education.

Cheers, John.

Oh yeah, why not just completely bastardize every historic preserved locomotive so that nobody knows how they were originally built and operated. Some of these locos need to be stuffed, mounted and treated as the important historical artifacts that they are, not rebuilt with modern techniques and retrofitted with new technology that will obliterate much of the original fabric of the locomotive.

The 1361 has already been screwed up enough so that it can no longer can be considered an historic artifact, now some want to screw up the last existing E6 Atlantic. Why not put your time and effort into reassembling one of the multitudes of already torn apart steam locomotives instead of creating yet another torn apart locomotive.

Grow up!

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............... what he said, in slightly more polite and diplomatic language.......

Frankly, if I were anointed emperor of the world, I'd be restoring this loco with asbestos and fresh lead paint........ but of course, that wouldn't go over well with state officials, I'm sure........... oh, wait, I'd be emperor, I'd overrule them. <:-)