Supposedly a report from the curator of the Museum of Transportation in St Louis stated the Frisco 4-8-2 1522 was sold to a buyer in California to be restored to operation. Can anyone confirm this?

This makes me wonder if this is the same person that tried to buy Milwaukee 261 and move it to California, and we all know how that happened.

Hopefully this is true for two reasons: 1. She might actually run for once. 2. California is in need of some more mainline steam(I know I'm dreaming, but 1522 & 3751 doubleheading over Cajon sounds like fun). Of course, this is a rumor....

What is your "source" of this information? Can you direct the forum readers to this "report."

Sorry if I sound skeptical, but extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. While MOT has been on a "cleaning spree" in the past few years, I just don't see MOT getting rid of a steam locomotive, especially 1522. Without further proof, it sounds like the "report" is probably from some troll on some message board.

This was posted on Trainorders.com.
I would find it rather hard to believe. They may have sold one of the pieces of support equipment, such as the auxiliary water car or one of the two crew cars, but I wouldn't expect the engine to leave.
No source was quoted other than an alledged statement. I want to see it in writing by an established source first.

I am skeptical too. I could not imagine that the MOT would fight in court over the Lackawanna camelback and choose to keep Norfolk and Western 2156 and Southern Pacific 4460, which are non-native St. Louis area steam locomotives, yet decide to sell Frisco 1522, which has a lot of local connections to the St. Louis area both during its regular service life on the Frisco and during its 14 year excursion career. Then again, if the offer was substantial enough, I guess anything is possible. At the moment I am inclined not to believe it. However, Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson 2839 ended up at a car museum in California, so who knows?

Steven Ashley
Spartanburg, SC

[quote="Steven Ashley"]However, Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson 2839 ended up at a car museum in California, so who knows?/quote]

Just to consider, CP 2839 was never owned by a museum or excursion line, but by a consortium of private owners originally...... By the time of the sale to the California owner, there's no telling who might have actually held "title"......

I for one am fervently praying that this is just a hoax. I am a volunteer tour guide at MOT and this is the first I knew of this. Read a post on FB this morning. AS far as I know I haven't heard any "talk" going around MOT on this. The 1522 is one of our popular attractions. Not to mention the local historical significance.

The Trainorders.com post was worded close to or exactly the same. I think it's the same as the original poster. Until I see something official, I am a very skeptical. This is the danger of the internet, though rumors have been common in railroading and railway preservation long before Al Gore invented the Internet.

I did hear however, the deal to sell 1522 fell through when the buyer found the NYC Hudson in a barn in northern Ohio, and traded the PRR 0-6-0 that was in the quarry for it.... (Runs)

I'm not sure if you can view it, but I found it on the American-Rails.com Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/americanrails/posts/167516959962639?notif_t=share_reply

I'm in the same skeptic boat. Something tells me it originated from a foamer's mind that wandered a little too far...

Aren't we about 6 weeks early for April 1st?

Jeff

Could this be the same CA gent who "bought" the #261, but really didn't? Some RYPN regulars claimed to have all the details on this mystery buyer. When I guessed Neil Young, it was so emphatically denied that I figured it might be true.

The story on #1522 is probably bunk, but is worth asking in light of the #261 stories.

Rob

A couple of posts on the MOT Facebook page reference the "sale" of 1522. Scroll down a bit and you'll find them:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Museum-of ... 020?ref=mf

The posts reference a "Veronica Smith" as "curator." Toby Ellison is the Curator of Collections at MOT, and Molly Butterworth is the director. A quick check of the phone directory shows no "Veronica Smith." Of course, until someone calls the office Monday morning, nothing is definite.

It is interesting to see that the people who are reporting the "sale" have no connection to MOT or the Transportation Museum Association. One person who allegedly received the call out of the blue still thought the long-departed John Roberts was still curator. Someone is having fun at other people's expense. The internet just allows bad rumors to spread.

Molly Butterworth used to post here on RyPN. Molly, if you're still out there, a quick note could put an end to all the speculation...

Steve Hunter
Cardinal, Ontario

But that would be no fun. Let's not allow facts to interfere with the flow of disinformation, it could become a habit and then what would the media do for news?

dave