Austin's SP 786 Rebuild Progress?

Rob Gardner · **Joined:** Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:50 pm **Posts:** 576

Group,

Are there any updates available on the completion of the rebuild of Austin Steam Train Association's SP MK-6 2-8-2 No. 786? Their website hasn't been updated in a while but I thought the machining of the new cylinders was complete and they had now commenced with reassembly of the chassis and running gear. Are there any new roadblocks in the way? This one has been quite a few years in the making.

Tieing into Dave's comment on another recent thread, it would be nice to see the boys in Austin and the boys in Louisiana work out a deal to get an SP 2-8-2 running in Austin (745) while 786 is completed. Seems like a perfect opportunity and model for two similar groups helping each other out much like many of the groups in England do on a regular basis.

Sincerely,

Rob Gardner

Txhighballer · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:49 am **Posts:** 773

ASTA is still raising money to finish the rebuild, and the lease option was explored at one time, but reasons why it was not done and why there is not more cooperation is obvious...

CREEPING DEATH · **Joined:** Sun Oct 24, 2010 6:22 pm **Posts:** 275

I have no doubt they'll finish the project... eventually. They're busy running sold-out coach trains pulled by a diesel anyway!

Eli