I finally broke down and purchased a film and photo scanner. Here are some Kodak Ektrachrome Instamatic slides taken by a friend of mine of C&O 2770 being scrapped in Ashland, Kentucky in April of 1971. 2770 was one of the locomotives held by the C&O for possible donation. By 1971, it had deteriorated so much, that it was scrapped.

David W.
Processed by Kodak, MO

Two more from the series:

Today, we'd say, "this could be saved" if we encountered this engine in that condition. Locomotives in far worse shape have probably been resotred to operation.
There's a lesson in that among the 'I can't maintain everything at the museum, so I'll scrap what i don't think is worth my time' crowd...

Lee -

Sadder than losing the 2770 (and another Kanawha) was the scrapping of 2-8-2 #1189. She would have been the only C&O Mikado saved.

Les

I believe 2772 was the other locomotive scrapped. Here she is in Russell, KY at about the same time. Also, here is a photo of the 2-8-2, 1189. It's the only photo of 1189 in the set, and not a very good one as it does not show the whole locomotive.

This is sad, but sometimes there's just nothing you can do to prevent it.
There are hundreds of engines that we all wish had been saved. Not enough money, museums, volunteers and resources to do it all.
This isn't meant to start a "Gee I wish they had saved a ****".

I'd argue that C&O 2700s are a tad over-preserved. It is a shame that one of those that the C&O donated to the city could have been the 2-8-2 instead, just for variety's sake.

What exactly was the reason - or, just how did C&O management justify the costs of saving so many Berkshires (Let along several other pieces, including a few articulates.)

Sad that B&O did not do likewise, nor several other lines - so many.

/Mitch

Probably a quick, merciful death compared to the protracted "scrapping" of some of the Kanawhas that were preserved- inflicted by the elements, vandals, and misbegotten restoration attempts that ran out of steam & money.

For the record, of the 13 Kanawha's that the Chesapeake & Ohio saved, only one was subsequently scrapped (due to vandalism). I'm not sure how many of the remaining dozen are in rough shape, but at least they still exist. Although the C&O eventually scrapped the last remaining 2-8-2, the railroad did a remarkable job of preserving steam. Besides the 2-8-4's, there is a Hudson, a Northern, two 2-6-6-2's, two Allegheny's, a Ten-Wheeler, a Consolidation and two Pere Marquette Berks. The Kanawha's were modern power, and the C&O seems to have been proud of them. That may explain why so many were preserved. Whatever ther reason, hats off, even at this late date, to the railroads managers and their steam preservation program.

Les

Not only was the 1189 the last C&O 2-8-2, she was the last USRA heavy Mike. Several light 2-8-2s from various railroads are still around, both original USRA and later copies. But the big girls are extinct.

PRR8157 -

Closest we probably came was the ex-W&LE heavy USRA 2-8-2 that had been earmarked for Canton, Ohio. But the city apparently wanted a genuine W&LE Brewster-built steamer and so 0-6-0 #360 (ex-W&LE #3960) was substituted instead.

Les

It seems like someone, who had an interest in any operating locomotive or who worked at a museum, should have known the value in removing all the common appurtenances and appliances: valves, pumps, brake parts, gauges, pops, whistle, firebox doors, headlight, etc.., and stashed them in their groups "parts room", as they were in short supply even then.

David, thank you for sharing the images. I believe I've visited six of the survivors of this class. I'd love to see one brought back to excursion service (yes, I know). According to Staufer's C&O Power, these were highly successful, multi-purpose locomotives, which might explain the record number of preserved members of the class. I does seem odd that 13 went into museums and parks, while the Hudson's and several other notables were eradicated. Perhaps it was the fact that so many Kanawhas were available after the others were consigned to scrap.

Being from the heart of C&O country in Charleston and Huntington, these photos are a sad thing to see. Sad, but it is great to see that the C&O did have pride in their history and wanted to preserve it for future generations. I wish I could say the same thing about the C&O's successor in terms of pride in history and heritage.