No, not because the ACL 501 is the oldest shovel nose and only E3 in existence (upgraded to an E6). No not because she ran over 6 million miles in revenue service right up to Amtrak Day. But rather because that's a father son team giving her a spring bath. They spend a long Saturday, volunteering and really working hard, every Saturday here at Spencer. Our museums need more John and Noahs. This museum is fortunate.

I started volunteering at "my" train museum when I was about 16 years old. I was too young to volunteer on my own, so my Dad joined train crew as well, just so I could volunteer. Dad stopped volunteering when I turned 18 (he was a bit uncomfortable with all the heavy machinery), as I was then old enough to volunteer on my own. I got my car and my driver's license at that time too, so I could drive myself to the museum.

Still, having a Dad and a rail museum that allowed me to "learn the ropes" on train crew that early on is something I'll always be thankful for. I joined the museum, thinking I would use that experience to prepare me for a career on BNSF or UP, and instead it got me heavily involved in historic preservation and interpretation.

And yes, I learned to operate air brakes on a train before I could drive a car. :)

I was there the day Drew (I don't remember if he had on his green hat) got to work on a "full-scale" NP coach by himself. I was working on another car and gave him minimal guidance. I remember he found some beautiful cut glass, although broken, with the NP logo up where the clear story windows had been and he was ecstatic.

To each his own but I wouldn't call it a shovel nose but a slant nose.

Oldest slant nose: The model E in Baltimore.*

Oldest shovel nose: Pioneer Zephyr, Chicago.

*EA for those who selectively insist on stating A/B designation on this one but not on, say, an E8.

Steve

I remember the day well (I think that was only a year or two ago). And yes, I had my green hat on (I had to wash it for the first time shortly after working on that coach). :)

Yes Steve, somehow I forgot the B&O EA. But in my mind CB&Q 9900 and 9908 are not shovel noses because the cab is in what would be the nose. Yes, to each his own. Have a good day.