Ran across this recent photo of ex-GTW 8374 at Galt, Illinois. Contact Illinois RR Museum if you need one.

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?200207142236143030.jpg:bydate::bydate%3A4
ryarger@rypn.org

Weren't NW Steel and Wire's switchers the last steam locomotives to opperate in revenue service domestiacally?
Sincerely,
David Ackerman

david_ackerman@yahoo.com

> Ran across this recent photo of ex-GTW 8374
> at Galt, Illinois. Contact Illinois RR
> Museum if you need one.

Anyone know if any of the parts missing are stored somehwere? We might be able to find a location here for it, but this baby looks like even doing just a cosmetic restoration would
be difficult.

TJ Gaffney


Port Huron Museum

tjgaffney@phmuseum.org

IRM is asking a fortune for this engine, atop the asbestos removal fees and cost of transporting it. Its just not economically viable for very many people to buy the "stripped down" locomotive, hire an asbestos abatement contractor, then split her in half to move it out in three oversized truck loads. All this for a locomotive that IRM says cannot be leagally operated due to agreement with NSW.

I think IRM should offer to donate the locomotive to a party that has the resources to abate the asbestos and move the loco. That would at least lessen the sting.


todengine@woh.rr.com

> IRM is asking a fortune for this engine,
> atop the asbestos removal fees and cost of
> transporting it. Its just not economically
> viable for very many people to buy the
> "stripped down" locomotive, hire
> an asbestos abatement contractor, then split
> her in half to move it out in three
> oversized truck loads. All this for a
> locomotive that IRM says cannot be leagally
> operated due to agreement with NSW.

> I think IRM should offer to donate the
> locomotive to a party that has the resources
> to abate the asbestos and move the loco.
> That would at least lessen the sting.

Well, here we go again. It seems like every few months, there's somebody who wants to complain that IRM should donate an 0-8-0, that the asking prices are too high, or that somehow IRM is making certain that the locomotives don't find a good home.

Here's the deal, folks. We have been trying to find homes for the remaining 0-8-0's for MORE THAN A DECADE. Sure, we've had lots of nibbles, but to date only two organizations followed through. In the meantime, we're paying monthly track rental charges. We'd like nothing better than to find good homes for them.

So let's correct some of the MANY errors in the above post. The parts are stored and can go with the locos, as we've told anyone who's made a serious inquiry (rather than simply posted a gripe).

As for asbestos, it's a fact of life--if you are going to deal with steam, then that's something that has to be considered.

Loading and trucking isn't cheap, true, but it sure isn't impossible. And if the trucking charge is too much, then where is the money coming from for the rest of the work, which even for a cosmetic restoration with cost many, many, MANY times more?

As for the price of the loco--which is negotiable--it's hardly a "fortune"; chances are, it will cost more to move than to buy. What we've received for the two sold to date is a heck of a lot less than others have been getting for equivalent equipment (in fact, it's about 10% of what we just paid for a much smaller locomotive), and largely goes to pay back the costs we've incurred over the years.

So please, gentlemen, if you SERIOUSLY want a GTW 0-8-0, then contact me and we'll cut a deal today.

Kevinmccabe@avenew.com

In Re:

> All this for a locomotive that IRM says cannot be leagally operated due to agreement with NSW.

Is there any truth to this? If so how broad is the agreement? Would using the frame, wheels, and other parts in a replication project be 'legal'?



rrhistorian@hotmail.com

> In Re:

> Is there any truth to this? If so how broad
> is the agreement? Would using the frame,
> wheels, and other parts in a replication
> project be 'legal'?

The donation agreement stated that they could not be operated. Now that NSW is bankrupt, will it be enforced? Sorry, I can't offer a legal opinion on that.


kevinmccabe@avenew.com

Carry that one step further - Is there any mechanical or severe safety reason why the GTW switchers could not be restored to operable status?

As I recall, several were traded as steel in exchange for a prize CB&Q Mikado. I would assume that the poorest of the 0-8-0's went to sacrifice?

glueck@saturn.caps.maine.edu

Unfortunatly not the case. The five 0-8-0s closest to the C&NW switch went to scrap, including No. 12 which was one of the best of show. No. 74, furthest from the C&NW has a totally worn out crown brass and was pretty well stripped, although as Kevin mentioned, IRM would make it whole.
J. David


jdconrad@snet.net