In the middle of other phone calls attempting to broker, or help people find, other rail equipment, the following loco fell ignominiously into the conversation:
http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomo ... splay=1672
This little 1877-built Belgian switcher was brought to the States by Nelson Blount for Steamtown; it parted from the collection in the 1988 Steamtown Foundation surplus auction and was acquired by a party in Susquehanna, Pa. for display at the Starucca House restaurant. The original owner died, and the costs of the building forced the business to close down, and the building has reportedly been for sale for some years.
I was informed that a private party bought the "lokie" some years ago and relocated it to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area. That owner is reportedly (according to one of his many alleged creditors) in bankruptcy, or about to be so.
It's entirely possible for a little gem like this to fall through the proverbial cracks or ties, and my friend and I have no desire to see this thing meet an ignominious end. This is a hideously impractical and barely historical piece, but if someone really wants a unique lawn ornament or live-steam project, start preparing a firm proposal and/or raiding the savings account.....
(Note: This party supposedly had other rail equipment in a couple places; I am informed that all non-historic stuff has already been scrapped and/or liquidated, and that a discussion is ensuing over another historic piece, supposedly belonging to another party, supposedly still on "his" (leased) property. Please do NOT air "dirty laundry" or allegations, name names, etc. in this forum. Focus strictly on preservation possibilities.)
