Anybody happen to know the status of the Cushing Crushed Stone Company Model 40 that was in Amsterdam, New York? I believe it carried EMD serial number 8134.

Les

Last I heard it was still there. This was a year ago or so. I know I would save it it was available.

I once spoke with the company and the first thing out of the owner's mouth was "It's not for sale." I wasn't interested in buying it, but instead was just confirming that it was still there. At last report it still was, but it was inoperative.

Hello Model 40 fans… and more importantly those interested in preservation!

I wanted to post that the Cushing Stone Model 40 is the focus of one of our most recent restoration / preservation proposals. I’ve been communicating with Cushing Stone since Nov. 2007 officially on behalf of our rail preservation group based out of Roanoke VA (Roanoke Rail Car). I’ve been in continued contact with the office of (John Tesiero) President of Cushing Stone Corp for more than a year working out details. I made my first visit to Amsterdam NY in 2006 to inspect the Cushing Stone Model 40 #264 and found it to be in rather complete condition and suitable for our groups needs. Since 2006 our group has secured the funds needed to acquire the Locomotive pending the approval of our offer and our group also has acquired a quote and agreement from a heavy hauler for the movement of the Locomotive from it’s present location in Amsterdam NY to our groups base in Roanoke VA. The Locomotive would be moved over the road and all routes and arrangements have been investigated to secure the proper route. The heavy hauler is an experienced mover of rail-equipment and they have been very co-operative. Currently my rail preservation group and I are waiting for the convening of the board of directors of Cushing Stone for the decision to be made on our offer. Our offer was made to be flexible and has been modified over the last couple of years to reflect current and changing scrap value and transportation cost to keep out offer competitive. As well our group approached Cushing with a multi-tiered offer with different ways the final offer could be worked out. Ranging from a strait forward purchase of the Locomotive to a full donation of it or a blend of the two equaling a partial payment with a partial donation and we have explained how each way could benefit Cushing and our group. Our rail preservation group is a registered 501c organization whose goal is always to preserve rail equipment and artifacts for the enjoyment of everyone. Our group is interesting in fully restoring the Locomotive to complete and accurate operational condition to be used in a scenic park based location operating on a 9 mile long railway using other vintage locomotives, historic equipment, cabooses and private equipment.

Steve Smith
Roanoke Rail Car
Rail-Equipment and Artifact Preservation.

Steve -

Great news about the Cushing Stone Company Model 40. Hope everything comes to a satisfactory fruition for you guys. I sure did manage to screw up the EMC (EMD) serial number on this unit. It is #1834, NOT #8134 as in my original posting. Sorry about that!

I received a very nice list of surviving Model 40's. With the addition of the Cushing Stone unit, here is those that are still in existance:

s/n 1134 At a museum in Nova Scotia
s/n 1309 Lake Superior Railroad Museum/Duluth, Minnesota
s/n 1834 Amsterdam, New York/possibly going to Roanoke, Virginia
s/n 1835 Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana
s/n 2284 Being rebuilt by a locomotive rebuilder in northwest Indiana
s/n 2285 Walkersville Southern
s/n 2287 Travel Town Museum/Los Angeles, California
s/n 2288 Industrial Museum in York, Pennsylvania

So, of the original 11 built, these 8 still survive. A rather amazing statistic I think. Additions/corrections are obviously welcome.

Les

Here's a shot of the one in Nova Scotia. It is currently stored indoors, and will most likely never see the light of day. It is very difficult to get in to see #20. I luckily had the opportunity a few years ago to do just that. It's in decent shape considering it sat outside behind the museum on display for a bunch of years before going indoors with ex-Sydney & Louisburg #42, a CN 0-6-0, a a couple small diesels. #20 was the original Model 40 Demonstrator. My group has an interest in it because it worked in nearby St. Catharines Ontario for many years, along with another rare GM diesel, which is now in Michigan. #20 has no couplers at this time, as they were only held in by a pin, and have most likely long since been lost. I was not able to check the mechanical condition while I was there, and I can't find my photos right now, so I've attached a shot of it inside the Glace Bay shops in 1978.

Ken Jones Jr.
Niagara Railway Museum
http://www.nfrm.ca

There is one in Northern Kentucky. I have the builder plate waiting to see if it will be saved and preserved to donate the plate back.

I think the number is 2234.

-Joe

I couldn't help myself. I added the above information to the Wikipedia page.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_Model_40
If you have any other information you can fill that out with, please do.

Ok Guys, Please notice the Cushing Stone Model 40 is the focus of one of our most recent preservation proposals and while I would love to say that the Cushing Stone Model 40 has been saved, it has not, and is still located in Amsterdam NY. The Model 40 has not made it to Roanoke VA as of Yet, it is our plan and is our present proposal, that has yet to be accepted by Cushing we are still awaiting a final decision from the board of directors. So as of right now the Cushing Stone Model 40 is still in Amsterdam NY and is still in danger of not being preserved, until further notice.

Steven -

My bad! I shouldn't have entered it that way on the list. I have corrected it on the original and hope that meets with your approval. If not, please let me know.

Les

Here's a fair question for Steven Smith and Co.:

There are, as far as I can tell, several railroad restoration projects worthy of attention in the Roanoke area. These include the Virginia Museum of Transportation and their exhibits, the Virginian depot, the "Lost Engines of Roanoke," and others.

Having said that--and being fully aware that a Model 40 would make a better shop switcher than just about ANY steamer, let alone a 4-8-0--what becomes the justification used to explain the fact that a party from southwestern Virginia is expending dollars and efforts to pluck a rare locomotive model with no ties to the area from several states away to a Roanoke project? Was there not a switcher that could have been leased/borrowed from the VMT? Nothing industrial closer to home? Or is someone just obsessed with Model 40s?

Lord knows, I've given many dollars to the preservation of locos on other continents I had never seen in person, so I'm hardly of a "clean conscience" in such a discussion. But what I fear is a public perception that the "local" scene has failed to the extent that others are reaching far afield for worthwhile projects, at the expense of "local" projects. Of course, if reason dictated all rail preservation, nothing would ever get saved, so................

Speaking of Models 40s, what happened to the Model 40 that was in Mohall, North Dakota? Here is my report to LocoNotes in August 1994:

FARMERS UNION ELEVATOR CO., Mohall, ND (25 August 1994) - EMD Model 40 here used to switch grain hopper cars at new grain elevator. Model 40 is painted two-tone yellow and red. Purchased on 28 May 1993, directly from the Indian Head coal mine at Zap, ND (no dealer involved). Re-engined with a single Cummins Model NTC-400, 400 hp engine in March 1978. No identifying marks or metal stampings on body, draftgear buffer, or frame, except "92" in small stamp on right rear frame, and "27" in 3-inch letters painted over on left cab side. Also 24-inch Indian Head company name and logo on both cab sides painted over. Rear headlight painted over (no glass) and replaced by two auto-type spotlights. The Model 40 at Mohall joins two Whiting Trackmobiles used by Farmer's Union at main elevator located in Minot, ND, switched by Soo Line. The elevator at Mohall is located on BN branch and supplies about 25 cars per week (when cars are available) year around to the BN local that services the branch once a week. Mohall is located about 47 miles north of Minot (37 miles north, then 10 miles west)

Don Strack

The Model 40 at the Agricultural and Industrial Museum in York, PA was featured in the September 1972 issue of Trains. It was the plant switcher for the AMF (Harley Davidson) plant down there and got donated to the museum. It was originally painted 'Harley Davidson Orange' and had a name "Big Bill" and an AMF logo on the side.

I'd inquired about it for another client and got into a good discussion on it with the museum. The curator frankly didn't know what it was or why they had it as it is the only 'train thing' they have. I got him the historic data, along with a copy of that TRAINS spread. A couple years ago, it was 'out behind the museum, under a tarp, weathered to a wierd shade of pink'. So he had enough information from me to go after a restoration grant, but I was done after that. I at least got it sufficiently documented for their collection records. I'll have the opportunity to be down there this month and may stop in to find out what ever happened to it.

The Model 40 at AMF originally worked at the Naval Ordinance Plant, which was the previous owner of the site. IRRC, it was painted gray with black lettering, like everything else in the place. When AMF took over, before Harley Davidson, the switcher was white with red/orange lettering and was called Big Joe, after the plant manager, Joe LaBarbara, again if my memory is still accurate. I worked there on and off from 1960 to 1966. Later, after I left AMF, it was renamed Big Bill, after another PM or president or someone like that. I lost track of the loco after I left York in 1966. Glad to hear it's still around!

Gee where do I start…

Alexander, I’ve lived most of my life here in the Roanoke Valley except the 5 or so years I lived in Japan (2002-2007) and from my experience here is the way I see things in the Roanoke Valley pertaining to Rail Equipment & Artifact preservation. I’ll try really hard not to pull out the Flamethrower or stand on the soap-box too long on any given topic. First let’s list the rail-related groups here in the Roanoke Valley proper…
a) Roanoke Chapter NRHS
b) Virginia Museum of Transportation
c) N&W / Virginian Railway Historical Society
d) O’ Winston Link Museum
e) Western Virginia Railway Preservation Society
f) Roanoke Rail Car
g) Friends of The Virginian Ry
h) Various Private Equipment Owners (Private Car & Equipment Owners)
i) Various Corporations with Historic Equipment (Lost Engines, and others)

Heck there may be more who knows, I try to stay involved with all the above groups given time and projects. I work for Norfolk Southern in the Research & Test Department and spend half my time out on the rails inspecting track and rail infrastructure through out the East 22 US states, my assigned Office Car is NS-36. The reason I mention all of these is that I do my best as an individual to be involved with all the groups above and avoid any resemblance of Conflict of Interest. I’ve been a Private car owner since I bought my first Heavy Weight Pullman just after graduation High School. Since then I’ve bought, and or assisted in the saving and placing countless pieces of equipment into museums, private collections for preservation. I bank roll these projects out of my pocket! Many of the museums in the mid Atlantic region of the US have equipment that we saved from the scraper and in most cases donated to there collections. You ask why is a group or individual stepping out of there area to try and save equipment when their are many “potential” projects available right here in our own Roanoke Valley. Well here we go…

a) Roanoke Chapter NRHS
The Roanoke Chapter has been out of it’s element since the end of the NS steam program in mid 90’s, The Roanoke Chapter centered it’s existence around running trips and operating equipment in that fashion. Since the end of the Steam Program the Chapter has been floundering around looking for a purpose and or direction. Some eight years ago or so and while I lived out of the country the Roanoke Chapter adopted the project of restoring the former Virginian Roanoke Station. The station right around it’s time of donation burned to the ground and now with the Roanoke Chapter dedicating all of it’s resources and more to it’s resurrection it’s been an up hill battle over the last 5 or more years little if anything has been done to the station in the since of actual preservation other than paperwork. I’ve personally helped maintain the property around the station in hopes that one day progress will be made. Long story short The Roanoke Chapter has committed it’s time and energy to bringing this station back from the land of the dead and while there resources are tied up in that they are also trying to maintain there eclectic collection of Steam Program Equipment as well the Roanoke Chapter is lobbing to operate a Belt line railway locally with historic equipment. The Roanoke Chapter is over extended and doesn’t have the drive and or people to take care of what they have or much less move forward. They are grasping with the idea of shedding some of there equipment to lessen the load on the hand full of people who try to keep the “Mechanical Dept” floating. Currently the Roanoke Chapter has an N&W Alco T6 #41 Operational (Questionable dependability) and an N&W EMD GP-30 #522 (Questionable dependability, Blown Turbo and other problems) both units are in need of new Radiators and other items. I’m looking at the Model 40 as an option for moving equipment and for operations on lighter days, with less fuel consumption given today’s market. I’m leading the acquisition of the Model 40 using my own Non-Profit group to assist in areas where the Chapter can’t extend it’s self and again I’m bank rolling this out of my pocket. There is so much more going on below the surface in this group it would take more time and space to cover than I can allow right now…

b) Virginia Museum of Transportation
Wow what can you say about this group that hasn’t already been said more than once, and again I’m trying real hard not to pick up the flamethrower here on this one but the Museum is in desperate times, even with the matching funds offer from NS (My employer) I’m not talking for the railroad or on their behalf but the ability of the museum to come up with 2million to get the 1million from the railroad is highly unlikely given today’s economy and local “Political” environment amongst the many rail groups in the Roanoke Valley, where there are years and years (Let we say decades) of group disputes, ranging from people just not working together to members of one group calling the police on members of other groups when they show up to photograph equipment or events on each others “Turf” while the environment has been hostel over the years things have been getting better in recent years purely for the fact that many of the disputes are “Dieing off”. The Virginia Museum of Transportation as said before in desperate times, paying the light bills has been knows to come out of employees pockets to keep the doors open. As for the collections, most locals consider the Museum as the “downtown scrap yard” not flaming here this is factual. Their has been NO restoration performed on any equipment in years and no money is budgeted for it either. The Museum has a very strict hands off approach to there collections no volunteers are allowed on the property at any time (This dictated by delusional members of there board of Legal/liability fears) Really no one can so much as touch anything in or out side the museum, it is stated that nothing will be considered by the museum unless it’s completely restored because they know they do not have the ability to even make the simplest repairs. Where looking at Heavy Knap Paint roller restorations at best if they could afford the supplies which they can’t. Where does this leave the collection, well most of the equipment was completely submerged in the Flood of 1985 and anything that was, was not properly cleaned and or cared for and such and suffer today from the after effects of having river water run through them numerous times. Have I and other considered the preservation, rental or out right purchase of equipment from the Museum? Yes In fact I’m the only person to successfully buy a piece of equipment from the Museum (Southern Heavy Weight Sleeper Glen Summit) but as for any motive power it’s all to fare gone, all the diesels from the early museum days have and suffer from heavy flood damage. Any of the newer Locomotives added to the collection in recent years have been heavily picked over for part’s are shells now with a couple exceptions the W&LE switcher and the CofG SD-7 both are fairly complete but don’t meet my or others needs or focus. From early on the Virginia Museum of Transportation was offered the Lost Engines of Roanoke collection but with little money and no resources nothing to this date has been done other than prevent and block other well meaning groups that might have the funds or drive to save a piece or two of the lost engines collection. Just another example of these are mine and stay away even if I let them rot into the ground or get scraped.

c) N&W / Virginian Railway Historical Society
Paper only group and they do this well and are sticking to this, one of the only groups in our area that has a focus and knows it and is sticking to it.

d) O’ Winston Link Museum
Again a very narrow focused group that doesn’t want to have anything to do with Large Artifacts and or out door maintenance, with the exception of O’ Winston Links Caboose they don’t want to step out of there comfort zone of their narrow focus. The few artifacts in the Museum that are not directly related to links personal collection were restored and donated by friends of mine.

e) Western Virginia Railway Preservation Society
Not really sure what their focus is I know they have been pushing for the preservation of the lost engines but up till now it’s been a tug-a-war with the Virginia Museum of Transportation with them. This is another example of volunteers being frustrated with the lack of opportunity to help at the Museum so they set out on their own to see what they can do because the VMofT is Broke as a preservation organization. This organization sprang up due to frustration with the lack of preservation being done by local groups with there equipment and also the local groups having a hands off my stuff attitude.

f) Roanoke Rail Car
This is a group I co-founded back in the 1990’s to facilitate saving and preserving of equipment in and around the area that no one else was stepping forward to do. Since this groups start dozens of pieces of equipment has avoided the scrapper’s torch using the investment out of our own pockets. My friends and I have personally bought and saved Equipment and Artifacts of all types that can now be found restored in many regional museums and would not have happened had we not stepped forward to do so or left it up to the other organizations in the area due to there limited focus or loss of direction.

g) Friends of The Virginian Ry
A very nice and focused group on the living history of the Virginian Ry and the growing presence in the development of a Virginian Ry museum to be placed in the Roanoke Virginian Station that is currently the bank account emptying project of the Roanoke Chapter.

h) Various Private Equipment Owners (Private Car & Equipment Owners)
People like my self who have taken it on there own to buy and preserve equipment that they like or want to save due to the lack of interest by other groups or lack of group funds or direction. I fall into this group having a large collection of N&W Sheffield Model 41 Motor Cars that no one else wanted and I didn’t want to see them go into the local landfill. I’ve bought an N&W Caboose recently not that I wanted one but more because it was a very nice example of it’s class with no damage and had good equipment and was going to scrap, Why I don’t know but I bought it to protect it. Do I need it no just like I really didn’t need all the Heavy Weight Pullmans I’ve bought over the years to more or less protect them or give them a better home or brighter hope on life. My friends all own Private Pullmans because no one else was working to save them and they would be gone completely if they and
I had not stepped in. I have even more countless friends who own everything from Locomotives, Passenger Cars, Cabooses, Motor Cars, and many types of Artifacts that wouldn’t be here today had they not stepped forward and bank rolled there preservation and restoration.

i) Various Corporations with Historic Equipment (Lost Engines, and others)
Company’s that still have in there position historic pieces of equipment for one reason or another, best example would be the late Virginia Scrap Iron & Metal Co. and it’s collection of historic equipment. Beyond them there are and were many examples of this in our area and many of the artifacts have been saved by groups or individuals if it was possible given the obvious restraints like money and time.

The Model 40 In Amsterdam NY

I heard about the Model 40 in Amsterdam NY on line, I looked it up and researched it while I lived in Japan. In 2006 I drove from Virginia and visited the Locomotive and inspected it for the first time, I was really intrigued by it and the fact it’s rare and no other group had stepped forward to save it. I was aware the Finger Lakes Railway had inquired about it but nothing came of that while given it’s NY roots and local interest It would be nice if a local group stepped forward to save it but up till now no one has and it’s times like this when up and out of now where pieces of equipment get scrapped because the industry they belonged to didn’t know any one wanted it or it had a historic significance. I’ve explained both to Cushing and I feel after my involvement up to this point they understand that what they do have is a locomotive that should be saved by someone and is not something destined for scrap. If this is all my involvement brings is changing this Locomotives destiny from Scrap to preservation by someone was worth the effort. But at this point I do have an interest in the Little Loco and since no one else has stepped up with the money or offer to preserve this historic locomotive I figured I would, I like it and I’m offering to fund its purchase move and restoration. Now should I be working on projects closer to home rather than this Model 40 well guess what I am I’m involved in most any group or project regardless of it’s ultimate chances of success is I still contribute my time and money, problem is these other groups have their rules their collection polices or lack there of and I do what I can with them with their equipment and when that isn’t enough I step out on my own, as I’m doing with the Model 40. Over the last year when not out on the rails working (To pay the bills and fund my hobbies) I’ve personally been involved helping every one of the above listed groups. It all comes down to it’s their equipment and if they don’t want to care for it and I have no access to it then again I must step out on my own with my focus of projects. So much more I could talk about with any of the above groups and the good and bad of what they are doing or not doing, but that’s for another day and time. Today though I’m trying to do what I can to make a difference with the equipment I have access too.