There is a photo on the Ahead of the Torch (AOTT) website showing a photo of the front end of Grand Trunk Western 2-8-2 # 4070 at the Midwest Railway Historical Society site. Obviously this is not the REAL front end of the Mike as MRHS is still in the process of restoring it. However, it is very authentic. Wonder if someone from MRHS might post how it was done as other museums might be interested. It's certainly a more relevant display rather than just showing a locomotive headlight, bell, classification lights, number plate, etc. as separate items.

Les

Comments and replies from the organization on the Midwest Railway Preservation Society Facebook page (where the original photo was posted) indicate that it is the actual smokebox front for the locomotive. It's simply being used as a display alongside their donation box until the time comes for it to be reinstalled on the locomotive.

Jake -

Well, my face is red! Not only did I think it was strictly a display and not the front of the 4070's smoke box, but I also got the name of the organization wrong! Ten lashes with a wet noodle! Thanks for submitting the photo, and Mr. Morrison's explanation. HOWEVER, it leads me to the question, could such a display be produced? The big problem would be to get the "curve" on the smoke box door. But replication of the rest of it seems plausible. And headlight, number plate, classification lights, and bell (IF it was mounted on the smoke box front) would be authentic pieces. I wonder if any museum (or private owner), has ever done anything like this? Comments welcome!

Les

I believe I've also seen a similar display in photos taken at the Age of Steam Roundhouse. I'm not sure what the background is on that one as far as authenticity of the components.

If those parts are in fact off 4070, the display has to weigh a good 1000 pounds. Smokebox face of Maine Central 470 weighed in at 700 pounds, not counting the door, and brackets. This is a great public awareness tool however, and could make for a great parade float display.

“I believe I've also seen a similar display in photos taken at the Age of Steam Roundhouse. I'm not sure what the background is on that one as far as authenticity of the components.”
Jake

You are correct, Jake. Back in 1956-57, B&O 2-8-2 #417 was the favorite steam locomotive of Jerry Jacobson, who, 50 years later along with his wife, Laura, would become the founder, builder and benefactor of the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum located in Sugarcreek, Ohio.

Using a real locomotive smokebox front, real B&O classification lamps, a real B&O Capital Dome emblem, and a real B&O headlight, this display was assembled to honor Jerry’s memory by his best friend since childhood, Mike Costill, who has been a regular weekly volunteer at the roundhouse since its construction. The only item that is not real is the 417 front number plate, as the original has never been located and is presumed to have been scrapped along with the 2-8-2. Be safe.

John B. Corns

John -

Thanks for the info on the "front end display" of B&O 2-8-2 # 417 at the Age of Steam Roundhouse. Having a genuine smoke box front, was obviously the key to making that display. Have to put that on my bucket list!

Now the question is, can a "faux" museum display be made without a genuine locomotive front end?

Les

Per John Corns comment of the Age of Steam Roundhouse's display. Here is the smoke box front as the B&O 417.
TJ Sposato

Gatorfoam backing a pressed or spun sheet metal face, or vacuformed plastic. Think stage set technology........

For a good looking faux steam locomotive front, the Railroaders Memorial Museum has recreated the front of the 1361 in their main lobby area.

Rick -

Thanks! Did the "front end" of PRR K4 #1361 use a real locomotive front end, or was it replicated? If replicated, perhaps someone from the Railroaders Memorial Museum can furnish us with construction details.

Les

The "front end" replication at the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum is indeed made from the actual front of K4S # 1361. Sparks Exhibits of Philadelphia fabricated and installed all exhibits within the Master Mechanics building in the period 1996-1998 based on the design package prepared by the Museum and Christopher Chadbourne & Associates, then of Cambridge, MA.

The material used to create the mold was a rubber-like material very similar to what is used to make dental impressions. The mold was then used to create the piece using fiberglass and other fillers. The number plate and builders plate on the lobby locomotive were made using the same techniques. Similar technology was used to craft the the 13 life-cast figures in the museum by Studio EIS of Brooklyn, NY.

Peter Barton
former Director, ARMM (1990-1999)
Fort Pierce, FL

Peter -

Thanks very much for the info. A mold eh? Sounds like a good way to do it...IF you have something to take the mold off of! Nice to have the original 1361 there.


Les

There was possibly another "authentic steam locomotive front" floating around central Pennsylvania for a while.

When Dick Sanders, the man mostly behind the West Shore Rail Excursions operation on the ex-PRR between Lewisburg and Mifflinburg, Pa. (and then later between Delta Place and Winfield on the former Reading main) somewhat inexplicably purchased the technical remnants of the Bellefonte Central RR--or at least claimed to have--it includes about one mile of track, the Coleville enginehouse, and lying in the mud/dirt out behind the enginehouse, a boiler front plate and smokebox door from one of the line's former PRR steamers. As I understood it, Sanders let the Bellefonte Historical RR have the one snowplow (or it was donated before sale), but managed to get a bunch of collectibles out of the enginehouse, including probably marker lights, tools, paperwork, etc.

Sanders had the boiler front hauled out to Mifflinburg and placed it on display at the operation's Mifflinburg terminal, repainted and adorned with markers and a fake(?) number plate. That was the last I definitely remember seeing of it; it's possible it was hauled to Delta Place or to his own barn, and may still be in the family's possession; or it may have gone to another display site somewhere, like Bellefonte (it didn't end up at the rail-themed Rusty Rail Brewing in Mifflinburg, an obvious potential display site). And none of this is mentioned, as far as I can determine, in Mike Bezilla and Jack Rudnicki's book Rails to Penn State: The Story of the Bellefonte Central.

Anyone know where it is now?

Come now Alexander, you cannot just leave a comment like that hanging...

GME