B&LE 2-10-4 # 643

John D · **Posted:** Wed Oct 09, 2002 7:22 am

There has been some discussion of this locomotive on trainorders.com. Does anyone know if relocating this locomotive to Steamtown has ever been considered (either for operational or display purposes)?

jcpdeke@aol.com

Dave Crosby · **Posted:** Wed Oct 09, 2002 5:32 pm

Yes Actually...

The 643 came VERY close to relocation to Scranton in 1995. The Steamtown Grand Opening Committie, an organization of local political and business figures advanced an offer to the then-owners of the locomotive. The Grand Opening Committie was set up as a seperate organization from Steamtown to coordinate funding for the special events that were to coincide with the opeing of the new Steamtown museum in 1995.

After a verbal agreement was reached but before papers were signed, the then-owners of the engine accepted a higher offer by the now-owners of the engine. Now she sits deteriorating in western PA, whith no concrete operating plan, nowhere to run and needing a near-complete rebuild if it were ever to operate again.

The Grand Opening Committie was dissolved after its financial obligations were fufilled and the money that was allocated for the 643 was diverted elsewhere.

Sad for an engine that was actually steam-tested in 1997.

Dave Crosby

bing@epix.net

Bruce Manwiller · **Posted:** Wed Oct 09, 2002 9:54 pm

> Yes Actually...

> The 643 came VERY close to relocation to
> Scranton in 1995. The Steamtown Grand
> Opening Committie, an organization of local
> political and business figures advanced an
> offer to the then-owners of the locomotive.
> The Grand Opening Committie was set up as a
> seperate organization from Steamtown to
> coordinate funding for the special events
> that were to coincide with the opeing of the
> new Steamtown museum in 1995.

> After a verbal agreement was reached but
> before papers were signed, the then-owners
> of the engine accepted a higher offer by the
> now-owners of the engine. Now she sits
> deteriorating in western PA, whith no
> concrete operating plan, nowhere to run and
> needing a near-complete rebuild if it were
> ever to operate again.

> The Grand Opening Committie was dissolved
> after its financial obligations were
> fufilled and the money that was allocated
> for the 643 was diverted elsewhere.

> Sad for an engine that was actually
> steam-tested in 1997.

> Dave Crosby

Steam tested? Hydrostatic test? Or merely moved pressurized with compressed air?

Bruce Manwiller

bruceman@stargate.net

dave833 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 09, 2002 11:52 pm

> Steam tested? Hydrostatic test? Or merely
> moved pressurized with compressed air?

> Bruce Manwiller

The discussion on Trainorders.com said the #643 was steam tested in 1987, not 1997. That date makes more sense to me given the sparse coverage the engine's had on the internet and the apparent condition it's in now. If it had steamed in '97 I think we would have heard more about it.

davew833@yahoo.com

Rick · **Posted:** Thu Oct 10, 2002 4:53 am

> The discussion on Trainorders.com said the
> #643 was steam tested in 1987, not 1997.
> That date makes more sense to me given the
> sparse coverage the engine's had on the
> internet and the apparent condition it's in
> now. If it had steamed in '97 I think we
> would have heard more about it.

It was 1987. Test fired under steam. Cylinders were not put together so she did not move under her own power. A photo in Trains Mag. in 1987 verifies this.

http://www.todengine.org
jrowlands@neo.rr.com

Bruce Manwiller · **Posted:** Thu Oct 10, 2002 8:09 am

> It was 1987. Test fired under steam.
> Cylinders were not put together so she did
> not move under her own power. A photo in
> Trains Mag. in 1987 verifies this.

I witnessed the 1987 test at Glenwood. The fire was allowed to burn out after the crew couldn't figure out how to operate the exhaust steam injector. When the whistle was tried out, it wouldn't shut off. The nonstop whistle brought on an onslaught of all sorts of fire and emergency equipment, complete with flashing red lights and sirens, despite prior notice that smoke would be generated during the test firing.
The 643's current owner tells me he has moved the 643 several times on compressed air since the 1987 test.

bruceman@stargate.net

James Hefner · **Posted:** Thu Oct 10, 2002 8:45 am

> The 643's current owner tells me he has
> moved the 643 several times on compressed
> air since the 1987 test.

Is Glenn Campbell still the owner of this locomotive, or has it changed hands?

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Locomotives
james1@pernet.net

Dave Crosby · **Posted:** Thu Oct 10, 2002 2:29 pm

Jeez

You can proof-read something a hundred times... I meant to say 1987. Argh....

Dave Crosby

bing@epix.net

Bruce Manwiller · **Posted:** Thu Oct 10, 2002 4:30 pm

> Is Glenn Campbell still the owner of this
> locomotive, or has it changed hands?

> -James Hefner
> Hebrews 10:20a

Well, actually, yes, but a little birdie tells me that ummfff mfffummm, mffghhmm mfffgh ummmff.
And that's all I can say about that right now...

Bruce Manwiller

bruceman@stargate.net

Rick · **Posted:** Thu Oct 10, 2002 5:53 pm

> Well, actually, yes, but a little birdie
> tells me that ummfff mfffummm, mffghhmm
> mfffgh ummmff.
> And that's all I can say about that right
> now...

> Bruce Manwiller

Come on Bruce. You as well as I know that nothing is going to happen with that locomotive. Glen has had "something in the works" with that thing for years and nothing has happened.

http://www.todengine.org
jrowlands@neo.rr.com

B&LE 2-10-4 # 643

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