> Is the New York Central Mohawk #3001 at the
> National New York Central RR Museum in
> Elkhart, Indiana still scheduled for
> restoration? I heard that efforts were not
> yet dead in the water.
While not very familiar with the group that owns the engine, I can say that its appearance has improved greatly the last few years.
As far as a "scheduled" restoration to operation, the most basic step to take in Indiana (to place the engine on the National Register) has not taken place. This would assist in securing TEA funds from INDOT. Still a 20% match would be required and that is more money than I suspect is available. Other factors include that the engine is outdoors and the musuem has no shop facility, the engine is now locked to the NS mainline (very difficult to move by rail to a shop) and the reality of operation means few places it could run anyway.
As much as I like this engine myself, I don't think it is realistic to consider an operational restoration at this point. Hopefully, it can be maintained or improved and the museum itself continues to be funded. Perhaps a nomination for the National Register will be the first step.
Oddly enough, their website seems to only have a photo of the Penn Central GG1 and a link to a photo of the E-8 when it was in PC black? The gallery also does not show the engine or the E-8, gray passenger cars, or the crane. No mention of a fundraising for the 3001 is displayed, so I think it is safe to say that no scheduled restoration plan is being pushed at this point, unless they are keeping it a secret.
I am glad that the Age of Steam folks and the people in Elkhart made the deal that they did, when they did, or it would have been nearly impossible for it to have been transported economically back to home rails at all.
David Farlow
http://www.nycrrmuseum.org/
Hudson.Industries@worldnet.att.net