W&LE 3960 now at Age of Steam

NS 3322 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 10, 2018 5:53 pm

Since the original thread was locked, I decided to make a new one.
It appears that W&LE #3960 was moved to the Age of Steam Roundhouse on October 09.
These photos are from the Age of Steam Twitter page.

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2876

Here they are:

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Cab? Tender? Appliances?

Les

ekrwy2 · **Joined:** Sat Jul 16, 2011 3:12 pm **Posts:** 121

Here’s the full story:
http://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.com/ind ... Itemid=120

misterwandle · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2017 12:08 am **Posts:** 58

You can't expect private individuals to have all the facts and photos about a news item in their initial post to RYPN, so allow a little time for the details to emerge. Photos of #3960's tender have been posted onto the Age of Steam Roundhouse website at: http://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.com

The cab is a rusty wreck that has been sitting for years behind our roundhouse. A new cab will have to be made for #3960.

Many of the appliances and parts were stolen through the years when #3960 was on display in the city of Canton, Ohio, and, later, during its indoor storage in Minerva. What parts that do exist have been stored in our boxcars since 2004. The Age of Steam Roundhouse will perform a thorough and accurate cosmetic restoration to Wheeling & Lake Erie 0-6-0 #3960, our 21st steam locomotive.

Be safe.

John B. Cons
Age of Steam Roundhouse

Emmo213 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 11, 2018 9:32 am

So I know every locomotive and every restoration is different, but are there any economies of scale when doing a restoration? The reason I ask is because this locomotive has a sister, NKP 384, sitting in Wellington and while there's not much (any) money there's definitely interest. Is there any partnering that we could do between the groups?

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Emmo213 wrote:

So I know every locomotive and every restoration is different, but are there any economies of scale when doing a restoration? The reason I ask is because this locomotive has a sister, NKP 384, sitting in Wellington and while there's not much (any) money there's definitely interest. Is there any partnering that we could do between the groups?

Emmo213 - Although NKP 360 and NKP 384 are both 0-6-0's and both are former Wheeling & Lake Erie locomotives, they are NOT sisters. Number 360 was built in the W&LE's shops in the 1930's whereas the group of 0-6-0's that number 384 is a part of, were built by Alco in 1944, one of the last 0-6-0's built for a U.S. common carrier railroad.

Les

Emmo213 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 11, 2018 7:52 pm

Oh good to know. I always thought they were more closely tied than that. I guess nevermind then.

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Emmo213 -

Although the two engines are not sisters, your idea of "partnering" between groups for a couple of somewhat similar engines, makes sense to me. But, you'd have to take it up with the folks at the Age of Steam Roundhouse to see what their thinking might be.

Les

PaulWWoodring · **Posted:** Fri Oct 12, 2018 10:30 am

Well, at least the last Brewster-built locomotive in existence is safe, still in the region, and in competent hands. This soap opera went on far too long. Thanks to Jerry, Tim, John B. and everyone else. Too bad Jerry didn't get to see this day.

PRR8157 · **Joined:** Sat Jul 30, 2011 12:47 pm **Posts:** 43

Although it was built in the '30s, W&LE 3960 is, I believe, the only representative of the USRA 0-6-0. Those '40s engines were based on the original design, but updated quite a bit and don't have the same appearance.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Fri Oct 12, 2018 12:35 pm

John, how far will the restoration go on this locomotive? Assuming when you check it out there are no glaring unexploded bombs discovered?

junior · **Posted:** Fri Oct 12, 2018 9:08 pm

Richard......

misterwandle wrote:

...... The Age of Steam Roundhouse will perform a thorough and accurate cosmetic restoration to Wheeling & Lake Erie 0-6-0 #3960, our 21st steam locomotive.

Be safe.

John B. Cons
Age of Steam Roundhouse

tomgears · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2018 7:51 am

It was great to visit this amazing place over the weekend. I commend everyone there for their hard work and dedication to preserving not just the artifacts but the hands-on technology of steam locomotives that is in danger of being lost. A relic is one thing to admire but the notion of a working roundhouse working as they did in nearly every city in America is just amazing.