What is the lastest on this fine locomotive,,,how are they comming along with rebuilt,,,thank you Pat

cprh1b@attbi.com

> What is the lastest on this fine
> locomotive,,,how are they comming along with
> rebuilt,,,thank you Pat

And the status of the sister Berks that were spared? I am told that 737, at Strasburg is in pretty good shape; 759, at Steamtown is quite near operational standards; 763, at Roanoke was once a close candidate for restoration; 779, at Lima, Ohio, is housed but I know nothing of her status.
I think there may be one or two others.
Kindly omit the harangue about "ponying up the bucks before you speculate on operation". Please also delete the "Where are you gonna run it?" lecture. I just want to talk fired up Berks here.


glueck@maine.edu

> And the status of the sister Berks that were
> spared? I am told that 737, at Strasburg is
> in pretty good shape; 759, at Steamtown is
> quite near operational standards; 763, at
> Roanoke was once a close candidate for
> restoration; 779, at Lima, Ohio, is housed
> but I know nothing of her status.
> I think there may be one or two others.
> Kindly omit the harangue about "ponying
> up the bucks before you speculate on
> operation". Please also delete the
> "Where are you gonna run it?"
> lecture. I just want to talk fired up Berks
> here.

The engine at Strasburg is 757 not 737. It has loaned quite a few parts to the 759 including the left cylinder head, piston, piston rod and grates. I recall the engine has a lot of wear on her driver tires indicating it is a high mileage locomotive. I remember reading a few years ago that the museum volunteers had done a nice cosmetic restoration but I have not gotten to see it yet.

The 763 was moved to NJ to be restored to service on the Freedom Train. This did not happen because it was to tall to fit under the wire on the northeast corridor or at least this was an official excuse. I do not remember any details of the mechanical condition of this engine. I understand is is looking pretty rough and is in need of cosmetic restoration.

The 759 ran in the late 60's and early 70's but was put outside during the winter in New York and froze. Even so reports I have read indicate it is in perhaps the best condition of any of the surviving NKP berks except 765.

The 755 is on display in Ohio but I do not remember which town.

I know you do not want to hear this but all of these engines except 759 have been out of service 45 years and will need complete overhauls including the required current FRA part 230 work. It has been 30 years since 759 ran and the same goes for it. Be thankful for the 765 and the folks working on her. It will take the same or even more herculean effort to return any of the others to service. That thing about having a place to run it also comes into play here.

jhbohon@yahoo.com

NKP #755 is "at the station" in Conneaut, OH on an isolated track next to the old NKP mainline which still sees a lot of rail traffic everyday. The old staion is now a RR museum and opens at 12pm (it's between a neighborhood and the RR). My father-in-law and I were there too early and had to get back for lunch as it was an "unplanned detour" after leaving the tractor store a couple towns away.

I thought they had a website, but can't find it other than the NHRS' one about it.

For the latest on #765, check out our web site www.765.org and click on the "765 progress report" link. The progress report is updated every few weeks and will give you a good idea of how the project is coming along. Basically, the boiler/firebox work is now wraping up and 765 is for the most part in reassembly mode. Most importantly, 765 WILL operate sometime this year! Of course, all of this takes money and lots of it. The 765 restoration has required several unexpected and very costly repairs which must be matched 20% by the sociey. www.765.org will provide information on how to donate to the cause!

http://www.765.org

>759, at Steamtown is quite near operational standards;

759 is undercover, but needs work and is 2nd priority to B&M 3713-which is paused as project manager works on PRR 1361.


Superheater@rrmail.com

Don't forget the only currently operating Berkshire, Pere Marquette #1225, a virtual clone of the NKP Berks. According to the website, she's next scheduled to run on May 31 of this year.

http://www.mstrp.com/
davew833@yahoo.com

Here is an official Park Service report on NKP 759, and a bit of history on the NKP Berkshires in general. (see the link below)

When 3713 is finished, will that make her the first and only B&M steam locomotive to be restored to operation? And was she the last steamer to operate at the end of steam on the B&M?



NKP 759 report

SJHussar@aol.com

Stephen,

I saw on the B&M Yahoo list that the B&MRRHS has been notifed by the NPS that #3713 will be restored in her speed lettering "late appearance" rather than her as-built look with rectangular tender logo and skyline casing.

She will be the first B&M steam engine to operate in the excursion-era if you do not include the Mount Washington Cog Railway engines. Outside of the cog, there are only 5 B&M steamers left (1 4-6-2, 2 0-6-0, 1 2-6-0 and 1 4-4-0).

She did pull farewell-to-steam trips on the B&M, but I am not sure if she was actually the last engine hot.

As a side note, there are some other surviving engines that commonly used B&M trackage. MEC 4-6-2 #470, the Beebe River Climax and Shay now at the WMC and a few CN & CPR engines that frequented the Conn River and NH mainlines.

Rob Davis



rdavis@rypn.org

Saw 757 at Strasburg last month and she looked pretty good but was outside. Didn't take a close look.

Saw 763 at Roanoke las September. Looks like a sorry park engine, but It looked to be more cosmetic than functional. Still sorry. She was in the weather then, right behind 611. Major contrast in condition of these two comperable locos. Both should be under the pavilion by now.

779 at Lincoln Park in Lima has been under cover since being donated. Was inside the fence to see her a number of years ago. Looked good, clean and complete. I know she was a parts donor for 765. the stoker auger on 779 was a broken one off of 765.

Have never seen 759 or 755.


The East Broad Top Railroad Homepage

ebtrr@spikesys.com

> Don't forget the only currently operating
> Berkshire, Pere Marquette #1225, a virtual
> clone of the NKP Berks. According to the
> website, she's next scheduled to run on May
> 31 of this year.

The engine will also be running the weekend of Aug. 16 & 17, 2003. This trip will feature a longer trip to Cadillac,MI.
Info can be found at this site: http://www.lcrt.homestead.com/2003Steam.html

PM 1225 trip info
webmaster@lakecentralrailtours.com

> NKP #755 is "at the station" in
> Conneaut, OH on an isolated track next to
> the old NKP mainline
Actually, 755 and the station is adjacent to the old NYC mainline.

3713 is also held up because of delays with the L&WV's $200,000 TEA-21 money because the federal budget was over 5 months late for fiscal year 2003.

rhar66@revo.net

I guess we should be happy that is getting attention and is scheduled for restoration. I hope it will remain that way without attacks about when it will be done.

> As a side note, there are some other
> surviving engines that commonly used B&M
> trackage. MEC 4-6-2 #470, the Beebe River
> Climax and Shay now at the WMC.......

Actually, these only saw use in their respective terminals of Lincoln and Beebe River. However, East Branch and Lincoln Baldwin 2-4-2T #5 is now alive and well at Lincoln. The #5 was put back into steam a couple of years ago the fastest I have ever seen in modern times. Sitting unused and on display for many years at the entrance to Loon Mt. Ski area she was swapped for another loco at Clarks so she could be rebuilt for service.

gmrcshop@hotmail.com