Just a quick note that, judging from my frequent drive-pasts of the B&O Museum, the last bit of the lower-level roof replacement should be finished sometime this week, holidays and weather permitting--at least the actual roof structure. (Tar paper, slate shingles, etc. will rapidly fill in behind the last of the wood, which could be going up as I type.) Meanwhile, the damaged roof trusses that have been removed from the roof still lie in a nearby parking lot, numbered with spray paint as if for investigative purposes. I hope to have photos up online somewhere later this week.

Still to come, presumably, will be the dismantling and replacement of the dome atop the turntable center section. I have not heard any plan or proposed schedule for this part of the project.

Incidentally, I have a friend who is restoring a house in a nearby Baltimore historic district, and having to order slate shingles for his place. Having priced slate shingles from the same company that the B&O Museum is supposedly getting their shingles from, he's amazed that the Museum can even GET slate shingles, let alone afford them. Supposedly, only two suppliers in North America can give my friend what he would need for his roof........

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

Sandy, Just curious if you know where CRR No. 1 is now... did they ever extract her from the building? Jim

http://nctrans.org
Wrinnbo@aol.com

Hi Jim--

I'm not dead sure, but I had the strong impression that everything undamaged (CRR 1 was not hurt) was cocooned in place during the whole reconstruction process.


eledbetter@rypn.org

"I'll have to refer you to our public-relations spokesperson....."

Seriously, I don't know. I did see the Lafayette and Tom Thumb trucked out of the building, and the Pere Marquette SW1 rolled out the adjacent door, but as for whether they've been able to extract any of the other larger pieces, I don't know. I strongly doubt, however, that they did so, based on rumors of a seriously warped/waterlogged turntable--which would mean it's still in the roundhouse, protected at one point by scaffolding and tarps.


LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

Suggest that anyone interested in the activities and renovation work at the B&O Museum go to its website. The Museum is still posting information and photos nearly every Friday. Of recent photos show the rebuilding of the lower roof and getting ready to replace the upper section. Also work on repairing the damage to the B&O caboose is shown.

The National Park Service announced in a press release dated November 19th that the B&O Museum is receiving a "Save AmericaÂ’s Treasures" grant:

"Locomotive Collection, B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore–Housed in the National Historic
Landmark B&O Railroad Passenger Car Roundhouse, the museum contains one of the premier
railroading collections in the world. Rare surviving examples of locomotives that changed the
railroad industry and the North American landscape highlight the collection. This grant will assist
with restoring eight locomotives damaged by the February 2003 collapse of half of the Roundhouse
roof under the weight of more than two feet of snow. Award amount: $500,000"

Check out the NPS Press Release -- a number of interesting grants.

Brian Norden

NPS "Saving America's Treasures" Press Release