<P>I read a story in the Richmond Times Dispatch (Virginia) that the C&O#2732 may be moved to the Science Museum of Virginia. The Science Museum is located in the beautiful old Broad Street RF&P station. The station still has some track, but I believe there is no live rail connection (not sure about that). The city map of Richmond indicates about 1/2 mile or so move.<br>The 2732 is a sad site indeed. The jacket has been removed since at least 1988 when I first saw the engine. There does not appear to be eccessive corrosion on the outside of the boiler, but who knows about the inside. Without the jacket, it looks a lot worse than it is. Some of the staybolt caps are pretty much shot from what I can see. It needs a lot of attention, but is not beyond a fine cosmetic restoration. If the move to the Science Museum does happen, it will be interesting to see if someone isn't tempted to cosmetically alter it to look like the RF&P 2-8-4s. A new cast pilot, sand dome, automatic train control box and lettering, and some paint would make for an interesting locomotive. The possibility of altering to a Virginian Berkshire is also possible with the fabrication of a new sand dome and some sheet metal work on the tender. Don't get me wrong, I would rather see her as C&0#2732. The Kanawhas had their own unique look, which I happen to appreciate.<br>




hubbard5004@msn.com

<P>The C&O Kanawhas certainly are handsome engines in their own right, but with no less than twelve of them surviving in some form of preservation, I suppose it might be possible to use one to replicate one of their extinct RF&P or Virginian cousins without ruffling too many feathers in the railfan community. Certainly better than the "wild west" balloon stack and cowcatcher treatment that some engines have had to endure anyway!<br>




rjenkins@railfan.net