I'll take these in order, and it will be "off the top of the head"....

> Hello

> I'm hoping some of the folks involved with
> Steamtown in the days before Scranton might
> be able to help me out with a few questions.
> I have a number of old Steamtown postcards,
> and I'm trying to organize a general
> chronology.

> 1). I'm under the impression that the yellow
> wooden coaches were first excursion
> trainset, is this correct?

YES

> 2). When did the CNJ coaches arrive, were
> the wooden coaches retired upon their
> arrival?

CNJ coaches were unloaded by CNJ starting about 1965-66; I recall them showing up at Steamtown by about 1966. There were some added in the 1970-73 era, as I recall.

> 3). What was the operating lifespan of the
> B&M Mountainier Diner at Steamtown?

Not sure, but it was pretty much parked and didn't operate by 1969. It was more of a fixture on trains at Keene, NH.

> 4). Roughly, what years did the CP 1278
> masquerade as the 127?

1278 was put into service in early 1966 as 127. The work included changing the Elesco coil-type FW heater to the earlier bundle-type, reportedly because FNB like the appearance "better". His plan was to renumber all the G5s to 120-series numbers-- "124, 127, 129". In 1973, 127 went to D&H's Colonie Shops to be fitted out as "D&H 653", for the D&H's 150th anniversary events. The 1278 re-emerged the following spring (1974).

> 5). One of the CP pacifics (1246?) was
> decked out as a Rutland engine, any time
> frame?

Yes, it was 1246 that became "Rutland 82" in December 1973, for a doubleheader with D&H 653, to Rutland and return. It also went back to CPR livery in 1974.

> 6). When CNR 89 ran, did it first have a low
> headlight and then have the headlight
> mounted high? I have postcards of it in both
> configurations.

Don't know. I've only seen photos of high headlight 89 at Steamtown.

> 7). What year did the B&M 3713 go to the
> Boston Museum of Science?

1969.

> 8). When did the CP Pacifics go from
> "Green Mountain" lettering to thie
> other paint schemes, was this upon Blount's
> passing?

1246 was lettered "GREEN MOUNTAIN" from its start of service in mid-1970 until it became "RUT 82" in Dec. 1973. It was owned by GMRC until it and 1293 were sold to Steamtown Foundation in mid-1973. 1293 had never been lettered GMRC. 1278 (as 127) was lettered "Monadnock, Steamtown & Northern" during the 1966-67 era (HICO and NYNH&H trips), and was simply "Steamtown USA" during the Feb. 1968 HICO trip. I suspect 1278 was never owned by GMRC.

So, hope this all helps.

> I realize this is some obscure stuff, but
> maybe Howard or J. David (or anyone else for
> that matter) might be able to help out here.
> I do appreicate any help whatsoever.

> Dave Crosby



hpincus@mindspring.com

> From the 1928 Sellers catalog;

> 8.5 N $100

> 10.5 KNL $130

> Their least expensive injector; 3.2 N, $36

> Their most expensive injector; 15.8 KNL $265

What would your top machinist's hourly wage have been in 1928? Somehow, I don't think he'd want to preserve that part of the past... LOL... :-)

Fiv4HghStk@aol.com

Kurt: Would you please post the measurement of the diameter of a one of the PRR round number plates? I have the measurements for the Keystone, but would like to make a copy of a freight engine plate. Would you include the width of the yellow ring surrounding the rim? Your help is much appreciated! Thanks.


Aurora7@Juno.com