I have it from very reliable sources that a certain T-1 that was recently run on the West Coast will be on the market soon (probably via auction??)to help defray creditor claims.
All you out there who've dreamed of owning an operable T-1 start lining up your cash. From what I know I'd guess (underline guess) that the sale will take place later this summer or in the autumn.
I'm sure all the details wiill soon be made public.
Ross Rowland

Interesting....

Hypothetically speaking: What would be a rough estimate in dollars and labor hours of re-converting an oil burning T-1 to burn coal again?

If you had all the parts. 2 weeks for the locomotive. If you don't have ALL the parts, don't even think about it. As to the tender: The bunker has been sealed and plumbed for diesel and once used the diesel will permate (sp) the metal, thus cutting and welding would not be recommended, unless you like flash backs.

How do they weld the tank areas of ships?

Does the deal include an F40PH?

MX (Obviously Not My Real Name)

It's my understanding that the T-1, Aux. tender and F40 are owned by the insolvent GPRR and will be placed on the sale block???? It is my further understanding that the ex-Milw. E unit and the bi-level commute cars are owned by a seperate entity and will not be part of the sale??
I also understand that the T-1 needs some fairly substantial mechanical work done on her before she runs again.
As stated above I'm sure all these details will come out over the coming weeks from official sources with a full schedule of the repairs needed.
Ross Rowland

Now is the time for all good Reading men to come to the aid of their party............

So, let's take after the British campaign to rebuild the Peppercorn A1 Pacific, and get all those Reading fans that groused about the "Equiferrous" paint job in Washington State to pledge "the price of a pint a week" to the cause of bringing home an operable Reading T1 and painting it "the way God intended"..........

Of course, we have to extrapolate for the higher prices and volumes of British pints--taxes, Imperial pints, and all--and I think we'd have to change that to "the price of three Yuenglings a week" for the Pottsville, Pa.-brewed beer (which now gets material by rail from the Reading & Northern).......

Oh, that's right, the Reading & Northern happens to HAVE a fully-operable coal-fired Reading T1 owned by a Reading enthusiast, doesn't it?.........

Never mi-i-i-i-i-i-nd.............. <;-)

I heard a lot from folks in Tacoma on Friday while waiting for 4449/844 to arrive, but those who spend their days chasing trains every day (what do these folks do for a living that they're at every train things?) informed me that not a wheel or bolt has been turned on 2100 or consist since they folded up for the winter. I was told to go over to their office near where we were standing and take a look for myself. I found a padlock and a police officer's card taped to the door. One of the people at the building where their office is told me they've been evicted.
Boy, I sure want to be wrong about all this, as I did ride it once and really did enjoy it, but it looks like that they won't be running this year, maybe not ever again. Time will tell, I guess. If they do get it running again, yes, I will pay to ride it again.
If not, well, it was worth the $50 to say I'd ridden behind a Reading T-1!

the market for large 4-8-4's seems somewhat saturated based upon recent offerings.

Anybody curious about the event recorder downloads from the F40PH?

It would be interesting to finally see "which" engine was doing "what" climbing the hill, one look at the F40PH downloads would answer the question of whether the T1 was or was not steaming properly.

MX (Obviously Not My Real Name)

Has been done, As the crew can / could tell you 2100 was pulling the hill without help from the F40. The F40 was used to supply HEP to the cars and for braking on the hill
Mike

The fuel tank is a total separate unit. It's just sitting in the coal bunker and should just lift out. If I remember correctly lifting eyelets were welded on the top of it. I saw the various stages of fabrication of the tank while it was being built in St. Thomas, Ontario, including the installation.

It's my understanding (I have NOT verified it) that all the parts/pieces from the stoker system were saved when Mr. Payne did the rube goldberg conversion to oil in Ontario shortly after he bought the locomotive. I hope that's true as the new owner might just want to put her back to coal and it would sure make life easier if all the pieces were there.
Obviously the job could get done if the pieces are not available but it would be a LOT more costly and time consuming to say the least although I'd guess it might be possible to make a deal with the folks at the B&O Museum to part with the critical pieces on AFT#1 (Rdg.2101) in return for an appropriate donation????
It will be interesting to see what developes!!
Ross Rowland

The Golden Pacific Railroad website says they received the "Attraction of the Year" award from the Tacoma Regional Convention and Visitor Bureau!

http://www.goldenpacificrr.com

Yes, they were. The stoker is currently a display piece sitting on the floor at the Elgin County Railway Museum.