I recently visited Steamtown myself, and the Ranger on the shop tour pointed out the steam delivery pipes from the K4 on the ground behind the roundhouse. I do not remember if it was just one, or both of them, but the metal was nearly burned through from years of hot cinders, propelled by the nozzle, and striking the same spot on the casting. This defect could have created a serious incident if it had continued to be used during the engines brief resuscitation.

This was just another piece of evidence of the locomotive's seriously deteriorated condition.

R.

Mr. O'malley raises an interesting point.
What if the 1361 were transformed into a teaching display in the Roundhouse where she now sits?? With the addition of some well done signage she could make an excellent tool to show the general public the inner workings of a large steam engine and the tasks faced to restore one to service.
It would also save the cash strapped folks in Altoona the not inconsequential costs of loading up all the pieces and shipping her back home in pieces???
If I recall correctly a major part of Steamtowns Mission statement is to serve as a teaching institution passing on the historically significant role steam railroading played........................ and what an interesting teaching aide 1361 could make???
Just an idea.
Ross Rowland

Yesterday, the drivers, cab, miscellaneous parts. and some machine tooling were loaded on trucks to begin their journey back to Altoona. They will become part of a display, sort of a work in progress if you will. The museum has a good plan to complete the restoration, but certain obligations must be met before that plan will be put into action. I am sure the museum will put out a press release once all the loose ends are tied up. Their goal is still to restore her to operation.

Mike Tillger

Those were the steam delivery pipes you are referring to. Their replacements were made new several years ago, but instead of a casting they were produced by welding a multitude of heavy wall pipe sections into the correct form and adding welded on flanges.

Mike Tillger

And one man's opinion is that restoration to operation is laudable, as she is the only surviving K4s likely to run again. She is an iconic locomotive, and while to many born after retirement, she is just "a train" rather than a PRR K4s, to those of us who recognize her place in the locomotive pantheon, her operation is a priceless touchstone to an era past. Many have argued the expenditure of millions to rebuild an operable J3 Hudson, which als, will never happen.
It may fly in the face of how one would invest personal income, but we are talking about a living, breathing, K4s. Somethings should be viewed differently.
And if there is a conspiracy to never operate her again, I'll bet it is fronted by the same people who never went to the moon. Just nonsense..

Beyond the fact its going home to Altoona, the interpretion of the inner "guts" of a locomotive is handled by Spang, Chalfant & Co. No. 8; in addition to the fact that its already there-its more comprehensible by small children because of its (lack of) size.

If there were nothing else at Steamtown, the cutaway switcher alone would be well worth the trip to Scranton to see. It is a superb exhibit.

PC

I agree that the cut-away of the switcher is an ideal display particularly for youngsters. I was only saying that if the hulk of the 1361 was going to end up sitting there in the roundhouse for a while that with the modest additional investment in a few sign boards it could make a good "work in progress" display explaining the tasks involved in bringing one of these icons back to life!!
I was pleased to see Mike Tillgers post that the new team in Altoona has a plan to move her back soon and to resume her march towards life. Let's hope they've learned some lessons from thier predecessors??
Ross Rowland

And I, for one, am pleased to see Ross Rowland make a statement with such a positive incline toward 1361. Your expertise in steam locomotive operation is established. Until now, I had not yet been sure of where you feelings stood regarding the K4s.

Even that is not required. Any restoration project can become a tangle of surprises.

At the WRM, we wheeled a boxcar into the shop to re-hang doors that had blown off... six months later we've worn out a set of blades on the planer replacing what seems like half the sides and floor.

They said "Oh, the little speeder won't start"... and then I notice the chain has jumped the idler gear, a telltale demanding a significant retrofit.

On and on it goes. Sometimes I think it's easier to build new stuff than restore old stuff. If a project to construct a new NYC Hudson had the same resources as 1361, would it be farther along?