Remember, the auctions started today.....

I just minutes ago received a somewhat cryptic voice mail message from a regular here, reporting to me that he (if I'm hearing him right) bought some stuff.......

Judging from who called, I have a pretty good guess what he may have gotten, but I'll save the pleasure of a confirmed announcement for him/her.................

Stay tuned for further updates. Remember, the K&K may well be over 50 miles from the nearest Internet cafe, public library that is open, or good BlackBerry signal (I exaggerate only slightly)........

Can you water board torture us an more. Nice Alex! :)

Ditto that. Thanks for...well...nothing. Just got a call and was told that Gerald Altizer got the WM GP9 39. He also owns and just recently restored GP9 25.

Sorry, mates, but even my wife couldn't understand all of the voice mail for certain, and I'm not going to "announce" that someone got "the 38" only to find he got "38 cars" or something! I've tried calling him back twice, no answer.......

But based strictly on who it was........ think freight cars.......... <:-)

Well I do know this the H.& B.T. engine may and proable wil stay in PA. The Chinese engine will go to CT and the geep to MD?

OK, so H&BT 38 goes to Lancaster County, the SY goes to SX, and the GP9 joins its sister unit on home turf. Not too bad, so far. Who got "my" hopper cars?

Howard P.
Educated Guess, CT

Hey Howard,
Where in Lancaster County? To whome?

Len.

The H.& B.T. I don't believe will be going to Lancaster County It will be over West farther but in a pretty straight line from Lancaster County, if he keeps it in PA! Not sure who got the hoppers. Will know tomorrow!

Wow, what a day.

The big news (the actual announcement of #38 given with permission...):

#38 to Alan Maples. (Technically, a 54-year homecoming.)
#39 to the George's Creek.
#58 to the Valley Railroad.

Most other equipment at Kane and Nansen Junction, excepting Ping Pongs 7002, 7099, the Jordan Spreader, the Tie Inserter, and an ex-RDG gon made into a flat car went to one scrapper. He also got the CR N7 at Mount Jewett. I'm not sure of the identity of the people who purchased everything else.

Down at Marienville, the aforementioned scrapper got Ping Pongs 7031 and 7433, NYC 215, the fire-damaged N8, and the B&O round-roof boxcar. The C&I hopper car went to a scrapper from Maryland. The Gulf tank car went to a local scrap firm. I didn't try to track the components and other items that were sold. It was one long, but completely fascinating, day....

Keith Burkey

I knew it!

My sincerest congratulations to Maples & Company! And best wishes to the new owners of 58 and 39!

Though I'd like to hold out hope that the reports of scrappers getting much else are not firm...... or that they can be negotiated with, in the case of one piece. Now, who got the passenger cars, and why?

ahhhh congrats Mr. Maples! That's what I meant about a Rail City reunion -- #38 and #11 back together. Which will be the first to blow steam over Altoona?

Rob

One additional item of which I just became aware ...

The K&K "Presidents Car", the burned-out hulk of which can be seen in the background of the auction photographs above, has been acquired by a gentleman who has the intent of rebuilding it. It can be counted amongst the saved.

Keith Burkey

A few questions from someone not in-the-know:

1. With the Valley RR buying the Chinese locomotive, does that mean that one of their current steam locomotives might go up for sale?
2. What is the significance of Mr. Maples buying the other locomotive? Does he own/have access to a tourist railroad?

Good news, to be sure!

John,

Alan Maples owns the Everett Railroad, which was the successor to the Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain Railroad, #38's original owner. There are several significant pieces here, but the most important, I'd say, is that The Everett Railroad, in 1954, included 38 in the original purchase of the railroad from the H&BTM. They removed 38 from the agreement after inspection showed it to be in poor condition. 54 years and four owners later (Hyman-Michaels (the H&BT's scrapper), Dr. Stan Groman (Rail City), A&A, K&K), it's finally made it's way to the Everett, or at least the corporate umbrella.

Secondarily, Mr. Maples also owns Bath & Hammondsport 2-6-2 #11, which was at Rail City during #38s tenure there. Thus, the acquisition is a reunion of sorts for those two pieces.

The Everett is no longer in Everett, PA, but now operates on a pair of former PRR branchlines in Blair County. Occasionally, the railroad operates excursions over those lines.

Obviously, I'm not speaking for the Everett Railroad in any sense here. I'm just thrilled, as a big fan of both the H&BTM and the Everett, to see where #38 ended up.

Keith Burkey

Keith-excellent clarification-thanks so much, and this is really good news on a number of fronts. I believe Mr. Maples posts here from time to time, correct?

And looking forward to hear from JDC (or others) on why the Valley RR bought the other locomotive.