Being that the price of scrap is so low does anyone know how much some of the stuff went for? Also did everything sell, there was a lot of stuff on the block.

From an E-mail I received:
Today, 10-10-2008, marked the sad and bitter end of the Knox & Kane Railroad. The scrap vultures descended on Kane, PA to pick at the rotting carcasses of equipment. At least the two steam locomotives and the diesel will survive to hopefully run again for their new owners. The rest, unfortunately, will become razor blades. Prices were outrageous for the equipment...boxcars going for $3500, a ex-C&I 2-bay hopper for $4000.,TTX flats for $5250., the burned out wooden passenger car for $5250.00!!!!!!!!! Other passenger cars (ex-Long Island "ping pong's") were sold for scrap for $4-5000. The ex-Union RR Jordan Spreader was sold for scrap for $10,000!!!!! Track equipment, broken and decrepit, went for $2500 to $6000 per piece.
H&BT 38...2-8-0...sold to Alan Maples (Everett RR) for $60,000
K&K 1689...2-8-2...Chinese Built...sold to David Conrad (Valley RR) for $100,000
K&K 39...EMD GP-9 (ex WM 39)...sold to Georges Creek RR for $35,000

One of the open air observation cars built from x-PRR N6b Cabin Car ends will be heading to the New Castle area of western Pa and become a useable piece of rolling stock for the Beaver Lawrence Railway Historical Society. It will be used for fund raiser events and the annual Santa Train. The double decker was purchased by some from eastern Pa? and will be disassembled down to the original PRR Gondola (anyone know the class?) it was built from. It will become part of the collection of vintage PRR freight cars featuring an F30 Flat Car, G38 Ore Jenny, N5b Cabin etc....Gary

Re: H&BT #38

My thanks to those who have expressed their congratulations either here or in person at the auction event. The outcome at an auction can often hinge on a sudden twist of fate or unexpected turn of events, and this one was no exception.

My thanks also, to Dave Conrad for taking time out to give us an assist removing parts at Kane, and to Sloan Cornell's family, who endured a hectic and emotional sale while offering help whenever possible, and who convinced the auctioneer that the small parts previously removed from the locomotives should be sold with the engines and not as separate lots.

A special thanks to Dan Pluta from the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad who took a day off work to watch the proceedings, and had the foresight to bring his truck, trailer, and toolbox - and found himself wrenching small parts off the engine for safekeeping as well as working into the night loading a spare set of locomotive tires onto his trailer.

We all look forward to seeing the 38 run again someday. Right now we will focus our time and resources on getting the engine out of Kane and evaluating the restoration path.

Alan Maples

I thought the Valley RR dumped their previous Chinese engine in disappointment. Why try this model again?

Sounds like it was quite the event to be at. My question is, was the actual ROW up for auction as well, or was that offered for a separate sale previously? I hadn't really heard too much about that, and I'm just curious to know what the deal was with that. What about the buildings, stations and such, are they remaining with the railway land, or were they up for sale too? Just wondering.

Alan;

Let me also add my congratulations and best wishes for the future of #38. I'm glad someone I know and believe will be a good steward to her got her.

Paul

Steven,

Suffice to say that at the time the VRR sold their first SY that it was a confuluence of unusual events. There was an equipment trust on the loco with a continuing monthly cost; and an insurance company that was anxious to settle a claim for an SY at the bottom of the Indian Ocean. At that time I believe the board of directors of the Valley felt the insurance company money was a deal not to be turned down.

I think it is also safe to say that the present VRR board of directors is of a different composition and point of view than that previous board. I can confidently say that the CMO of the VRR is not disappointed in the performance of the Chinese SY locomoitves.

Steve

My guess is that J. David looked over the SY carefully before committing to making an offer for it. Be interested to hear his evaluation of the Mike's current condition.

Les

Have you seen the cell phone commercial in which two people are talking and one brings up a sensitive topic or makes an inappropriate comment, and suddenly the call is dropped, as if the other person hung up on him?

Well, on my way home from the K&K auction, I called my wife, and just after I told her about my purchase, the line went dead! Uh oh! So I decided to call someone who would be a little more enthusiastic. I gave Sandy a call, but I only got his voice mail and left a (cryptic) message. It wasn't until I got on Route 80 that my wife called back to hear the rest of the story, and all was well. Whew!

Yup! the Allegheny National forest, not many cell towers but a heck of a place for a tourist railroad! Sad to see the Knox & Kane gone, but a few gems have been saved.

I picked up the PRR gondola (G29d). I plan on restoring it to use as an open car.

Not as sexy as #38, as she is a really good looking locomotive! But we'll have fun riding in the gon when complete.

I posted some basic info and photos on my website, http://www.prrllc.com

Scott Kwiatkowski

Scrap prices are way down this past week in CT-- local yards are paying about $110/ton delivered to their scale. The C&I hoppers sold for the equivalent of $180/ton, and that's not even cut into bite-sized pieces. Sounds like a case of "auction frenzy".

Howard P.
with memories of another October RR auction in PA, 20 years ago...

Scott -

Congrats on picking up the PRR gon. Restoring it with wood sides seems like an awful lot of work, but if anyone can do it, you can! Actually gives me some hope about that skeleton of a wood composite C&EI gon that a company has offered to our museum. Now if I could only convince our Board!

Les

Congratulations to all the successful bidders.

Now, one can only hope that the VRR will transform #58 into a decent clone to the NH #3016 a.k.a. Eastern & Portland #97. A nice arch-roofed cab, appropriate tender. At least the wheel arrangement is correct.

Rob

Keith,
I think your ownership of #38 isnt quite right..
I believe it goes like this:

Originally H&BTM
to (Hyman-Michaels) (the H&BT's scrapper)
to Dr. Stan Groman (Rail City)
to the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville (not the A&A) who restored it operating condition.
to Gettysburg Railroad.
to Knox & Kane.
to Alan Maples, Everett railroad.

im pretty sure thats the correct history of #38..
if not, please correct so we have it right! :)

thanks,
Scot

Ugh. You're absolutely right on the L&AL having owned the 38 instead of the A&A. No excuses; just a brain freeze. What's worse is I've reread my post several times and never caught it and I just bought a photo of LA&L 17 sitting next to #38's original tender in the 60s!

The statement that there are only four owners between the H&BT and Mr. Maples is still correct, though, in that 38 was under Mr. Cornell's ownership while on the GETY and K&K.

Does anyone have a date for the actual transfer of ownership from Rail City to the LA&L and then from the LA&L to Mr. Cornell? steamlocomotive.info has some general dates, but I'm looking for exact ones.

Thanks for the sanity check, Scot.

Keith Burkey