The NH&I has just purchased six LIRR coaches. I'm sure they will be eventually used for off line excursions behind NdeM 4-8-4 No. 3028, being restored. They are also looking to find good homes for several pieces of equipment, including a Bangor & Aroostook 1906 wooden baggage car and the two L&NE steel boxcars at New Hope. They will be holding a Railfan Weekend in October with a visit from the Reading FP-7s and Thomas the Tank will be paying a visit at Buckingham.

> The NH&I has just purchased six LIRR
> coaches. I'm sure they will be eventually
> used for off line excursions behind NdeM
> 4-8-4 No. 3028, being restored. They are
> also looking to find good homes for several
> pieces of equipment, including a Bangor
> & Aroostook 1906 wooden baggage car and
> the two L&NE steel boxcars at New Hope.
> They will be holding a Railfan Weekend in
> October with a visit from the Reading FP-7s
> and Thomas the Tank will be paying a visit
> at Buckingham.

Thats good news about the coaches. What is the timetable for the 4-8-4(and its present condition), and where are excursions planned to operate. I was lucky enough to see a few of these in 1963.
Thanks,
Greg Scholl


Videos
sales@gregschollvideo.com

> Thats good news about the coaches. What is
> the timetable for the 4-8-4(and its present
> condition), and where are excursions planned
> to operate. I was lucky enough to see a few
> of these in 1963.
> Thanks,
> Greg Scholl

I believe the engine came to New Hope in the early 90's and it was stripped for overhaul. The last I heard when asking crew member a couple of years ago was that they had run out of money at the time being to do any further work. At that time it was sitting in a siding outdoors completely stripped, though luckily most of the parts were stored indoors. The boiler looked to have a couple of patches that may not be "up to code" in this country so I am not sure how much of an issue that became either. Like I said, that was a couple of years ago so the situation may have changed. Hopefully its fate will be better than that of the 0-6-0 (for sale on the DF Barnhardt web page) and 4-6-0 also on the property.
-Jay-

jmonty@vt.edu

> The NH&I... are
> also looking to find good homes for several
> pieces of equipment, including a Bangor
> & Aroostook 1906 wooden baggage car and
> the two L&NE steel boxcars at New Hope...
What is the current condition of these three pieces of equipment? JDM

shack_19@hotmail.com

> What is the current condition of these three
> pieces of equipment? JDM

The 0-6-0 (ex-Virginia Blue Ridge, nee-U.S. Army) is merely a boiler tube sitting over wheels. The 1533, which was a gorgeous C.N. ten-wheeler, has been stripped to the boiler and sits disassembled on a siding. I am told she has major boiler rebuild concerns. This would be my first priority for rebuild, then lease her out or operate on site. The big 4-8-4 is a nice thought, but she has nowhere to really exercise her legs. She is a Mexican loco, albeit an ALCO product, and might be better reconfigured as a American loco. But that sweet little 4-6-0 is a real concern to me. I am so afraid she'll never get back together for operation.


glueck@saturn.caps.maine.edu

Actually, the Strasburg RR mechanical crew looked over CNR ten-wheeler #1533 back in 1991 and recomended at that time that it get a rebuild before #40. It will require a patch over a hole that was cut around a boiler plug, major running gear work and replacement of missing parts but boiler-wise the engine is not as bad as everyone thinks. The tender is pretty well shot with trees growing up through it and will need major surgery. If I were the NH&I guys, I'd work on #9 and get it running as a backup to #40, since #3028 is a huge investment and too big an engine for their small operation. It's money better spent.

> The 0-6-0 (ex-Virginia Blue Ridge, nee-U.S.
> Army) is merely a boiler tube sitting over
> wheels. The 1533, which was a gorgeous C.N.
> ten-wheeler, has been stripped to the boiler
> and sits disassembled on a siding. I am told
> she has major boiler rebuild concerns. This
> would be my first priority for rebuild, then
> lease her out or operate on site. The big
> 4-8-4 is a nice thought, but she has nowhere
> to really exercise her legs. She is a
> Mexican loco, albeit an ALCO product, and
> might be better reconfigured as a American
> loco. But that sweet little 4-6-0 is a real
> concern to me. I am so afraid she'll never
> get back together for operation.

> What is the current condition of these three
> pieces of equipment? JDM
Thanks for the input on the locomotives guys, however, my interest was/is in the boxcars and baggage car...

shack_19@hotmail.com