PRR 1361 photo that was taken last week. Would that somebody might find a cure.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictur ... %20223.JPG

dam shame

This locomotive seems like a great candidate for display at the National Museum of Unfinished Projects, which has been discussed for location in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where commuter rail service has been the subject of a long series of multi-million dollar studies without a single shovel of dirt having ever been moved yet. New Bedford was also the home port of the coastal steamer SS Nobska, which was cut up several years ago in the middle of a restoration project with the loss of significant donations and grant funds. Her website sails on….

http://www.nobska.org/index.htm

While the sentiment is clear, and shared (as noted through far too many posts here), does allowing this signage and alteration of same to be seen, and remain, and now as a result posted across the internet, harm or help the effort ? No blame to Brother Glueck, no one is looking to shoot the messenger. And please, let's not start another endless thread of what's gone wrong, why it's a lost cause, etc. Until someone is firing up the scrapper's torches, this engine is still an artifact that needs and deserves attention, whether restored to display or operating status.

While I myself would admit to being a great fan of sarcasm, in many ways this reminds me a lot of the bad old days of heavy graffitti on the likes of the NYCTA, and CTA,, it sort of fosters an ideal that no one truly does care and this is basically a lost cause.

Similar things, on a much smaller scale are no doubt visible at any museum you can mention. To the casual weekend family visitors, what does this sign say ? What does someone's wise-acre posting in the dust on the side of a car inside the carbarn that reads "Wash Me" (or God forbid far worse) tell your visitors ?

In a brief conversation I had with someone earlier this week, they mentioned that a museum visitor had noted that "You don't have a museum, you have a collection".

This is a vitally important point, and the fact it was noted by a typical "weekend family visitor", as opposed to any of us so-called experts really calls out how important it is to see all of our efforts not as we see them (best we can do with limited budget, resources, volunteers, etc), but as our visiting public sees it. You're not going to see a sign like that at the Smithsonian, Chicago's MSI, or even your local historical society. In the unlikely event it did occur, you know it would be gone ASAP.

One man's opinion, this sign should have been removed immediately and replaced, and quite honestly I'd have no problem with noting that the original planned completion date of xx/xx/xxxx, has now been pushed back due to a need for (fill in the blank as you choose). The original sign should then have been squirreled away in the dark recesses of the steam shop, only to be resurrected and used as kindling for that first fire in the firebox.

We're public organizations, we have to present at a minimum a brave face, no matter the circumstances, in order to foster an interest and desire for our collective visitors to come back. Who's coming back each year to note that another year has passed since that sign was defaced ? On the other hand, I personally, among several others I can name, made a point of visiting on a near weekly basis when IRM started the heavy work of cutting into the Libertyliner and restoring it back to an Electroliner. (Just as an example)

Some progress, any progress, even the image that something is being done, even if you as a novice can't tell what by your naked eye, is better than a wise-acre comment on what is essentially, defaced museum property.

Image is everything.

I'll get down from my soapbox now, the view is great (I can see my house from up here), but I'm getting a nosebleed. (See, I like sarcasm)

OMG,

Lock this thread!

Delete it!

Blow it up!

I going to jump out my cellar window!

PLEASE, PLEASE, no more 1361 posts for the good of the order!!

Scott

When was the last official word on the engine?

Joshua

At least someone had the good sense to accurately update the completion date. First honest thing I've seen connected with this sad saga!!

IMHO-Ross Rowland

Yes it has the same completion date as SS Nobska!

PC

That smiley face wasn't on the end of 1361 back on June 20th. because I was over looking at her, She sits in the roundhouse in stall, I believe One , well it's the first stall of the active round house.

I really do hope she get restored to either active or cosmetic. and she get's moved soon. because she's sitting in the part of the roundhouse where we like to move 565 too.

Where 1361 is stored she's taking up a lot of room that we could be using for 565 with the drop pit being over there we could be able to drop down the front drivers to install the journals and springs once there made or found.

Where 565 is now we don't really have much room to work on her Pilot truck once its done.
As this photo shows

Len.

Overruns happen. What's unfortunate is that the project was defeated by them.

What I wonder is what it would take to pick the project back up on its feet and move forward with a new plan, raise funds, gather forces, etc.

I think it will take only what it costs to move the locomotive to another Pennsylvania site with expertise in Pennsy engines. Pay for the materials to assess, repair, or replace, and then pay the staff of experts and workers. Allow nobody to touch the locomotive who isn't on that shop staff.
I know the argument that "she's eaten up too much money already", but that's done, history, over, a "fait accompli". A new benefactor(s) should be found and the job finished. This is a Pennsy K4s after all, one of the icon locomotives of the 20th Century. Yes, while disassembled, she makes a good study of what a disassembled locomotive looks like, but that's not what we truly want of her. The K4s is a machine, not an old lady. My vote would be to repair her and run her. Other opinions are respected, but this is mine.

By whom? Who are you referring to. I hope not Steamtown, because it wasn't their project. It was and always been a project of the Railroad Museum of Altoona, all Steamtown was doing was providing a shop to work on it. Altoona pull the plug on the project not Steamtown.

Len.

At this point, I don't think it should be Steamtown's role to either allow an editorial to exist on the display (including the chalk marked "let me rest in peace") nor to defend the folks in Altoona. I think the sign should be simply taken down. If someone asks about it on the shop tour they can be told that no more work is being done on site on her and that it will be moved to Altoona (or wherever they direct it) once the museum there arranges for its movement. Frankly I don't know of any public announcements concerning 1361's fate since all work was stopped, so why should Steamtown take on any role explaining it - Lord knows they have enough issues of their own to deal with without taking on this one.

Ha, for a second, I thought you wrote "Would that somebody might find a curve."

A covered display at a certain curve in the mountains might be a nice way to live out her days...

Rob

Not to restart the whole sad saga of the 1361 all over again,but, SV you're 100% wrong in your above staement.

For the first 5/6 years the project WAS under the direct control/leadership of Steamtown with funding provided by Altoona via the college in Scranton. Steamtown was the lead "expert", and was paid to be the project general contractor and called the shots. The officer in charge was its then CMO Chris Ahrens.

So please don't say that SNHS was only the provider of an enclosed place to do the job, as that's totally incorrect!!

Ross Rowland