EBT RR 0-6-0 #6

kevin kohls · **Joined:** Tue May 03, 2005 8:35 pm **Posts:** 298

I am wondering if there is an organized effort to buy back EBT RR 0-6-0 #6 which is currently owned by the Whitewater Valley RR in Connersville, IN and return it to its home at Mount Union, PA ?

Kevin Kohls

cr6358 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:22 pm

Nope.

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Kevin -

Rather than "IS there an organized effort....", my question would be "SHOULD there be an organized effort...."

Les

Stationary Steam · **Posted:** Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:27 am

Why should there not be an effort? If the EBT sold off number 12 to the D&S and shipped her off to Colorado, can you honestly tell me that EBT fans wouldn't be mounting a rescue attempt to bring the locomotive back?

It seems to me that as far as EBT fans are concerned the two standard gauge locomotives are to be treated lower than dirt, with more consideration given to one of the hoppers out in the yard than this locomotive.

Several years ago the no. 6 was for sale. I think 15k would have been enough to buy her. When I saw no. 6 it was sitting in deplorable condition outside with much of the machinery and parts stripped off. A lot of that was inside various storage buildings etc. but I have no illusions thinking that all of the parts are present and accounted for.

15K is a doable figure to raise, and the no. 6 is small enough where trucking wouldn't be too outrageous.

Mike Stillwell · **Posted:** Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:52 am

As an EBT fan, I would rather see $ being put into Shop stabilization, track work and if there was extra - restoration of #14. No offense to the #6, but it's relatively stable where it is and if it were brought back to Mt Union, there's not much of a future for it anyway, other than more long term storage. Also, it's former stall in the Mt. Union engine house is currently occupied by the Mt. Union Transfer RR's switcher.

Mike Stillwell
Buena Vista, VA.

ebtrr · **Posted:** Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:20 pm

All EBT fans would like to see #6 return, as she is the only 'Boomer' loco from the EBT. However there are real-world issues with taking on the project.

- We do not have the extra $15K to buy her
- We do not have the extra $10K+ to mover her
- We do not have the extra $? to restore her (say, $10K for a volunteer cosmetic)
- We do not have the indoor storage for her (say, $30K for a pole barn)
- We do not have the volunteers to work on her
- Effectively she can not steam again (lap seam, bad firebox and rotted smokebox) so is static display anyway

We have #3 sitting in Mount Union needing cosmetic work and we do not have the resources to tackle that either, along with a hundred other things we would like to do (and others would like us to do). If we get a check for $100K for the "#6 Repatriation and Cosmetic Restoration Project" then I'm sure something will get done.

With limited funds and labor we have to choose our battles carefully. #6 is one we have chosen not to fight right now. Rather we have chosen do tackle projects that:

- Have direct benefit to the EBT operations
- Prevent loss of historic fabric
- Generate income needed for operations and restoration

As always additional volunteers are appreciated and needed.

http://www.febt.org/Restore/

Tom Richards · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:04 am **Posts:** 137

I'm curious: why pick 14 for restoration? What about 17 or 18?

Dave Crosby · **Posted:** Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:14 pm

I've always thought that the engine would make a fine addition to the Rolling Stock Hall at the Railroad Museum of PA with a narrow gauge hopper or box coupled up to it's offset coupler.

ebtrr · **Posted:** Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:38 pm

Tom Richards wrote:

I'm curious: why pick 14 for restoration? What about 17 or 18?

14's boiler is in pretty good shape. #12 and #17 need quite a bit of boiler work. #16 and #18 are complete unknowns as far as the boiler. #14's running gear is in better than #12s (though not as good as #17). It also is saturated steam which is less maintenance than superheated #17, #16 and #18 and is lighter (less track wear).

G. W. Laepple · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1182

About two years ago, I corresponded with David Farlow, CMO of the Whitewater Valley, current custodians of EBT no. 6 on behalf of a tourist line in Pennsylvania that was looking for a tender locomotive. Mr. Farlow didn't pull any punches about the engine's condition. However, he indicated that another entity had expressed an interest in the locomotive for display, and he felt they should have first option on the engine. With that information, we transferred our efforts to another locomotive which we ultimately purchased and moved.

o anderson · **Posted:** Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:10 pm

Market conditions have changed and I suspect this engine will not be bought for restoration any time soon. I hope the WWV will consider donation of the unoperable engine to an entity such as the state railroad museum in Strasburg or the city railroad museum in Altoona.

Then shipping and restoration expenses are all that is needed. The EBT, its new non profit operator, and the FEBT have enough on their hands to give them concern.