Still, even at, say, $3000 per old loco, it was a chunk of money for an individual - but not unreasonable for a small group.

Precisely.

To answer some questions.

The 113 was stripped (Gill purchased the parts from the coal company) and put many on the 385, not the other way around.

There is still a lot of assembly to do after a hydro. One never knows what can go wrong (the throttle for example). The valve spools were difficult to remove due to a cylinder sleeve put in incorrectly many years, causing lubrication problems, etc., etc.

We are aiming to be operational for the "Convention".

When the 774 was scrapped, it was considered old worn out junk by most people. The preservation movement had not really gained momentum (with some exceptions) at that time. It was only considered a "historic treasure" by the next generations. Why is track being relaid many years after it was ripped out in Sheepscot, Silverton, Lackawanna Cut Off, NJ, and other places? Why is it still being ripped out now when some people are screaming that it should be saved? Why have historic diesels been scrapped recently and are still being scrapped?

Bernie Perch

Curious - what was the weight of 754? Further digging reveals that HMS scrap steel averaged $32.68/metric ton (or just about $30.00/ton) in 1960.

--
Will

The CNJ 4-6-0 in question was 774; it weighed about 120 tons or so.

OK, so it's 1955 and Don Wood and a few buddies scrape up $5500 (real dollars, not ten-cent-2009 dollars), and pay the CNJ. Now what? No Strasburg, no Steamtown, barely an Allaire (3 foot, no good for 774), no M&E or MCC or BR&W.... What could you do with the thing? Where would you put it?

The baseline year for amateur US railway preservation was 1960-- and too many noteworthy engines didn't quite make that mark, having been cut up a few years before.

Let's also not forget that by 1955-56, many Eastern roads were helping to meet payroll via scrap sales, not just steam locomotives, but second mainlines, etc.

Howard P.

It all depends on your priorities. The cost of buying a steamer from the scrap line was about the cost of a nice family car. Folks spend lots of discretionary money on all kinds of stuff; campers, boats, motorcycles, model trains, vacation homes, etc... The cost of purchasing a locomotive has more or less remained the same through the decades compared to purchasing a 35 foot cabin cruiser or vacation home. Many working people own a house at the beach, it would be just as easy to buy a F40, SW1 or passenger car and skip the vacation home. That is what many of the ordinary folks who bought steam did 40 years ago. It is just a matter of what you want. I've had a decent job most of my life and if I was determined to buy a locomotive I could have, I'm sure this applies to many others. We all have different priorities.

To clarify another item, 113's air compressor and power reverse were never put on 385. They were scrapped when things were being cleaned up at the MCC.

Bernie Perch

The problem in the 21st century has become that, although the acquisition costs have remained somewhat constant with inflation taken into account, the maintenance and restoration have skyrocketed in relation. In the olden days, you might get away with a sympathetic state boiler inspector, trainmasters that remembered how passenger trains and mechanical stuff operated, and visual inspections; now we have CFR 239 (or whatever), officials who have never seen a passenger train or steam locomotive, no redundant sidings upon which to store a locomotive for a year or two, and cab signals/hotbox detectors/positive train control/HEP/Amtrak insurance/am I done yet?

Sandy,

I agree with you 100% on the costs and the multitude of issues facing a private owner. With that said, there has been great success in recent years be several private owners with smaller locomotives that are trucked from location to location. The cost to restore a small tank engine is in the range of a someone with a decent job. These are the people in the same income range who own second homes at the shore. With the climate the way it is today I might invest in a vacation home over a steam locomotive myself and you know I am a steam nut.

Priorities, Tom, priorities!