Les,
Milwaukee 265, GN 2584 and all of the Burlington engines are on rollers. Someone else will have to speak about the GN 4-8-2s and SP&S 700.
Don C.

I don't really see SP&S 700 being a viable option. They currently have an active and interested group that has restored the engine and is keeping it in (limited) operation. I suppose anything is possible, but I doubt they'd be interested in selling the engine, or for that matter if they even have the ability to sell it, since I'm pretty sure the engine is owned by the City of Portland.

According to what I've got the GN Mountains are friction bearings.

True, but if Sandberg and company wanted to keep their irons in the fire, so to speak, and run a reduced schedule of trips these next few years while they rebuild another engine, it would seem that the 700 could be a viable option, as the 4449 was this past fall.

Just speculation on my part, as I have absolutely NO direct contact with any of the principles involved, but it appeared to me that the Friends of 261 sponsorship of the 4449 trip to Owosso this summer could have sent a very strong message to the NRM at Green Bay that, "The 261 ain't the only friggin' engine in the world." The fact that the NRM board didn't seem to rise to the bait would appear to mean there is not much chance that their position will change.

Closer to home, a close associate of mine keeps reminding me that the 265 at IRM has had some firebox work done in the past; several (many?) dozen flexible bolts made by one member who posts on this list, and installed by another. Both are well respected names who date back to the period when IRM had no problem keeping steam in operation.