With regard to today's brief (the reprint of the Ft. Worth Star Telgram article about 771):

A. I will be watching with interest to see if Grapevine really does move the 771 in the next 90 days.

B. I am curious also, having declined to donate/sell or otherwise transfer ownership of 2252 to an established tourist railroad that would have restored it to running order, what the current status of the 2252 is, what are the future plans for it, and monitoring what actually happens in that case too.

I'm not trying to agitate or anything, and I am definitely sypathetic to the "keep it at home" sentiment, but have seen other cases where good intentions ended up having less than opitmal results for the intended recipient.

Texas Steam
hkading@rypn.org

Good Questions.
I am not The Great Carsoni, but I predict SP2252 will continue to rot under her slowly degrading shelter. A quick coat of paint may be applied, but probably nothing else.
As the former project manager for the SP 1215 project, I was amazed that we were able to actually purchase the 1215 after a local claimed to have preservation plans for her. The park people gave him about a year, and after no actions (Big Suprise!), they proceeded with the sale to PRM. Last I knew, the 1215 project was in Limbo because of a debate on her significance (or lack of it) to the "core collection."
Steamcerely,
David Dewey


djdewey@cncnet.com

Will someone please tell us what "Old #771" is? Perhaps a wheel arrangement? Is it another ten-wheeler?

Museum of Transportation
rdgoldfede@aol.com

I think one of the issues raised was the possibility of the 2252 becoming a parts source for the tourists railroads same class locomotive.

I don't know if this is fact, but it was an issue raised.

Smokebox

Ron,

The 771 is an SP Mikado (2-8-2). I'll be surprised if the 771 is restored in one year. I wish them good luck and no surprises!

> Will someone please tell us what "Old
> #771" is? Perhaps a wheel arrangement?
> Is it another ten-wheeler?


hubbard5004@msn.com

I predict that if they do get her up and running after restoration by a competent and thorough rebuilder, they will be very pleasantly surpirsed by the greater reliability, power, and durability compared to that lightweight ancient lap-seamed commuter pony they have been running. Best of luck to them.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

> With regard to today's brief (the reprint of
> the Ft. Worth Star Telgram article about
> 771):

> A. I will be watching with interest to see
> if Grapevine really does move the 771 in the
> next 90 days

The first hurdle is whether or not Victoria's City Council actually voted to APPROVE the sale to Grapevine. Strange the newswires are silent on this...

hi_plain@yahoo.com

> The first hurdle is whether or not
> Victoria's City Council actually voted to
> APPROVE the sale to Grapevine. Strange the
> newswires are silent on this...

see below

It appears that we have done it again. From the outside, the "no" vote looks like the result of efforts of "local" rail preservationists to whom I pose the question, "Who has a greater chance of funding a restoration to operation, the local group or Tarantula?" I guess we'll find out in the next 60 days.


wyld@sbcglobal.net