This message was received earlier today from a long-time member at Whippany Railroad Museum:

Hello All,

Today, May 26, 2010, the Museum presented two checks totaling $150,160.00 (see attached receipt) to the Township of Hanover that will begin the long-awaited 4039 rehabilitation project. This sum of money was to "close the gap" between the TEA-21 grant funds already on hand, and the required additional funds that would see the project through to completion.

Thursday evening, May 27th, the Hanover Township Committee will meet and is expected to sign and award the rebuild contract to Rob Mangles of Transportation Innovation Specialists, Inc. of Minnesota.

This last part of the "puzzle" (the bank loan issue) has been a real "nail-biter"...the collective rise in blood pressure levels from all concerned should make the next edition of the New England Journal of Medicine !

A big round of thanks from all should go to two individuals in particular who worked endlessly for the better part of 5 years on this...Alan Wishengrad and Sam Berman, who together, kept the faith (as well as "burning the midnight oil"), and made many visits to the Hanover Township Municipal Building and the NJDOT on the Museum's behalf in an effort to keep the project alive. There have been probably hundreds of letters, e-mails and phone calls...all made with the thought of seeing this whole process work out.

So now the ride begins... Remember, it does not come cheaply. The bank loan of $100,000. will cost us nearly $2,400. each month for the next four years.

The Museum will need everyone's help now, like never before.

Thanks for your support !
Steve

I was going to ask but instead I'll tell:

Steam Locomotive No. 4039, a 135-ton 0-6-0 swiching locomotive, was built in November 1942 by the American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, NY, as one of eight "155 Class"-type engines built for the United States Army. Its commissioned purpose was to switch various stateside military bases during World War II.

http://www.whippanyrailwaymuseum.net/restore4039.html

Best of luck - I thought initially the hope was only a cosmetic restoration.

From the site:
Please send your tax-deductible donation to:

Project 4039
Whippany Railway Museum
P.O. Box 16
Whippany, NJ 07981-0016

Make checks payable to Whippany Railway Museum. Be sure to include your name, address, and phone number!

Mitch -

I believe there were a total of eighty, not eight, of these engines built. Forty by Alco and 40 by Lima. I know that you probably just took this off of the Whippany Railroad Museum website.

Les

So she is going to be restored to operation?

I did quote from the site, Les - thanks for the correction, hopefully they will note the correction as well, or, perhaps I'll send them a private e-mail.

And, yup, it appears that the hope is to have the engine operational once more which is great news!

/Mitch

And then maybe her and her sister 4023 down in Pureland will be operational by the time the CNJ Southern division gets rebuilt and they could have a reunion! *as he puts down the crack pipe*