The unveiling of DL&W F3#664 at Steamtown

arjay3 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:50 pm **Posts:** 162

Final plastic was being taken off on 6-15-10. Steps handrails and other misc. go back together this weekend. Just in time for the NRHS convention in Scranton next week.
All total about 700 volunteer man-hours put in this year on just #664. Tri-State is painting the #663 this week.

Rich Jahn

PS. As a fund raiser the ARHS can have full size vinyl lettering of the front herald made in white for anyone interested. $75.00 plus $5.00 shipping.

Attachment:

File comment: 4:30 pm on 6-15-10

RWJ_5429.jpeg [ 169.03 KiB | Viewed 8818 times ]

Gary Gray · **Posted:** Wed Jun 16, 2010 8:07 pm

Beautiful!!!!!!!

Anthony C. DeBellis · **Posted:** Wed Jun 16, 2010 9:56 pm

Now that is an amazing looking engine!!!!!! Great job guys. That is not an easy scheme to paint. It just looks amazing, have really enjoyed reading the project updates as well, thank you!

Anthony

tim o'm · **Posted:** Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:43 pm

I am totally impressed by the effort going on with this project. The new 664 was moved into the roundhouse today for final work such as porthole installation and ladder attachment. Now I can't wait for her to run!

"Future 663" was moved to track 16 of the roundhouse this morning, and the Reading Fs were both moved into the roundhouse, 903 for a few hours, and 902 by the end of the day.
Preparation for Canadian Pacific 4-6-2 no. 2317's fire-up next week is taking place on track 18, and Canadian National 2-8-2 no. 3254 will get a new fire Thursday for operation on Friday. Just a few tracks over, DL&W 2-6-0 no. 565 was getting some sheet metal work done. I think the last time the roundhouse was this busy was 1999, during RailExpo, when the John Bull (PRR replica from 1940), Baldwin 26 and Canadian Pacific 2317 were steaming up and all getting attention for their days in the sun.

SteveRG · **Joined:** Fri Sep 15, 2006 3:28 am **Posts:** 270

She looks GORGEOUS! Hats off to everyone involved in painting such an awesome paint scheme. But wait! Did I read that correctly? Baldwin 26 was getting steamed up?
When did this happen? She's back!? That is tremendous news! Love that little thing!!
Lots of luck and congrats to everyone who worked on her AND 663!!!

junior · **Posted:** Thu Jun 17, 2010 8:41 am

Uhm...Steve...re-read that post about the 26.

I think the last time the roundhouse was this busy was 1999, during RailExpo, when the John Bull (PRR replica from 1940), Baldwin 26 and Canadian Pacific 2317 were steaming up and all getting attention for their days in the sun.

PRR Forever · **Joined:** Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:38 pm **Posts:** 91

Steve, the time you spent just writing out "am I reading this right?" could have been better spent ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY CHECKING TO SEE if you'd read it right before jumping to conclusions and possibly starting a huge rumor mill....just saying.

6-18003 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 17, 2010 9:31 am **Posts:** 728

Will these pull any excursions out of Steamtown? There is a lot of local buzz over these, it would be a shame to waste the opportunity. There seems to be a lot of activity lately with Steamtown's coach cars, is a return of the Phobe Snow too much to ask for? Diesels make more sense in terms of longer runs and excursions early or late in the year, and a Lackawanna redoux is probably the best way to generate revenue. The Reading units are nice but lack the strong local connection of the Lackawanna F3s.

Newriver400 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 12:31 am

Peeling the masking tape off is one of the most rewarding (though tedious at times) things about projects like this. Just stunning!

Best,
Mike

arjay3 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:50 pm **Posts:** 162

6-18003 wrote:

Will these pull any excursions out of Steamtown? There is a lot of local buzz over these, it would be a shame to waste the opportunity. There seems to be a lot of activity lately with Steamtown's coach cars, is a return of the Phobe Snow too much to ask for? Diesels make more sense in terms of longer runs and excursions early or late in the year, and a Lackawanna redoux is probably the best way to generate revenue. The Reading units are nice but lack the strong local connection of the Lackawanna F3s.

Yes - stay tuned for future announcements as there is a strong desire of many different parties to see Lackawanna painted units run on Lackawanna track and past the many Lackawanna artifacts that still exist in many places along the line.

6-18003 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 17, 2010 9:31 am **Posts:** 728

Yes - stay tuned for future announcements as there is a strong desire of many different parties to see Lackawanna painted units run on Lackawanna track and past the many Lackawanna artifacts that still exist in many places along the line.[/quote]

This is great news. As I said, there is substantial local interest from people who have never even been to Steamtown, and it presents a great opportunity to generate revenue and raise awareness.

Great work so far guys and gals!

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2605

Reading units are nice but lack the strong local connection of the Lackawanna F3s.

How?

These are Lackawanna PAINTED units, spectacular and NOSTALGIC but the Reading FP-7's are more HISTORIC, in the sense that they ACTUALLY vanquished the G series Pacifics (Pacifics were the passenger power of choice in the Anthracite/NEPA region, with a few exceptions) of the Anthracite road most committed to steam. (Reading was building and receiving the G-3's when the Lehigh Valley was banishing its passenger steam in favor of ALCO PA's.)

GSpro · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 3:19 pm

Simply stunning! Amazing work and thanks to all who helped!

6-18003 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 17, 2010 9:31 am **Posts:** 728

superheater wrote:

How?

These are Lackawanna PAINTED units, spectacular and NOSTALGIC but the Reading FP-7's are more HISTORIC, in the sense that they ACTUALLY vanquished the G series Pacifics (Pacifics were the passenger power of choice in the Anthracite/NEPA region, with a few exceptions) of the Anthracite road most committed to steam. (Reading was building and receiving the G-3's when the Lehigh Valley was banishing its passenger steam in favor of ALCO PA's.)

All I'm saying is that to the average person in Scranton, there is no connection to the Reading units and no desire to ride one. (BTW, didn't the DL&W relegate the majority of their pacifics to freight service?)

WMASS · **Joined:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:47 pm **Posts:** 27

This F3 is simply nothing short of Spectacular. The people who volunteered to restore her must be very proud. It shall be great to see her on some specials in the near future.