Museum of American RR in Dallas gets Smithsonian's PA

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:55 am

from Trains Newswire (full story for Trains subscribers at http://trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=7240 ):

Quote:

DALLAS - The Smithsonian Institution has gifted one of its two Alco PA diesels to the Museum of the American Railroad, the Texas museum's attorney says. William J. Brotherton said the locomotive is being loaded onto flat cars from its storage site near Lebanon, Ore. . . .

The Museum of the American Railroad, with a collection including a Union Pacific 4-8-8-4, a UP DDA40X Centennial, a Pennsylvania GG1, and a Santa Fe FP45 plus a variety of other locomotives and freight and passenger equipment, is in the process of moving from its Dallas home to Frisco, 35 miles north.

jim templin · **Posted:** Mon Aug 16, 2010 4:01 pm

I.....am......speechless.........

just one more thing to load in the gondolas when they move.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Mon Aug 16, 2010 4:34 pm

"gifted one of its two PA's?"

The last I knew, one belonged to Doyle McCormack, and was rebuilt, while the Smithsonian's was in wreckage status, and ...well...yucky. Has something happened to the second PA that I am as yet unaware of?

filmteknik · **Posted:** Mon Aug 16, 2010 6:26 pm

What's with this quote from Doyle?

"I've got a lot of time, energy, money and emotion in that engine, and I'm glad to see it going somewhere where it will be appreciated."

What has he put into this other PA?

Steve

Wowak · **Posted:** Mon Aug 16, 2010 7:09 pm

filmteknik wrote:

What has he put into this other PA?

Um... all the work of getting them back from Mexico?

scottychaos · **Posted:** Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:15 pm

"gifted one of its two PA's?"

probably just the usual news reporting getting something wrong..
there are two PA's in oregon, there is a Smithsonian connection..someone just assumed they must both belong to the Smithsonian..

I think its a law that all news articles by "non railfan" media, about anything railroad related, must contain at least one mistake! ;)

sounds cool though!
sounds like a good home for the PA..
I guess they decided they didnt have a place to display it Washington DC?
too bad..but still, the mere fact that it exists is nearly a miracle..
I wont complain about where it goes..

Scot

filmteknik · **Posted:** Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:35 pm

TRAINS Magazine is not "non railfan" media!

Steve

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:58 pm

I agree, it should go in Santa Fe territory, but wouldn't the restored locomotive look sharp next to 1401? Yes, I know, no room for expansion, etc, etc.

Randolph R. Ruiz · **Posted:** Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:02 pm

Questions;

Was the locomotive de-assessed or is it being offered on a long-term loan?
What was the process by which the Museum of American RR selected as the recipient?
Was the locomotive offered to more than one institution?
Were proposals for its future preservation/restoration solicited?
Were there any assurances/commitments made regarding its future conservation/restoration?

This locomotive has been of interest to me as it is the only PA in the world that has a chance of being restored to represent its actual history as an icon of American railroading, and while I have no doubt of the good intentions of the Museum of American RR, they do seem to have their hands full with their plans to move. It does not seem like a great time for them to be adding such a major project to their collection.

I will be happy to see the PA hulk gone from Oregon's wet climate.

Randy

PCook · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 am **Posts:** 2127

So which of you guys has the operable 16 cylinder ALCO 244 engine from Philly Gear that was offered for sale on eBay about three years ago?

PC

EDM · **Posted:** Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:27 pm

I think Doyle also put a set of trucks under the 16. As far as the Phily Gear 16-244, it seems to have fallen off the radar. I haven't heard any news about it's disposition in several years.

davew833 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:33 am

I believe it went something like this: Bill Withuthn got the PA shells out of Mexico (with Doyle's help, I'm sure), and Doyle McCormack acquired the last two remaining sets of GSC A-1-A trucks from some FM Erie-Built "B" units going to scrap in Canada. Doyle traded a set of trucks plus installation for clear title to #18 (ex-ATSF 62L), currently being rebuilt into "NKP 190." The Smithsonian unit is #16 (ex-ATSF 59L).

Aside from being little more than a stripped shell, #16 has severe derailment damage on the engineer's side. I hope the folks in Dallas are under no illusions as to its condition. It's going to take lots more than paint to make it displayable.

I was hoping the Smithsonian would mount a high-quality restoration the way they've done with some of their other transportation artifacts (I'm thinking of the Air & Space Museum here.) A few years ago there was talk of it being displayed at KCUS, which I thought would be an excellent location. Not sure how sending her to Dallas is going to play out, but after 10 years of sitting in Oregon, at least something's happening.

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Anybody got any recent photos of AT&SF #59L?

filmteknik · **Posted:** Tue Aug 17, 2010 1:41 am

I thought one of these units was repatriated with trucks, one without, but maybe I am mistaken. If so then I'm not sure what Doyle did for title to one. I'm not saying it wasn't warranted; I just don't know.

Forget the 16-244 since as a PA4 it needs a 12-251F.

Steve

Randolph R. Ruiz · **Posted:** Tue Aug 17, 2010 3:18 am

filmteknik wrote:

Forget the 16-244 since as a PA4 it needs a 12-251F.

Given the current state of this artifact, I would be surprised if there is any significant fabric from its later years that would be lost in restoring it to its original appearance as PA-1 ATSF 59-L.