O. Winston Link's Engine on the Move

tomgears · **Posted:** Sun Oct 30, 2011 10:44 pm

CPR 453 appears to be on her way to the O. Winston Link Museum.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 77&nseq=24

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1087

The Utica, NY newspaper has posted a gallery of seven images that show the locomotive being loaded:

Utica, NY Observer Dispatch Gallery: Historic Utica train off tracks and on the road

Was a torch used to separate the boiler from the frame?

Frisco1522 · **Posted:** Sun Oct 30, 2011 11:40 pm

Yep, looks like they used a gas hatchet to do the job. Makes me grit my teeth.

Martin Moorefield · **Joined:** Fri Sep 25, 2009 6:38 pm **Posts:** 115

Certainly good news for my neck of the woods.

sbhunterca · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:58 am **Posts:** 728

This is probably the best that could be hoped for, although I hate seeing equipment being butchered to make a road move more convenient. Hopefully she'll be put back together by a competent welder.

I would have preferred to see her come home to Canada, but nobody up here came up with the money to buy her... at least she'll be well looked after at the OWL Museum.

Steve Hunter
Cardinal, Ontario

David Notarius · **Posted:** Mon Oct 31, 2011 7:55 am

Howdy Everyone,
Does anyone know how along the way the restoration work was done on this locomotive before it was stopped? Does anyone know where she was going to run, after the Morris Country Central operations shut down? Thanks, David Notarius, London UK, ex New Hope Pa

David Notarius · **Posted:** Mon Oct 31, 2011 8:07 am

Hello again: This was just sent to me, sort of tells the story:

http://www.readthehook.com/files/old/st ... SadTa.html

And a sad one too! David Notarius, London UK

Gary Gray · **Posted:** Mon Oct 31, 2011 9:24 am

453 is not going to the Link Museum. Will Harris, the mover of the "Lost Engines of Roanoke" has bought it for his personal collection. As far as I know it is heading to Goshen, Va. initially, and will be eventually displayed at one of his businesses. As for the cut around the cylinder saddle, if done carefully it does not affect the pressure vessel. Frequently this an area of heavy corrosion anyway, and a lot of smokeboxes have to be repaired in this area if not replaced entirely.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Mon Oct 31, 2011 10:47 pm

She's a perfect little 4-6-0 for a branch line restoration. Should be parts enough to put her back in shape someday.

Gary Gray · **Posted:** Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:20 pm

Richard Glueck wrote:

She's a perfect little 4-6-0 for a branch line restoration. Should be parts enough to put her back in shape someday.

There's probably nothing missing on her that's not fabricatable or obtainable. Who knows, there might be a branch line in her future.

PennCentral4321 · **Joined:** Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:45 pm **Posts:** 128

Well Gary, as they say in real estate the 3 most important things are location, location, location. Just after that comes a good business plan and if those all fall into place the money will come without winning the lottery. It is nice to see that Link's locomotive went to a caring home.

dinwitty · **Joined:** Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:18 pm **Posts:** 2226

I missed this thread, perhaps focused on the lost engines.

I get queasy on the smokebox cutting when you know there are designed separation points to remove the boiler for servicing. Perhaps easier than trying to separate the cylinder saddle pipes, risk a bolt break or resealing it or alignment issues on putting the boiler back?

You have to give Will Harris plenty of credit doing it smart tho.

Snappy looking engine.