Jerry must not be superstitious as he now has two locomotives on his roster numbered THIRTEEN.......

Don C.

Hi All,

Jeff, thanks for kind words! Feel free to sign the guestbook!

I like Bob's idea very much. It would foster better awareness and preservation of steam, and allow steamers to actually be used.

I would conclude the details and financing of insurance would fall to the host rr, but crewing would be by AOS to avoid those "ooops" moments. Transportation costs of said locos borne by both AOS & host, or just host included in lease?

Makes for very interesting prospectus!

Hi Alex,

I can freely admit I was severely disheartened to see BEDT 15 turned into a "theme" loco at first. A few years later, reality (and maturity) set in. Hearing of and seeing locos steam and classic diesels getting cut up willy-nilly. Being what I am, a historian for Industrial & offline Terminal RR of New York City, I took stock of survivors: None of the Bush Terminal 59 Ton offset cab Ingersoll's have survived. Only 7 built and all for BTRR. All the 44 tonners for New York Dock are gone now. (at least they were plenty others built to redress another loco for NYD appearance), and not a whit of Jay Streets Connecting primitive oil electric locos mostly one of a kind (pre-AGEIR boxcab, transfer motor HH300)

So, rather than being painted blue, I could be shaving with BEDT 15. Or BEDT13 for that matter. Yeah, it may be painted blue, and Thomas toddlers and groupies may scream and drool over it, but >I< got 'em all fooled. I know whats really under that dress up. A classic H K Porter 0-6-0T c/n 5966 that once ran for a little 11 mile waterfront terminal in Brooklyn.

And if Thomas is going to be the method of which is needed to keep that loco alive (15 and or 13) than I took will gladly pay my fare and be seen in public with it.

Enthusiastically Yours!

I'm surprised RRMPA is letting this one go, after all it was built in PA. I remember reading at one time that either being built in PA or operating there was a strong part of the criteria for an item being included in the collection.

On the subject of the collection, I've been saying for years that an EBT hopper would make an interesting exhibit. Set it on a short stretch of dual gauge track at the end of a display track (so it wouldn't get in the way-). With a standard gauge hopper adjacent, an EBT hopper would be a nice tribute to the state's narrow gauge operations, and would graphically show the difference between the gauges and equipment.

I remember this criteria as well, when I was researching BEDT #16. I asked why a PA RR museum would want a Brooklyn, NY run loco, and that was the answer. Therefore being built in Pittsburgh, PA was criteria for it's inclusion. :o/

But on the other hand, I've been trying since the 90's to get RRMPa (as best as I could) in reinstalling the doors, windows and lettering her for BEDT like she once was back in early 80's at RRMPa) to no avail, which is understandable as well considering other projects of higher priority.

Phil

I wonder if they'd consider deaccessioning the NKP Berkshire. Imagine what Jacobsen could do with two of those in the same shop, at the same time!

Hi Dick!

Happy & healthy!

Well, frankly my dear, I don't give a damn WHICH locomotive: 759, 4012, 614, 2101 or whether it be CP, CN, PRR, UP or even Chinese; that ANYBODY chooses to operate i.e.:(SRC, AOS, High Iron, Steamtown, et al); but dammit, we need long distance steam excursions in the Northeast, like UP does with 3985, 8444, etc.

Can you image what a l.d. steam excursion up the Hudson (West Shore OR East Shore! would attract in attention?

The last l.d. o.t.r. steam excursion that I even knew about around here was the 614 up the Port Jervis branch of NJT back in the late 90's.

What's a guy gotta do to catch some steam at speed up here? Move west? (Ain't happening).

But this is off topic for this thread and BEDT 13 ain't up to the job of haulin' long distance.

May #13 serve her new master well either in service or on display!

Phil: I think Ross Rowland has the enviable award for making l/d excursions happen in the northeast. Whether it was 1278, 2101, or 614, the man made it happen,with the good will of the railroad authorities at that time. Eventually, I think we'll see it again, albeit, likely under different managements across the board. One would have thought Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine would have been good places for scenic steam operations over long distances, but it hasn't come to fruition. Neither, for that matter, has eastern Quebec and New Brunswick.
There is gorgeous trackage through Valle Jonction, Quebec, complete with stand locomotive (CNR46), station, and roundhouse. Beautiful countryside, highway along the route, great destination, too.

Back to our regular topic.