The story is still being told that the Ike is heading to the UK along with the ‘Dominion of Canada’ (which I didn’t even know was on this side of the pond before these rumors started): http://www.rail.co/2012/01/30/six-streaks-reunited-eisenhower-and-dominion-are-coming-home/ Funny, the Green Bay website has nothing about it which would lead me to believe that the wishful thinking hasn’t gone away: http://www.nationalrrmuseum.org/en-Us/news/default.aspx
Does anyone have an idea if Mallard will steam again? She ran in the 80s, why not for this celebration next year?

Trains confirms today that this is a done deal.

Go over to Green Bay and see her while you still can, as I seriously doubt that she'll be coming back once they get her over there. Sad. The A4 is a magnificent locomotive and one of the best displays at the museum. She was painted in 1989 and looks terrific.

And to those folks that say I'm just being negative, remember how quickly Green Bay let go of their "priceless artifact" 261...

Pretty sure the Eisenhower is a different deal. Maybe they will stay, but I'm pretty sure that both A4s will come back. Breaking a legal agreement that spans international boundaries makes keeping the A4s in the UK after 2014 far more difficult than any preservation group can handle, whether it's Green Bay, Canadian Railway Museum, or the National Railway Museum (which has a seemingly unlimited amount of support from it's patrons and the UK preservation community).

According to a Facebook Page on the Friends of the National Railroad Museum (in Green Bay), the Eisenhower will be going over for 2 years. During that time, the two passenger cars for it will remain in Green Bay, while a new display will be built.

I would seriously beleive that the Eisenhower would stay over there, if it wasn't for that fact that the engine is NRM's baby, and they still have 2 passenger cars for it here in the states.

Can't wait to see that thing go over the pond where it belongs, whether or not it's for good, or as advertized, for two years.

The Eagles have landed...
http://heritagerailway.co.uk/news/a4s-have-arrived

HI Jeff

Yes they are both For Sale , as OO scale models made by Bachmann , the phototypes will be going home in two years .
vv: Robin Jones
The exiled A4 streamlined Pacifics have arrived safely from North America.
Not only that, but they are both for sale.


A4 No. 60008 Dwight D. Eisenhower as produced by Bachmann. Robin Jones
In advance of the repatriation of the full-size Gresley masterpieces at Liverpool Docks on October 2-3, Bachmann has produced OO gauge models of both No. 60008 Dwight D Eisenhower and No. 60010 Dominion of Canada. Both come in BR green livery with late crest and retail for
Pat

Just in case someone wants to get to the model page on the Heritage Railway site...
http://heritagerailway.co.uk/news/north ... s-now-here
I should note that Heritage Railway tends to put up articles regarding special release models, all of which are aimed at a specific event or reunion.

The Bachmann model sells for 129.4 GBP or 209.48 USD at current (10/04/2012) rates.

Not trying to offend, just curious:

What is the reason for the apparent disparity in condition of the two? I know the 60008 just emerged from a cocoon in Wisconsin but the 60010 looks rougher.

Where has the 60010 been the last 50 years?

Also both seem to have similar areas of what appears to be duct tape - protecting builder's plates or something valuable or fragile?

60008 was donated to the NRM in the US shortly after she was withdrawn from service and was spruced up at Doncaster before being shipped over here, and as you said, she has been indoors pretty much the whole time.

60010 was earmarked for scrapping and spent about a year in the deadline at Darlington before being donated to the Canadian Railroad Historical Association. She got some cosmetic work before being shipped to Canada, but on the whole, she's been in rough shape since she was withdrawn from service in the 60s.

Remember also that 60008 was buffed and polished up more recently--as I recall, it was sent down to Kansas for the 100th anniversary of Eisenhower's birth in 1990--and then was put into NRM-Green Bay's "rawther" nice enclosed climate-controlled exhibition hall after it was built.

60010 also just happens, in the photos linked, to still have a load of duct/whatever tape holding shut numerous access hatches on the streamlining, as well as rustier wheels.

60010 still looks a lot better than many other museums' exhibit steamers. I could put most two preserved GG1s side by side and come up with an equivalent difference.

The National Railway Museum at York has anounced that all six surviving Gresley A4s will be on show at the museum from the 3rd of July this year for a period of two weeks.

link to NRM site:-


http://www.nrm.org.uk/PlanaVisit/Events/mallard75.aspx

Also a recent photo here of 60008 Dwight D Eisenhower with Mallard at york:-

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

And finally a couple of videos shot last Saturday of one of the A4s that will be displayed at York doing what it does best, hauling mainline tours around the UK on a regular basis. 60009 Union Of South Africa with the Cumbrian Mountain Express:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOHlKlOnzcQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... p8v-tuMp2U

60009 is due out again tomorrow on the same route so I am hoping to get out to see her myself up in the Cumbrian fells.