I've got a novel idea and it raises money too. Why not have a fund raising drive with just the railfans. Largest single donation over say $500. (or any amount TVRM decides) picks the color for a set period of time.

And what will you say when some guy who "struck it rich" via an exorbitantly large workman's compensation settlement wins that drive with a $4,000 check and decrees that it be painted as James the Red Engine?

Unfortunately, this situation is not 100% hypothetical.....

In the unlikely event that they took that approach they could certainly limit the options to the several good ones already discussed. Someone who wants to paint it like James had better be prepared to underwrite the entire overhaul and operating costs.

The only way everyone will be happy (or equally unhappy) would be to announce that it will spend several years with each scheme.

But green first, of course. ha ha

Steve

Then you laugh, paint the locomotive red with black wheels and brass bands, and have a good story when people ask you why the hell it looks like that.

Taylor

Given all the fine work done incuding some very interesting and unusual retrofits I'm not sure whether to be amused or disgusted that more interest and traffic has developed about a lousy paint job than the REAL work done. Any idiot with a few hundred dollars and some time to spare can paint a locomotive any color he wants....overhauling and updating 4501 takes a lot of knowledge, talent, skills and determination and is best left to maybe a couple dozen guys in this country. Why worry about cosmetics which aren't too robust anyhow and are easy to change down the line?

I'm sorry Mark asked, but very pleased he's doing the work.

dave

In one of the British steam magazines a while back, they did a 1/2 and 1/2 scheme. I think it was a Princess Class Pacific. One side was painted in the red scheme while the other was in a black scheme. All you had to do was stand on the side that you liked the best I guess. Doing 4501 in a black/green paint scheme would certainly make for some interesting photo opportunities.
I will now take my medicine and have a little nap.

That was LMS 6229 Duchess of Hamilton in the midst of her re-streamlining.

Joshua

Mark,

Thank you for the great pictures. I can't wait to see the new roller bearing wheel sets, etc. Only out of curiosity, did you guys order those from Omnitrax? Pretty cool company/website...

Hopefully you will be able to continue shooting and posting great pictures as all these puzzle pieces are put back together.

The pictures sure do generate a lot of excitement.

yup.... nothing like nearly 5 pages mostly dedicated to paint color discussion...

*ducks and runs for cover*

:P

"In every thing give thanks...."

Appears to be quite the beehive of activity. Nice photo, and thanks for keeping us informed.

Magic numbers in any color!

Steve

The crew running the 4501 is only going to be concerned about whether she has proper water, a good fire, and can he get her over the road without using the @#$#% diesel( if there is one). Paint doesn't make horsepower.

A bit back on topic, what sort of running gear work is being done on the 4501? Also I would like to know what other improvments have been done to the firebox, besides the stoker. Thanks - David Notarius, London UK, ex New Hope Pa

In deference to the '01's age will the boiler pressure be reduced or kept at 200lbs?