I just found this photo of C&O Berkshire #2700, taken on October 17th in Denison, Ohio. I think this engine is for sale, and thought people might be interested. The photo was posted (just recently) on George Elwood's massive photo site.

Frank Hicks

George Elwood's Massive Photo Site

fullparallel@wideopenwest.com

> I just found this photo of C&O Berkshire
> #2700, taken on October 17th in Denison,
> Ohio. I think this engine is for sale, and
> thought people might be interested. The
> photo was posted (just recently) on George
> Elwood's massive photo site.

> Frank Hicks

Frank: And I thought that your Kanawha was in bad shape! Maybe by putting the two of them together you'd come out with one good one. These C&O 2-8-4's have really suffered some indignities through the years of display. The 2701 was badly vandalized and then scrapped in Buffalo, NY not too long after being put on display. The 2760 in Lynchburg, VA is in absolutely horrible shape. Our museums 2789 was unloved and unwanted in Peru, IN and is only now undergoing a slow cosmetic restoration. I think a few others may be in sad shape too.

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

midlandblb@cs.com

My understanding is that this loco is partially dismantled. It's true that she looks poorly on the outside, but that doesn't account for her interior parts and the condition of the boiler. #2700 was displayed, destroyed by vandals, refurbished to look great again, and destroyed again. I read recently that the loco is actually up for trade rather than sale. One of the online equipment brokers has her listed.
I've seen four of the surviving Kanawhas, and I'm not convinced that despite the rough exteriors there aren't runnable locos there. Heavy rebuilding will be required and of course, a place to stretch their legs once they are restored. It would be so classic to have several locos of the same class fired up and functional at the same time and location.
(Now here come the flames telling me to write the checks).

glueck@maine.edu

Come on, folks, the days of "let's pull 'em out of the parks and run 'em on the main" are over. You must have a long-range plan, lots of funding and insurance and a place to run the beast before even considering the thought of restoring a steam locomotive these days. The field of running main line steam has peaked and over the next several years will go into decline for a wide range of reasons. Besides not everything needs to be run. To always jump to that conclusion suggests the remarks are coming from a railfan or operating person and not necessary an informed museum-based decision.

I'm not convinced that despite the rough
> exteriors there aren't runnable locos there.
> Heavy rebuilding will be required and of
> course, a place to stretch their legs once
> they are restored. It would be so classic to
> have several locos of the same class fired
> up and functional at the same time and
> location.
> (Now here come the flames telling me to
> write the checks).

In my opinion, No. 2700 is a classic case of too much enthusiasm, not enough money. I don't know all the details, but I'd guess that a fair amount of money has already been spent moving it here and there, and possibly in lawsuits over ownership. That same money might have funded a thorough stabilization, cosmetic restoration and a simple shelter, which I believe would be the most realistic goal for any group that acquires it now. Sadly, the last C&O roundhouse was destroyed several years ago, so it will never be displayed in the setting where it should have been.

http://www.chessieshop.com/gallery/showphoto.pl?id=26
ryarger@rypn.org

Our museums 2789 was unloved and
> unwanted in Peru, IN and is only now
> undergoing a slow cosmetic restoration.
> Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad
> Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

How come Don Clark (and your own website) reported that the engine's restoration to operating condition was underway? Is this a cosmetic or an operational restoration?

b.hume@rogers.com

> It would be so classic to
> have several locos of the same class fired
> up and functional at the same time and
> location.

I know it's not exactly what you meant here (several operational Kanawha's would be very interesting to say the least), but every operating season at the Cass Scenic Railroad in beautiful Pocahontas county, West Virginia, it is virtually a daily occurence to see two or three geared steamers, currently Shays, all fired up and fully operational. It's a very therapeutic experience for steam enthusiasts.

TKMSMullens@wmconnect.com

To always
> jump to that conclusion suggests the remarks
> are coming from a railfan or operating
> person and not necessary an informed
> museum-based decision.

My original remark follows: (Now here come the flames telling me to write the checks).

Ah! The gift of prophecy!


glueck@maine.edu

> Our museums 2789 was unloved and

> How come Don Clark (and your own website)
> reported that the engine's restoration to
> operating condition was underway? Is this a
> cosmetic or an operational restoration?

I do not know what Don Clark has reported but it is true that HVRM's website DOES ask for help in getting C&O Kanawha #2789 to steam again. And I reported earlier on this thread that the 2789 is currently undergoing a slow cosmetic restoration. Is this confusing? Yes! But are we talking out of both sides of our mouth at the same time? No! I contacted our Board of Directors and here is what I was told:
"The goal always was and is to restore the 2789 to operating condition."

Cosmetically restoring the appearance of the locomotive does NOT mean that we have given up the idea of an operational restoration. From an operational standpoint, we have a brand new set of flues that were donated to the museum for the 2789. Since the new FRA rules for a 15 year time frame start when flues are installed, they will not be put into the locomotive until such time as we feel that we can
bring the locomotive up to operational status. At the present time, a number of things prevent this:

1. Financial considerations (it will take a lot more money than our small museum currently has on hand to restore the locomotive.) We are always looking for new ways to enhance museum income.

2. A place for it to operate (our museum has about a 1/4 mile of "main line"; hardly enough space for an engine of the size of 2789.) In addition, our "connection" (CSX) currently will not allow privately owned steam locomotives in service on their lines hauling private passenger trains (fantrips.) It is our hope that both of these will change in the future.

3. A "staff" dedicated to the restoration (number 2789 is no longer the sole focus of our efforts; we have established a museum at North Judson from scratch and given the Kanawha a safe and secure home.) If a small group of experienced ndividuals would show up starting this Saturday and work on nothing BUT the 2789, a slow cosmetic restoration would became fast and the restoration to operational status would well be on its way.

In the meantime we scrape and chip and replace and paint and work to get the 2789 looking better. Just recently we have sent the locomotives cab out to a private firm for restoration. We would like to see the 2-8-4 running again. You are welcome to come out and help us at any time.

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

midlandblb@cs.com

> Sadly, the last C&O roundhouse was
> destroyed several years ago, so it will
> never be displayed in the setting where it
> should have been.

Huh? 15 stall roundhouse in Columbus, OH Parsons Yard is still in existence. I've turned many an engine on its turntable- diesel of course.


http://www.todengine.org
jrowlands@neo.rr.com

Since no one else who attended OC's steam photo shoot in October is going to speak, I guess I will. I mean, there were those in the audience who probably have a lot better steam background than myself (and probably knowledge of Kanawaha's as well), but she really didn't look that bad to me. Stripped, yes, but at least she's still here.

Anyone interested in this locomotive should also talk to Jason Johnson in the OC Steam Department. He is one of the main people who has helped get those cars currently on display (behind the 2700)
in the wonderful shape they are in. The 2700 is rough, to be sure, but in my humble opinion, anything is possible. Any of us who remember what GTW 6325 looked like sitting in Battle Creek (and that is by no means a rip on the guys who tried to get her going there), then saw her about a month ago under glorious steam no know that anything is possible!
TJG

> I do not know what Don Clark has reported
> but it is true that HVRM's website DOES ask
> for help in getting C&O Kanawha #2789 to
> steam again. And I reported earlier on this
> thread that the 2789 is currently undergoing
> a slow cosmetic restoration. Is this
> confusing? Yes! But are we talking out of
> both sides of our mouth at the same time?
> No! I contacted our Board of Directors and
> here is what I was told:
> "The goal always was and is to restore
> the 2789 to operating condition."

> Cosmetically restoring the appearance of the
> locomotive does NOT mean that we have given
> up the idea of an operational restoration.
> From an operational standpoint, we have a
> brand new set of flues that were donated to
> the museum for the 2789. Since the new FRA
> rules for a 15 year time frame start when
> flues are installed, they will not be put
> into the locomotive until such time as we
> feel that we can
> bring the locomotive up to operational
> status. At the present time, a number of
> things prevent this:

> 1. Financial considerations (it will take a
> lot more money than our small museum
> currently has on hand to restore the
> locomotive.) We are always looking for new
> ways to enhance museum income.

> 2. A place for it to operate (our museum has
> about a 1/4 mile of "main line";
> hardly enough space for an engine of the
> size of 2789.) In addition, our
> "connection" (CSX) currently will
> not allow privately owned steam locomotives
> in service on their lines hauling private
> passenger trains (fantrips.) It is our hope
> that both of these will change in the
> future.

> 3. A "staff" dedicated to the
> restoration (number 2789 is no longer the
> sole focus of our efforts; we have
> established a museum at North Judson from
> scratch and given the Kanawha a safe and
> secure home.) If a small group of
> experienced ndividuals would show up
> starting this Saturday and work on nothing
> BUT the 2789, a slow cosmetic restoration
> would became fast and the restoration to
> operational status would well be on its way.

> In the meantime we scrape and chip and
> replace and paint and work to get the 2789
> looking better. Just recently we have sent
> the locomotives cab out to a private firm
> for restoration. We would like to see the
> 2-8-4 running again. You are welcome to come
> out and help us at any time.

> Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad
> Museum/North Judson, Indiana)


Port Huron Museum
tjgaffney@phmuseum.org