So anyone know what happened to CoG 509's shelter? Did a storm distroy it or did she loose her location?
Rich C

Update: http://www.macon.com/2014/11/02/3399948 ... /100/&rh=1

Chatted about on TO as well. As much as this locomotve is at home in Macon, I hope it can get to Savannah.

Tim -

Thanks for the update. This thread started out with the news that CofG 509 was going to be restored, and now that has obviously hit a dead end. I like the idea of moving the engine to Savannah and the old Central of Georgia steam facilities, and station, located there. I believe they got an 0-4-0T running, so perhaps a future restoration of 509 to operational status, IF she is moved, would not be completely out of the question.

Les

Savannah is an incredible collection of buildings, but has no track to run on apart from the roundhouse leads. The little tank engine is about the only one that is useful on site.....unless there's a chance of a satellite operation on a local shortline perhaps. And, there's a beautiful 2-8-0 already in the roundhouse. I'm more interested in seeing 509 under cover and preserved. For the future? The State of Georgia owns a lot a railroad lines, many of which are leased to operators, so if somebody could put a plan together anything could be possible.

It was a nice idea, but they don't all work out. The Hartwell tried running steam about 25 years ago and that program didn't pass the test of time either. It may simply not be the right location.

dave

I realize that there are folks in Savannah that believe that it was the only city that the C of G visited, and therefore that all Center Road equipment should go there. However, it actually did visit Atlanta...and Chattanooga...and Albany, also. ;-)

Speaking of Chattanooga, the 509 would be on home rails running down the line to Summerville...Hey TVRM here's another C of Ga loco to go with 349.

Back to Macon. At this point I wonder if this locomotive is in danger of being scrapped. I doubt that Macon and or Bibb Co is flush with the cash to adequately protect this locomotive from scrapping by Mother Nature or scrapping by fiscal neediness. The last 29 years have not been good to this 2-8-0.

If it stays in Macon it needs to get "sealed up" with a good coat of paint and then put under cover. (How much does that sort of thing cost?) If the group in Savannah were to get the 40+K needed to move it to their facility it would be fully protected indoors, and could undergo a full cosmetic restoration in time. Lastly like most of these things - advice is not as needed as leadership, cash and labor...

FWIW, there's a note in FLIMSIES today about an offer from an "anonymous donor" of $70K to move the 509 by truck to Savannah.


Les

It was borderline old news by the time this thread started, but the Virginia & Truckee #29 (former Longview, Portland & Northern #680) probably should have been on the list...restored to service late 2008 after being out of service for 5-6 years, maybe longer. Still going strong today...

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV

Three recent articles about CofG #509:

An Historic Macon Steam Engine Has A Savannah Suitor (GA Public Broadcasting, December 30, 2014)

Savannah history group may look to restore iconic Macon steam engine (WJCL, December 31, 2014)

Engine 509 could roll swiftly to Savannah (The Telegraph Newspaper, January 1, 2015)

The Savannah museum has already retrieved two steam locomotives from Macon - donated by scrap dealer Macon Iron and Paper Stock Company, who owned them and displayed them at the driveway entrance to their yard for many years. One was 0-4-0T GOAT, from Georgia Power, the other the Central of Georgia Macon roundhouse switcher 0-6-0T OLD MAUDE. GOAT has been restored (twice) and is their current steam power at the museum.

If the citizens of Macon wish to take a serious perspective on what it takes to be stewards of a historic artifact and want to keep and maintain her, fine.......but that will has not been demonstrated so far. Either SERM or the Savannah shops would make a good home for her otherwise.

Nobody loses and everybody wins if anybody steps up.

Dave

CofG #509's Facebook page is urging people to contact Macon-Bibb County and urge them not to allow the locomotive to go to Savannah as they feel it will never operate if it goes there.

Sure seems like the group would be better off trying to work WITH Savannah to preserve the engine with some sort of agreement to allow the engine to be operated if/when they come up with funds and a feasible plan to do it.

Nobody but Savannah has a plan on the table right now. Let others step up and offer some. Then the people of Macon can decide what is in the best interest of preservation and their stewardship.

dave

Any recent news on CofG #509?

http://www.macon.com/news/local/article49614175.html#

From yesterday. "In recent months, Lord has been able to get the train officially transferred to the nonprofit Restoration of Engine 509, of which he serves on the board of directors."

Rather interesting that this thread was started back in April of 2011 in reaction to a report that Central of Georgia #509 was reportedly going to be restored by the Hartwell Railroad. A number of things have happened to the 509 since the original report. Also in this thread was a report that Duluth & Northeastern #28 had been fired up. Apparently that was not quite true and the engine was in for a cosmetic restoration only. Now the 28 is well into its restoration to service. Might yet be the Decade of the Consol!


Les