<P>Is this locomotive actually operable or not? <br>An earlier post said something about the pistons being missing.<p>Alan<br>




AlanL759@aol.com

<P>Indeed, the pistons are in the locomotive. The restoration of 643 is complete, they are simply awaiting the right opportunity to fire her up. If you're in the Pittsburgh area, it would be well worth your time to behold such a mammoth locomotive in person.<br>




train@nls.net

<P>Are there any sites out there that has pictures of 643? I don't believe I've ever seen any pictures before.<br>




davelecount@juno.com

<P>I would agree with you on that one. I have yet to see any pictures of 643 myself anywhere on the net.<br>

<P>looking<br><br>

<P>I recall photoshopping this image to remove a tarp that was over part of the drivers, and apparently the apparatus in front of the cab (unless 643 has two sand domes. =)




poor picture of 643

mrwowak@NOSPAMyahoo.com

<P>Here's the original photo, I found it on Wes Barris's Steamlocomotive.com page. Photo credit goes to Brian Hume. And yes, she does have two steam domes! A lot of photos of B&LE 2-10-4's can be found by following the link below.




B&LE 2-10-4's on Steamlocomotive.com

rjenkins@railfan.net

<P>Concerning the two sand dome comment on B&LE #643; the Burlington (M-4?) class 2-10-4 drawings that the Bessemer used for their series of engines also had two sand domes but the domes were one in back of the other (the second just behind the location of the front sand dome on #643.) My thinking is that the Burlington engines may have been built with the two sand domes seperate as on the Bessember engines but that they were later moved for whatever reason. Does anyone know for sure? Also, 18 of the Bessemer 2-10-4's ended up being sold to the Missabe. Unfortunately, none of the Burlington or DM&IR engines were saved (although two of the engines from the Q were in stationary boiler service for some time at Northwestern Steel & Wire in Sterling, Illinois but have probably since been scrapped.) <br>




midlandblb@cs.com

<P>643 is one of those engine sold to the DM&IR. Since both B&LE and DM&IR were owned by U.S. Steel, it was an all in the family episode. Incidentally, a friend of mine has a photo he shot at Millersburg, PA of 643 running light from baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia to the B&LE. He shot numerous other new engines being delivered in the same manner. Apparently the PRR would often route locomotives west via the P&E to keep them off the Main Line.<br>While I'm at it, one of the for certain reasons present-day railroads would be reluctant to allow 643 operating privileges is the reputation of those engines as notorious track squashers. They had very high axle loadings and a long rigid wheelbase. I also recall reading somewhere that, while in service on the Bessemer, it was not unusual for them to blow pieces of their front-end netting out the stack while working full throttle up Albion Hill! Yeeee-hawww! <br>




K4s11361@hotmail.com

<P>Guys (and gals),<p>I got a neat idea. Since #643 was copied from the Burlington M-4's, let's paint her cab roof red, put a Burlington Route herald on her tender, ship her to Beardstown, and let her head south with a string of hoppers tied to her tank! What I'd give to see her charging through Virden and Girard! If SP&S #700 could masquerade as an NP 4-8-4 why not let #643 become a Burlington 6300? Burlington John, what do you think? If I hit the lottery, I'll buy all the necessary paint!<br>




kevingillespie@usa.net

<P>Some clarifications:<p>1. B&LE #643 was NEVER sold to the Missabe! I checked both Frank Kings book LOCOMOTIVES OF THE DULUTH, MISSABE & IRON RANGE and the PFM book by Jack W. Farrell on THE BERKSHIRE AND TEXAS TYPES to confirm this.<p>2. I should have looked up Mr. Farrell's book before I asked my question about the location of the second sand dome on the Burlington engines because there on page 67 is a photo of one of the Q's Elesco equipped 2-10-4's back in the 1930's with the seperated sand domes ala B&LE #643. Still would like to know why the Burlington eventually moved the rear sand dome up behind the front sand dome though!<p>3. Since #643 can't apparently be run out east, I'd second the "remaking" of the engine into a Burlington engine. Since the last CB&Q 2-10-4 was #6327, we could number her 6328. Maybe someone should check first though with the BNSF to see if they would even consider letting her out on their line. Should would be nice to see her in Galesburg someday in the future though even with her sand domes the "old way." <br>




midlandblb@cs.com

<P>Even though it never went to the Missabe, 643 is identical to some of the engines that did, so, while we're on the subject of repainting her for a stint out west, how about giving her a coat of Missabe paint and running her up Proctor Hill with a long string of ore jennies?<br>




rjenkins@railfan.net

<P>I'd go for #643 being painted up for the Missabe too (the highest numbered DM&IR 2-10-4 was #717 so we could give her #718.) This suggestion makes sense too as a logical next engine that (maybe) the Missabe would have bought on the "next go around." Heavy rail too up in the iron range and where the engines once ran! BUT...maybe someone should check with the current management to see what they think. <br>




midlandblb@cs.com

<P>I was floating a wild idea. CB&Q was the only road I ever saw in steam, and many of the engines I did see were the 6300's. I lived in Virden from '51 to'63 (ages 2 through 14), and I remember steam on the line until about '57. The gas electric doodlebug service died about the same time.<p>I shall never forget picking up Ron Ziel's book, "The Twilight of the Steam Locomotive" when it first came out about 1965, and seeing the horrific pictures of the pathetic last hours of CB&Q #6316 in June, 1962 at Northwestern Steel and Wire in Sterling.<p>It was a thrill to get reacquainted with #4978 which worked that line in Mendota two years ago. I just wish that the Q had saved one of those magnificent M4's.<br>




kevingillespie@usa.net

<P>Kevin: I rode (and also "paced") a number of the steam trips on the "Q" and one of my favorites was the doubleheader behind 4-8-4 #5632 with M4 #6315 on the head end. A magnificent photo runby at Zearing, Illinois BEFORE the 6315 broke down. I still thing that they made a big mistake teaming the 2-10-4 with the Northern. The "32" was just too fast for the 6315 (they should have use 2-8-2 #4960 instead.) So, although I envy you seeing the 2-10-4's in regular service, at least I got a chance to ride behind one and at least see it running. (And the 5632 was magnificent bringing us back home late to Chicago with the throttle wide open much of the time!)<p>Now don't give up on the idea of a DM&IR 718. If it is true that B&LE #643 CAN'T be run out east and IF it is really that close to being operable and IF someone can talk to the Missabe about operating her, maybe it could be done. Sure makes more sense than letting her sit cold in Pittsburgh!<br>




midlandblb@cs.com