Dave, that ex-Tulsa Wason Birney 395 that went to Appleton Wisconsin was a big horkin pile of parts when work started on it. Not restored to operational condition but the pics I saw it looks pretty good.

How about Doyle McCormicks Alco PA from Mexico?

Thanks, Andy it was about a half a Birney when it came in to the shop. It was a cosmetic repair job rather than a historic restoration for display in a shopping center as I recall...... the frame was so bent that the window sills were 3" wider in the middle windows than on the ends.

dave

I recall seeing pictures of the single truck car at the Minnesota Streetcar Museum being pretty much a basket case and it has been restored back to operation. Sorry can not remember the car number or where it operated.

Joel Salomon

I nominate - correction I second the nomination of N&W #1218. There are certainly better examples of derelict structures, cars and locomotives. But to think that a refugee as cobbled together, worn, and massive would steam again is remarkable. I'm guessing that it's return to steam was one of the most challenging projects in the steam preservation era.

Stathi Pappas' Porter 0-4-0T Santa Cruz Portland Cement (SCPC) #2, known as "The Chiggen".

[quote="jdstrolley"]I recall seeing pictures of the single truck car at the Minnesota Streetcar Museum being pretty much a basket case and it has been restored back to operation. Sorry can not remember the car number or where it operated.

Joel , I appreciate the plug for MSM. You are referring to our Duluth Street Railway No. 78. Built in 1893 by LaClede Car Co of St. Louis. Retired in 1911 and used as a storage shed/garden shed.

We got the cadaver in the early 1970s, started work in the early 1980s and completed the job in 1991.

Here are two before & after photos.

Thanks!

Wes, and thank you for your nomination of our Twin City Lines No. 322, formerly Newark and Cleveland RTA No. 3.

As the museums around the country, and SF Muni, who have obtained other ex-TCRT PCCs now know, while the cars looked good while in service in Newark, over the years they were rotting underneath the paint and bondo, under the floor boards, etc. You start peeling away and removing things to fix-up the car and you wonder how the roof remained attached to the side ribs and how the whole body structure remained attached to the so-called frame. When we restored our No. 322 much work replacing rotten roof ribs, side sheets, the floor had to happen. Then, there was the rotten old wiring that needed replacing.

Our No. 322 is dedicated to Mr.George K. Isaacs, a founder of our Museum and the project leader of the No. 322 restoration.

Thanks!

in the interurban department, Sacramento Northern 1005, and Atlantis Shore Line 100.

Thank you Wes, for the recognition of our York Railways 163 and Johnstown Traction Company 355 at the Rockhill Trolley Museum. York 163 was a total restoration from summer home back to an operating trolley car. The museum received the carbody in 1973, all mechanical and electrical parts were long gone. Parts were located from many different sources. Johnstown 355 is nearly a new car with all new structural work and operating systems.

How about narrow gauge D&RGW/D&SNG 482

Dan

Being from Atlanta, I'll toss in Georgia Power #948 for my dad who's a traction fan. The Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven got the car body back in 1966 and finished her in 2011. Not a basket case but a real save as it's the only one of the Atlanta cars left I think.

http://www.shorelinetrolley.com/stm/mod ... php?csn=59

Southern Railway 2-8-0 154 at Knoxville,Tn. This 1890 built engine sat outdoors in Chilhowee Park from 1953 to 2008.Everyone I ever talked to about this engine thought it was too far gone to ever run.

Thank you for adding Georgia Power #948 to the list. I recall a story of a volunteer from Atlanta who traveled regularly to East Haven on weekends to work on the car.

Wesley

Maybe not the last..... we might have some news in the next year or so.

dave