Where is CPR 2839? Is it serviceable? A work in process? I recall reading something, maybe in Trains, that SR had plans to repaint the engine in SR Green if the engine remained in excursion service. Is this true?

Wesley

> Where is CPR 2839? Is it serviceable? A work
> in process? I recall reading something,
> maybe in Trains, that SR had plans to
> repaint the engine in SR Green if the engine
> remained in excursion service. Is this true?

The engine migrated to storage on the Blue Mountain & Reading after her SR stint, was fired up for the premiere of the BM&R in 1984 or so, but languished neglected for years. She was finally sold to a collector of vintage vehicles in California recently and was shipped west for preservation and restoration, although there are apparently no plans to steam her. Others will no doubt refer you to recent web photos and whatnot.

lner4472@bcpl.net

> Where is CPR 2839? Is it serviceable? A work
> in process? I recall reading something,
> maybe in Trains, that SR had plans to
> repaint the engine in SR Green if the engine
> remained in excursion service. Is this true?

> Wesley

There were rumors for the entire two years of 2839's operation on the Southern Railway (1979-1980) that it would be repainted in Sylvan Green. That's all they were - I don't recall the details, but the owners made leaving the loco in CPR paint one of the lease conditions.

But it sure would have looked wonderful.

JAC

> Where is CPR 2839?

She is owned by and displayed behind the Nethercutt Museum--a premire museum of classic automobiles--in Sylmar, CA. From the photos I've seen of 2839 at the museum, it appears that the locomotive has received a first class cosmetic restoration. 2839 joined a heavyweight private car already on display.

A quick search turned up the recent photo of 2839 at the below link. Scroll down the page for the photo--also check out some of Nethercutt's autos. 2839 is in good company!

IIRC, 2839 operated only two seasons--IIRC, 1979 and 1980--in the Southern Railway steam fantrip program. Following her Southern use, 2839 first went into storage at Wilmington & Western (tourist) RR in DE. While at the W&W, 2839 was fired up and used on a "company (private) fantrip" on the nearby Octoraro RR's former RDG Wilmington & Northern line. As Sandy stated, 2839 then moved to the Blue Mountain & Reading RR in PA and indeed was fired up for use during the BM&R's Grand Opening in (IIRC) July 1985. 2839 struggled that day with leaks and I believe this was the last time the locomotive operated under steam. After being set aside on the BM&R for a number of years, 2839 was moved to Allentown, PA and later Bath, PA for storage with plans for eventual restoration by a private individual. During all of the above history, 2839 was under the care of a PA-based group called the Atlantic Central Steam Company. They had in turn leased the locomotive from its long-time owners, a small group of well known railfans and photographers (which over the years included Mike Eagleson, Ron Ziel, Victor Hand, and others). The owners sold 2839 to the Nethercutt Museum, who had the locomotive shipped across the nation on flat cars during the spring of 2000.

Regards,
Jim Robinson


2839 today in CA

Sylmar Nethercutt Collection is also home to probably the worlds largest and finest collections of mechanical musical instruments. They also have a very fine concert series on their great 4 manual (4 keyboards) 70+ rank (sets of pipes) Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ.

edwinsinclair@hotmail.com

> Sylmar Nethercutt Collection is also home
> to probably the worlds largest and finest
> collections of mechanical musical
> instruments. They also have a very fine
> concert series on their great 4 manual (4
> keyboards) 70+ rank (sets of pipes)
> Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ.

Fantastic ... something about those things and their music is neat! Everybody, young and old are seen keeping time with the music when one of those grinders takes off.


lamontdc@adelphia.net