Man I've written a lot of topics in the past month about personal questions, but this is some good information I have to share. JJJ has now bought another switcher, and probably the most needy switcher of his collection (yes even worse condition than B&O 390, and M&NF 12), W&LE 3960, from Minerva, Ohio. Along with it's sister, W&LE 3984 in Wellington, 3960 is in horrible condition, probably the worst aside from a few abandoned wrecks. I'm very surprised how it has survived this long. Thankfully, Jacobson came to the rescue for this poor engine. Just goes to show that he is an individual that really cares about a country's history.



Here is a photo archive of 3960 in recent years. Not great by any means.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/Locopi ... ?id=177634

Credits to railroad picture archives for the photos, and for steamlocomotive.com for letting me know of his purchase.

P.S. I am very sorry if I am bothering anyone with my recent flurry of pages in this interchange, I just feel that the questions that I am asking and information I'm posting might be helpful to rail fans everywhere.

Glad to read about another save, and one that will make a good little sister to an NKP Berk or two!

Now, let's hope something gets done with the passenger cars that are also in the photos. . .vintage cars like these are getting harder to find as well.

Not to be the "pessimistic optimist" here, but I have surely seen worse off engines than this one...

NH&I's 1533 for one, W&W's 92 also, both have sat outdoors, exposed to the elements since 1975.....there are plenty more, including ones JJ already owns.

It appears the engine had been torn down for a rebuild at some point and at least kept a coat of paint on its shell and running gear over the years...

As stated, the coaches appear to need just as much if not more help than the Loco at this point...

I presume siderods and extra gear may be in storage?

I guess the obvious question is; "Do the cab and other missing pieces all exist in safe storage?"

So that brings the total up to 18 steam locomotives. There's more than a lifetime's worth of cosmetic restorations alone at Age of Steam now. At any rate, they're under cover and in good hands, which is better than can be said for many.

Congratulations on the acquisition!

It was my understanding that JJJ has owned this engine for some time now
http://www.steamlocomotive.info/shownotes.cfm?Loco=928

I just found this picture of the 3960's cab with a quick google search. I doubt that its accurate though since it was taken back in 2004. Its probably deteriorated much worse since then.

You do have to remember there are a bunch of engines that don't even need cosmetic restoration. Ex: LS&I 33, BC&G 13, GTW 6325, and all of his old engines. The ones that need work are a few of his older ones, and the new acquisitions, such as Woodward Iron 41. I wouldn't say a lifetime, considering the amount of work already completed on engines such as NKP 763, and M&NF 12 (both currently under operational restoration.) It'll be pretty hard with engines such as B&O 1190, and W&LE 3960, but anything can happen.

What work has been done to the 763? I haven't seen any updates posted anywhere about it in quite some time.

And glad to see another engine being placed in safe storage. Getting them under cover and even cosmetically restored is better than trying to see how long it takes to rust to the ground.

Joe

Well, work hasn't been announced, but via steamlocomotive.com, and a few cameo photos of it in Carnegie Steel 14's photos (taken 2014) on the website, I think it's pretty safe to say that work definitely has been done on it, very quietly though. I don't think it'll operate anytime soon, but maybe 1 day. They have a few other engines they need to make minor tweaks on before I think they can work on the 763

Has this been verified by Age of Steam? Maybe I've missed something, but I haven't seen or heard this from any official AoS source.

My understanding is that AoS has been seeking a clear title for some time, but has encountered some legal issues relating to ownership. I'll be delighted if these have been resolved, but I'm a bit skeptical until I hear about it from an official source.

Number 3960 is the only surviving locomotive built by Wheeling & Lake Erie in its Brewster, Ohio Shops. Brewster built 20 0-8-0's from 1928 to 1930, plus 30 0-6-0's from 1929 to 1940. All were based on USRA designs, but with improvements such as Chambers Front end throttles.

The only other surviving W&LE steam locomotive is a similar 0-6-0, number 3984, which was built in 1944 by Alco, and carried an Alco(?) front end throttle.

Reliable sources have said there were plans to save a W&LE heavy USRA Mikado and a W&LE Berkshire, but these fell through in the early 1960's.

Tom

Remarkable that so many great railroads, with celebrated large steam power either saved nothing or saved a dinky switcher as its representative steam loco for posterity.

Richard and Tom -

From my friend with the NKP Historical Society, apparently the Nickel Plate had earmarked an ex-W&LE USRA Heavy 2-8-2 for preservation at Canton, Ohio. However, the folks there wanted a Brewster-built engine so the W&LE 0-6-0 was substituted. A shame as that would have been the only Heavy USRA Mike preserved.

Les

If anybody wants to help the other W&LE 0-6-0 we're always accepting help and donations.

http://lsra.org/nbsprestore-the-nkp-384.html