Announcement came through on this link:

http://www.atrrm.org/blog/2017/02/rfp-t ... storation/

Interesting. I hope one of the options given is moving the Locomotive to a secure site, or even to a group for operational restoration.
The original gift agreement included the city building a roof over it--I see that still hasn't happened, and doesn't seem to be mentioned in the future plans. . . .

I noticed the same. Giving it to a group with a desire to make serious repairs would be the best choice. Honestly, I don't know how feasible "live" restoration would be for the 6218. She's been allowed to deteriorate by exposure, to a great degree. I've been told vandalism has been very hard on her cab. Again, I haven't yet visited her.

Yes, but it does have at least 2 decades of less exposure than most "park" engines, and an enclosed cab. The fiberglass, however, may have caused more problems than the "organic" insulation would have.
Also, I was also going to add to my previous post; It is a magnificent-looking engine. The design says "POWER" and yet it's all put together in a very eye-appealing package. It would probably be blasphemy to suggest it looks better then 844. . . . (but then, I like Vanderbilt style tenders, I grew up in SP territory with SP1727 as "my" park engine.)

In case anyone is wondering, I have posted my observations on 6218's condition from a visit I made in 2007 on this forum several times. A quick search should bring up my old posts.

I'll believe it when I see it. It can't get much worse than it is now.
It's hard to believe I road behind this engine when I was a kid in the late 60's.

I'd forgotten that this is the engine that the city decide on "NO Fence"
Has anyone brought up the original agreement with CNR that states it will be protected AND have a roof built over it to protect it from the elements. That sure sounds like "Fence and Roof" and maybe even video surveillance to me. The city obviously has not met it's contractual agreement. . . .
BTW, what's with putting locomotives on a plinth out in the weather? The railroads certainly didn't; when not in use, they were usually in an engine house. Weather is heck on machinery!

David,

Guelph pulled the same stunt (re fencing and roofing) with 6167.

You bring up a really good point: Placing steam locomotives on display in parks was a really, REALLY stupid idea. If someone had any foresight, you would think the railroads would just fill up all of those no longer needed roundhouses and backshops and make them into ready-made museums!

They did this in Italy, where they took a no longer needed backshop sitting on the Bay of Naples and stuffed it full of all kinds of historic engines! (Anything from Austrian engines captured after WW1, to WW2 US army engines to modern Italian power)

I have an old article from the 1960s that explains the mentality of people during that time. Among other things it states (something along the lines of):



Yeah right!!

The Sphinx never had a fence around it. Look how long it has last. ;)

I think few if any park locomotives were painted "every few years"
:Most were lucky to get painted every few decades.
.
Paul

CNR 6218 was once part of CN's short lived excursion fleet steamers back in the 1960s & 1970s. It did a lot of steam trips in Ontario, Michigan, Indiana, & Illinois. When it was under steam it was charter regularly by the old Michigan Railroad Club. It's was even featured on the NRHS Bluewater Club logo seen here. You had members with duel memberships clubs. Here's the CNR 6218 on the logo:

NRHS Bluewater Logo
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/81 ... S_logo.jpg

You also got this Thread over @ the O-Gauge Magazine Forum:

Canadian National 6218 Back To Operation??? Could It Work????
http://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/cana ... -operation

Then you also got this group that is suppose to be maintaining the steamer...

Friends Of CNR 6218
http://fess.dsbn.org/docs/guidance/broc ... f?sfvrsn=0

IF the City of Fort Erie, Ontario is looking to find a New Home for the steamer there's the Niagara Railway Museum. They just got that THB 2676 Gondola recently.

Enjoy! ^_^