I have been thinking lately about the 4 steam engines that are rusting away at the Virginia Scrap Iron and Metal Co. in Roanoke, Va.. I hope these engines will not either rust away beyond hope or be scrapped. I do not think there are any other examples of the N&W M2 4-8-0 being preserved or for that matter the W2 2-8-0. While I do not think that it is really feasible for these locomotives to run again, I do think that they could be displayed.
From the discussions of these engines in the past, there seems to be an indication that the owner will not sell them individually. Therefore I am wondering whether it would be possible for a few museums to work together to rescue these engines before it is too late. Some good canidates for rescuing these locomotives would be:
1. The North Carolina Transportation Museum. If my memory serves me right, the N&W did go into North Carolina so a N&W steam locomotive would make sense for them. Also, their roundhouse would be great for displaying the engine.
2. the Virginia Transportation Museum. This is an obvious choice with Roanoke being the home of the N&W. Also, it would fit in with their three other N&W steam locomotives.
3. The Illinios Railway Museum. This museum seems willing to take on engines that no one else will.
I would think that working together, a few museum could raise the resources to rescue these locomotives.
Thanks,
Hugh McConnell

I'd love to see this happen. Some thoughts:
1. this is probably an even more challenging time than usual for museums to raise funds for something beyond their existing assets;
2. the Roanoke locomotives do not have tenders-so questions of restoration (operational or display) and funding may have to deal with that;
3. perhaps someone familiar with the Roanoke Transportation Museum can discuss whether or not the museum has the space for additional exhibits.

jcpdeke@aol.com

> 2. the Roanoke locomotives do not have
> tenders-so questions of restoration
> (operational or display) and funding may
> have to deal with that;

Tenders aren't the only things missing.

The engines are almost completely stripped, and arrived in the scrapyard in this condition. Remember that the N&W was still using steam when these engines were declared surplus.

I was there with a friend in January 2003. He was able to purchase the throttle lever and assembly from the 2-8-0, as well as a few Pyle-National light fixtures.

The 2-8-0 did have two single cylinder air pumps. Besides this, there is nothing left but several grates.

>> I do not think there are any other examples
> of the N&W M2 4-8-0 being preserved or
> for that matter the W2 2-8-0.

Although I'm not an expert on N&W steam, I seem to recall the Strasburg RR museum in Pennsylvania has a N&W M-class 4-8-0 in their collection.

> I have been thinking lately about the 4
> steam engines that are rusting away at the
> Virginia Scrap Iron and Metal Co. in
> Roanoke, Va.. I hope these engines will not
> either rust away beyond hope or be scrapped.

The underlying problem has been the mega-$$$ demanded by the scrapper to sell them. Current understanding has been that the scrapper refuses to consider donation of any kind.

The notion that several museums/organizations could pool resources to acquire the locomotives has merit nevertheless; but said organizations must join & develop the effort, and the scrapper must agree to wait that long..

hi_plain@yahoo.com

There is one M-class in Abingdon; and the 475 at Strasburg.

jcpdeke@aol.com

There are two M's preserved. However, the M2 is a lot larger locomotive and does not look like the M. I am sure someone has the actual specifications, but I would think about it like a light 4-6-2 compared to a heavy 4-6-2. They might have the same wheel arrangement, but they are different engines.
Hugh