Also, their other recent addition, an EMD GP39-2, is or is close to being operable if I remember correctly.

They also have an ex-Wabash FM TrainMaster that N&W cut into a slug. The question of the relationship between Tier IV and preservation is mostly interesting as a principle.

Get it back here now and worry about the EPA later. The guys can put those carbon arrestors back on the stacks and everything will be just fine. LOL

It had got as far as Elkhart, IN, at the weekend, though it seemed reluctant to be put on an eastbound out of the yard. Was supposed to leave yesterday evening, but couldn't spot it leaving on a quick scan of the Elkhart Railcam images when I looked this morning.

It is currently moving east in NS train 12G, passing Springdale PA on the Conemaugh Line about 7:00 AM. Should be visible on the rail cams at Cresson and at the Horseshoe Curve later this morning or early afternoon. Both rail cams are on youtube.

12G terminates at Enola, RDG Fan, so it'll be there for a little while.

Hauling #2719 into Reading behind NS #3001, if it's available, would be very cool.

Found this older pic of #2719 at Benton. Notice the carbon caps on the stacks instead of the arrestors. The paint job Walthers put on their N version might be slightly off... LOL

On March 14, 2020, RDG SW-1200 2719 (EMD 1963) arrived at the Reading RR Heritage Museum in Hamburg PA. RCT&HS says 2719 has good paint from Omnitrax so a repaint will have lower priority.

Of all engines, RDG NW-2 103 (EMD 1947) pulled 2719 the last few miles. GP39-2 3412 was on the other side of 2719 to avoid any facing point turnout issues.

When the lights go on again, 2719 and 103 will be on display.

Phil Mulligan

For The Record
The SW1200's were rebuilt using the trucks and battery from OE-10 locos (VO-1000) with the 2719 rebuilt from #72. Apparently, the Reading wanted a more "stock" configuration than the earlier VO-1000 rebuilds that used the original Baldwin frames and cabs, but with an EMD hood. They were equipped with more EMD components, unlike the earlier ones that had many Westinghouse parts. These SW 1200's did have Westinghouse 362 D traction motors courtesy of the original trucks.

As for getting it running, I have to agree that Federal Courts are nothing to fool with, and you can be sure that any attempt to do so will be "reported" in the railfan press. After all, the "experts" just can't keep their keyboards quiet. And, as for Mr. Mitchell, according to his previous poets, he can't figure out why or how the museum exists at all.

Those late-50's rebuilds by EMD of Baldwin VO's resulted in some pretty good locomotives. I remember a Reading engineman telling me that it was nearly impossible to stall one as the EMD generator could not make enough voltage to burn up those heavy-duty Westinghouse traction motors. I remember riding one of them, I think it was No. 2704, as it pulled the E-L interchange at Rupert, Pa. one morning. We had nearly 100 cars and that engine never missed a lick.

You apparently are horrendously poor at reading comprehension.

There's a VAST difference between questioning the supposed/alleged "need" to restore a specific EMD switcher to operable condition, in violation of explicit terms of donation, at a museum that has a great many other locomotives that are also non-operable, at a location where there's little to no way to effect a "return on investment" on restoring any loco to operation at the moment.........

....... and questioning the existence of the museum at all.

There's pretty much nothing "operable" at the RR Museum of Pa., and the B&O Museum's "operating" rolling stock, save for a couple EMD diesels, is almost exclusively equipment that is not actually an "accessioned" part of the collection.

Jes' sayin' ............

To clarify:

In 1959, RDG had EMD rebuild 14 BLW VO-1000's to SW-1200m's 2701-2714 retaining the BLW frames, trucks, cabs, etc. As a result 2701-2714 had truck centers of 25' 6" which had been necessary to accommodate the 8-cylinder VO engine. I believe C&NW had similar rebuilds. 2701-2714 all flowed to ConRail.

[As an aside the postwar BLW DS 4-4-1000's with 8-cylinder 608NA engines also have 25' 6" truck centers as the engine is the same size as the VO-1000. The later BLW DS 4-4-1000's with 6-cylinder turbocharged 606SC engines have 22' 8" truck centers, more typical of a shifter]

2715-2719 were also rebuilt from VO-1000's but with trucks and batteries reused. They also retained the WH 362-D traction motors from the VO's. They also have standard EMD 22' 0" truck centers. 2919 was rebuilt from VO-1000 72 (BLW 1943). I'd be curious if 2719 still has the 1943 battery or traction motors.

RCT&HS has an operable EMD shifter with a 12-567 (NW-2 103, EMD 1947)

Phil Mulligan

Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.............

If the RCT&HS goes out and finds an 8-cylinder Baldwin VO engine and generator and swap those out, rebuilds the hood and cab, and cannibalizes the 567 for spare parts, do they violate the "must never use that engine again" mandate or not?

(Hey, don't look at ME. I'm not the one that's hell-bent on "making" that loco run again just because the terms of donation mandated that it couldn't.)

2719 is one of the 5 (2715-2719) with standard EMD frames (22' 0" truck centers) and an 8-cylinder Baldwin won't fit.

SMS Rail Lines in nearby South Jersey has a DS 4-4-1000 (SLRS 101, ex SLRS 1293, exx NH&I 101, exxx Copper Range 101) with an 8-cylinder 608NA engine. I understand it is complete, was operating but is now out of service.

Phil Mulligan