Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum acquires a rare steam loco

JimBoylan · **Posted:** Wed Jul 22, 2020 12:10 am

What was the fireman's side cab of a Camelback used for? How did the crew pass signals to each other?

Kelly Anderson · **Joined:** Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am **Posts:** 2477

kevin kohls · **Joined:** Tue May 03, 2005 8:35 pm **Posts:** 298

Okay; I have to ask this question. Wouldn't the museum across the street from the Strasburg RR been a choice location for the Camelback ? Just wondering. I bear no favoritism for either museum but the Camelback was certainly more regional to Pennsylvania.

Kevin K.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Wed Jul 22, 2020 5:07 pm

Opinion: RMPA is a great display of static locomotives. If 1187 is to ever run again, AOS was the place to send it. And with full respect going before my next question, how did 1187 deteriorate so badly in the custody of the finest steam locomotive repair shop on the east coast?

bigjim4life · **Posted:** Wed Jul 22, 2020 5:12 pm

Richard Glueck wrote:

Opinion: RMPA is a great display of static locomotives. If 1187 is to ever run again, AOS was the place to send it. And with full respect going before my next question, how did 1187 deteriorate so badly in the custody of the finest steam locomotive repair shop on the east coast?

Because the shop had a never-ending supply of paid work to do, from contract work for other railroads, to inspections/maintenance/operating their four operable steam locomotives, as well as work on 31/7312 as time permits - 1187 wasn't high on their list of things to do, unfortunately.

Emmo213 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 22, 2020 5:35 pm

Richard Glueck wrote:

Opinion: RMPA is a great display of static locomotives. If 1187 is to ever run again, AOS was the place to send it. And with full respect going before my next question, how did 1187 deteriorate so badly in the custody of the finest steam locomotive repair shop on the east coast?

There was a comment in one of the threads that they wanted to but could never make the numbers work to justify the cost. That's one of the best reasons that they are one of the finest steam shops in the country - because they understand they're running a business.

Steamguy73 · **Joined:** Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:15 pm **Posts:** 636

I believe the locomotive also spent a fair bit of time across the street if I’m not mistaken.

Ron Goldfeder · **Posted:** Wed Jul 22, 2020 6:21 pm

A road foreman could use the fireman's side of the cab when riding the loco. When the DL&W 4-4-0 camelback at the museum near St Louis had its cab replaced during a cosmetic restoration it was found that the running board and cab floor on the fireman's side was six inches higher (IIRC) than on the engineer's side. That was something which hadn't been noticed before. I wonder if that is the case on this loco.

Kelly Anderson · **Joined:** Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am **Posts:** 2477

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Jul 23, 2020 9:50 am

Kelly Anderson wrote:

kevin kohls wrote:

Okay; I have to ask this question. Wouldn't the museum across the street from the Strasburg RR been a choice location for the Camelback ?

IIRC, the RRMPA was informed about our plan to sell #1187, and had no interest. Remember, they are a part of a state bureaucracy and have very little in the way of self-determination. All of the big decisions are made in Harrisburg by non-train people.

My understanding, from numerous past conversations with staff there, is that the RR Museum of Pa. is officially not even allowed to WANT more artifacts, and that it is the responsibility of either outright donors or the Friends of the RR Museum of Pa. to make such acquisitions happen.

Therefore, if you went to the Museum, it wasn't going to happen. If you approached the FRIENDS OF The RR Museum of Pa. with a price in mind, on the other hand........

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1802

Kelly Anderson wrote:

#1187 holds a lot of sentimental value for Linn, who remembers her running when he was a kid, and he was trying to justify a way to restore her (or trade her for #1223) right up until his retirement, plus, he is a bit of a hoarder.

Very interesting. I wonder what the value of a unique locomotive in operation is? It’s an interesting question to ask.