Another use for old engines.

DWH · **Joined:** Thu Sep 14, 2017 4:38 pm **Posts:** 46

Gentlemen there is a technical solution to be had that will satisfy both parties and still be cheaper than sectioning up a locomotive. With the proliferation of digital projectors there is something going on called projection mapping. This would allow a digital movie/image to be physically projected on to a building or say a locomotive. Cutting up any locomotive so that it can be utilized while still making it look good is going to damage the artifact and be an expensive and laborious project that will ultimately create a single use item. By using this technology you save time and money and are still able to move the locomotive around or sell it or whatever the organization needs to do or even repair the locomotive at a future date. Please watch the linked youtube video for a demonstration of the technology.

Do we need 12 berks? Probably not but as they arent making more of them each one has a value both as an object for sale and as a story of how things were.

https://youtu.be/93wiNPh4WFw

PCook · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 am **Posts:** 2127

This kind of "visible locomotive" display can be accomplished with a diesel locomotive while allowing for full conversion back to service. Electro-Motive did this with E-units and a GP35 for Worlds' Fairs, and F-units for traveling public display and on-site teaching. They were all restored to operation and sold to customers after the events.

Also, reference the 12-page article in R&LHS RAILROAD HISTORY #211 on the EMD 1947 Open House for many photos of their use of various locomotive components as separate displays. They produced enough "visible" and "cutaway" displays to fill a book.

PC

PaulWWoodring · **Posted:** Sat Sep 12, 2020 10:09 am

jettrainfan wrote:

PaulWWoodring wrote:

So, in the succeeding 10 plus years, has anything happened towards properly restoring and displaying C&O 2705?

Minor correction, but that would be 2707. :)

Should have double-checked my memory.

Connie4800 · **Joined:** Mon May 28, 2018 11:28 pm **Posts:** 90

There's a book published by steamtown itself - "Steam over scranton", or such. I find it really enlightening in this situation.

This little engine had nearly-no possibility of a return to service. The museum's assessment was that it was completely worn out, and a number of years out in the open didn't help.

Even with a museum collection, one has to make some tough decisions - do you do a complete restoration on a locomotive which will likely never run again or one with a possibility of running?

People can moan about how it's a waste but at the same time i'd think teaching kids how a steam engine works is a far better use for an engine which would, without this modification, be sitting out back in Scranton.