Steam Operations Corporation has been contracted by the 4000 Foundation Limited to cosmeticly restore former CB&Q Hudson #4000,on display in LaCrosse, Wisconsin since August 1963.Work to include new jacket, paint and general repairs to tender and cab sheet metal. Estimated completion is late October 2003.

dslsteamwizard@aol.com

Excellent! No Aeolus shroud, eh?

> Steam Operations Corporation has been
> contracted by the 4000 Foundation Limited to
> cosmeticly restore former CB&Q Hudson
> #4000,on display in LaCrosse, Wisconsin
> since August 1963.Work to include new
> jacket, paint and general repairs to tender
> and cab sheet metal. Estimated completion is
> late October 2003.


http://4000ltd.rrdepot.com/locomotive.html

I'm really rather surprised that someone hasn't looked at one of these heavy Hudsons as a restoration to operation project. Aside from the current operationa and insurance issues, a Hudson would be a pretty good excursion loco, wouldn't it?

glueck@maine.edu

> I'm really rather surprised that someone
> hasn't looked at one of these heavy Hudsons
> as a restoration to operation project. Aside
> from the current operationa and insurance
> issues, a Hudson would be a pretty good
> excursion loco, wouldn't it?

Absolutely! But, as you've said, lately it's a matter of time, money, insurance, and track space.

These are very well-proportioned and good-looking engines. A couple that come to mind are the one at the depot in Galesburg, IL, and the one at IRM. These two are on or very near live rail. I remeber that Kevin from IRM once offered to restore the one at IRM if someone would leave $750,000 in his mailbox - ;^) Kevin, does that offer still stand?

Anyone know the mechanical condition of either of these two I've mentioned?


shawsinoly@aol.com

In case you missed it before, here's a photo at Galesburg in July 1956. I hope this project is well photographed and documented. It could be an inspiration for groups to tackle other long-suffering park locomotives.

> Steam Operations Corporation has been
> contracted by the 4000 Foundation Limited to
> cosmeticly restore former CB&Q Hudson
> #4000,on display in LaCrosse, Wisconsin
> since August 1963.Work to include new
> jacket, paint and general repairs to tender
> and cab sheet metal. Estimated completion is
> late October 2003.


http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?january03/01-25-03/cb+q4000.jpg
ryarger@rypn.org

No. 4001 was also streamlined for a time. I seem to recall that it received all Box-pok drivers at one time, but this 1956 view at Lincoln shows the rear set to be spoked. Possibly exchanged with another Hudson late in the game?

http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?january03/01-25-03/cb+q4001.jpg
ryarger@rypn.org

Actually, I wouldn’t put No. 4000 in the category of “long suffering.” For many years it has been nicely painted and well cared for by a local preservation group that also has restored a Milwaukee caboose and the tower from Grand Crossing. Each year they have the whistle operating with compressed air and smoke generator in its stack during the La Crosse railfair. It’s cab has been fixed up an is open for tours during railfair as well. It still looks better than most park locomotives today, but like most any park engine, could use more attention. La Crosse really cares for this engine, and I’m guessing that once Steam Operations Corp. is done with it, No. 4000 will look as good as the day it left Baldwin. Just look what they did with GN 2707!

Jeff Terry

jterry618@msn.com

Sorry, didn't mean to imply that No. 4000 itself was suffering, but its restoration, if well documented in photos, text and perhaps video, could be an inspiration for others to take up the sad park engines in their own respective communities. Too bad the remainder of the Q roundhouse in LaCrosse couldn't have been saved. It would have made a good home for the 4000 and other Q steamers.

ryarger@rypn.org

> No. 4001 was also streamlined for a time. I
> seem to recall that it received all Box-pok
> drivers at one time, but this 1956 view at
> Lincoln shows the rear set to be spoked.
> Possibly exchanged with another Hudson late
> in the game?

Bob,
Anyone interested in the history of all of the Burlington 4-6-4s would do well to acquire a copy of "Burlington Bulletin" No. 33, published in 1997 by the Burlington Route Historical Society. The Society should be contacted to determine if any are still available. A limited number of were hardbound and are welcome additions to anyone's library.

As for the spoked set of drivers on 4001, page 94 of Bulletin 33 has three photos of 4001 at various times during her career after the shroud was removed. The caption for the lowermost photo reads, "But sometime between November 3, 1945, and the April 8, 1946, photo below, at North LaCrosse, 4001 traded its rear driver for the spoked one from sister 4004."

4001 was a "one-of-a-kind", having a vestibule cab, Worthington type S feedwater heater and pumps on her pilot deck, making her look more like O5, than a 4-6-4. All of the other 4-6-4s were constructed in 1930, except 3012, which was basically a kit, fabricated by the "Q" in July 1935. 4001 was a "kit" also but it was completed in February of 1938 with its own distinct appearance that was revealed after the shroud was removed in late 1941 or early 1942.

The unique 4001 was the final 4-6-4 overhauled; by the Denver shops in March 1954. She then sat in Denver unused until the shops were closed in September 1955 when it was sent to Lincoln, NE, set-up for service but never operated! She went to scrap in 1960, having never been steamed after leaving Denver. There was a true "keeper" that got away from us.

Don C.


http://www.261.com
milw261@sbcglobal.net

> Bob,
> Anyone interested in the history of all of
> the Burlington 4-6-4s would do well to
> acquire a copy of "Burlington
> Bulletin" No. 33, published in 1997 by
> the Burlington Route Historical Society. The
> Society should be contacted to determine if
> any are still available. A limited number of
> were hardbound and are welcome additions to
> anyone's library.

> As for the spoked set of drivers on 4001,
> page 94 of Bulletin 33 has three photos of
> 4001 at various times during her career
> after the shroud was removed. The caption
> for the lowermost photo reads, "But
> sometime between November 3, 1945, and the
> April 8, 1946, photo below, at North
> LaCrosse, 4001 traded its rear driver for
> the spoked one from sister 4004."

> 4001 was a "one-of-a-kind", having
> a vestibule cab, Worthington type S
> feedwater heater and pumps on her pilot
> deck, making her look more like O5, than a
> 4-6-4. All of the other 4-6-4s were
> constructed in 1930, except 3012, which was
> basically a kit, fabricated by the
> "Q" in July 1935. 4001 was a
> "kit" also but it was completed in
> February of 1938 with its own distinct
> appearance that was revealed after the
> shroud was removed in late 1941 or early
> 1942.

> The unique 4001 was the final 4-6-4
> overhauled; by the Denver shops in March
> 1954. She then sat in Denver unused until
> the shops were closed in September 1955 when
> it was sent to Lincoln, NE, set-up for
> service but never operated! She went to
> scrap in 1960, having never been steamed
> after leaving Denver. There was a true
> "keeper" that got away from us.

> Don C.

Don:

And wasn't 4001 converted to an S4b (oil burner) too? I am trying to recall. I have that Burlington Bulletin #33 around here.....somewhere!

Les

midlandblb@cs.com

> Don:

> And wasn't 4001 converted to an S4b (oil
> burner) too? I am trying to recall. I have
> that Burlington Bulletin #33 around
> here.....somewhere!

> Les

Les,
I'm at work, but I believe that 4002 and 4003 became the two S4b locomotives. My reference is at home, unfortunately.
Don C.

milw261@sbcglobal.net

Sorry Bob, I didn't mean to sound like a jerk in that last post. I probably shouldn't type anything after working a 12 hour day, with a 3 hour tow in. Ah life on the extra board...

Jeff Terry


jterry618@earthlink.net