From what I understand it’s not a concrete list. Just whatever they feel is the best for their needs. It could also depend on the (admittedly slim) possibility they extend their running line to the town of Huntley about 3 miles or so away from their end of track. But that would depend on several factors, including the potential of METRA going there.

When they complete 428, I imagine they shift toward building that long proposed roundhouse and focusing more on cosmetic projects to get significant space in their largest car barn for other pieces. The roundhouse would also include an expanded backshop, which I believe would allow for them to operate steam all year round instead of just the summer months.

To answer your question, i think it’s easier for me to say the locos that probably wouldn’t be fixed up to run.

Santa Fe 2903, Milwaukee Road 265, N&W 2050, GTW 6323, and C&O 2707 (because they’re either too large for their needs or have other operating examples). And then GTW 8380 because it’s a very used up locomotive, also because it’s a large switcher (hard on track)

Check their roster. From what I understand anything else is likely fair game, ranging from diminutive switchers to midsize commuter locomotives, and also the Hudson. The likeliest ones however I’ve heard a few times are GN&A 26 (needing significant firebox work), and Commonwealth Edison 5, because their size and weight are perfect for the IRM’s needs. However like I said, it doesn’t exclude any of the smaller or larger locomotives (other than the ones I mentioned).

And btw, I don’t represent the IRM. This is just from my observation.

In Washington, Oregon and BC I can think of 11 locomotives that fit the description off the top of my head.

Please excuse me, volunteers of Santa Fe 2926, but I'd love to see some examples of the Hudson and Mountain (Mohawk) wheel arrangements, maybe an Atlantic, if only for variety. Everybody has their favorite locomotive design, albeit a ten-wheeler, Consol, Pacific, or Mike.
They tell antique collectors to "buy what you like". Perhaps that could apply to steam restoration.

This has to be one of the greatest "what could have been" situations in railroad preservation.
It's tough not to cry at the mere thought of what might have happened, to have this Pacific representing a SRR Ps4.

When I served on the Amtrak BOD under Mr. Claytor he told me the story of how he tried to make a deal with Mr. Jensen and couldn't get anywhere.

He said " Jensen's got no clue of the real economics of operating a mainline steam locomotive, which makes him impossible to deal with".

Such a shame. One of the saddest stories of all.

I also tried to talk some sense with him. Same result. Ross Rowland

IIRC The Steam Railroading institute otherwise known as the PM 1225 guys thought about proposing to buy GTW 5632 from the city of Durand to restore as their secondary steam locomotive idk what ever became of that or if that ever was the case

I think Jensen was still caught up in all the hype from the 60’s and the idea of “if I did it before I can do it again” Keep in mind Jensen more than likely knew he had the last GTW K4A in existence and saw the fame it gave him in the early excursion era during this time with consistently sold out 15 car excursions. He was only a bread delivery man who at the time “did the impossible” running excursions around the mid northwest with his infamous 5629 the first steam locomotive he ever bought. Also at the time I have no clue if before or after the SR steam Proposal that CB&Q 5632 was scrapped which led Jensen to the infamous lawsuit that won him well over 1 million dollars in reparations believing he could use this if the 5629 was scrapped by Metra. it probably seemed that all of the odds were in his favor and should Metra ever pull the trigger that he would bite the bullet in order to get his fair share. Welp we all know what happened next and Metra had a darn good lucky shot.

Believe the NYC Mohawk was one of the locos checked out but the Frisco was in better shape and also likely had more of a local hook (although the NYC did have minimal passenger service into STL at the end).

The PM 1225/MSTRP/SRI group has had several changes in management over the years. My understanding is that about 30 years ago they looked at getting the GTW 5030 from Jackson, MI as their second steam engine. That idea came and went, and the engine was sold to the group in Pennsylvania earlier this year. They did later purchase the ex-Mississippian 76 as their second steam engine, but a few years later retired that idea and sold her for display out east. I don't think Durand has ever been interested in selling the 5632, but there has been talk about moving the engine or creating a better display for it.

Chris

Chris - Although it is true that the Owosso group sold Mississippian 2-8-0 #76, they DID pick up Chicago & North Western 4-6-0 #175 as a second engine. They have done some work on the Ten-Wheeler, but I'm not sure where that restoration project currently stands.

Les

During the dark times when it seemed that 261 would go back to being stuffed and mounted at Green Bay, that group was looking for a new engine. Many said they should talk to IRM about 265 since they’d be very familiar with it. Word filtered back via someone who was in touch with them that they wanted to do something different. The person posting said we’d be very surprised at what was being considered. Does anyone know which engines were being seriously looked at? There are obvious constraints for what they do: Big enough to pull a long train to help pay the bills; modern enough to make the carriers and Amtrak (at the time) less nervous. Etc.

Last I heard, it was going steadily.

Didn't PRR 6755 have a shot at running when Conrail was considering a steam program in the 80s?

That’d be news to me, given the RRMPA’s stubborn stance on locomotive restoration.

This is kind of a sad thread, but hope springs eternal.

Let me remind you of two 'probably will never happen' that have - first being FEC 148 - I've been tasked with looking at that locomotive for several clients at multiple locations since 1993 and will never forget the line I was given when I looked at it when it was parked on the Valley Railroad in Connecticut. It was surrounded by volunteers and had been listed for sale....

Me: "I heard it just had a hydro on the boiler".
Them: "Sure did, and we almost all drowned!".

So in all fairness, for this one to be running is just amazing to me now.

Second miracle baby is Sloan Cornell's SY 2-8-2 that was vandalized and in an enginehouse fire in Kane, PA, and picked up as scrap on wheels by the Valley RR. No it may not be historic, but when I saw it with the building burned down on top of it, I thought it was probably headed for the torch. Now it's NH 3025 and made 'scenery' last Sunday on the CBS Sunday Morning show.

And that's what keeps us all going... you just never know.