Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp announced yesterday that they have signed a deal with Railroad Museum of New England where RMNE will host C&O #2716 for several months once it returns to operation.

“We plan to feature 2716 on regular and special passenger excursions throughout the engine’s residency,” Mr. Pincus said. “Our 1920s open-window coaches will allow riders to experience the sounds and sights of steam power in the Litchfield Hills of Northwestern Connecticut. There will also be opportunities for special photo events, featuring our collection of 1920s-1950s vintage freight cars, making a historically-appropriate freight train for 2716.”

Mr. Pincus added that, “We aren’t counting out any operational opportunity for the engine while it’s here. There are bound to be some surprises, and we have a lot of imagination. Think about seeing 2716 steaming through a New England winter snowfall!”

https://www.kentuckysteam.org/post/kshc-inks-operations-deal-for-c-o-2716

Hi
This is definitely something to look forward too, in New England, Pat.

So we're FINALLY truly embracing the concept of roving and visiting steam locos UK style?

765 at Cuyahoga and 611 at Strasburg were "testing the waters".............

Problem is the "to and from" and the cost to get CSX/NS to move the locomotives.

Perhaps not. I doubt either organization would announce such grand plans without having cemented agreements to move this huge locomotive. Without overstating the proposition, it may be that facilitating steam operations off company tracks may be something both CSX and NS can finally swallow. I'd like to think so.

In my mind that may be the easy part. If my geography is correct aren't the last few miles on MetroNorth and Guilford?

That said - Kudos to both brother Pincus and his team on the one hand and KSH on the other for producing a forward looking plan which does not come across as pie-in the sky and is clearly an anchor for a proper fund raising campaign.

When the agreement is consummated I hope to be there with the young lady who had her fingers in her ears so many years ago on the Valley Railroad and at least her daughter and her granddaughter.

GME
(Who is almost a decade older than the locomotive in question...)

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Is it really the easy part? Is that why 611 and 765 only go on about 1 trip a year? Why not take the 611 over to the RN for a few weekends, then steamtown, etc etc.... I do not think these moves are easy to do nor plan in conjunction with the C1RRs.

There's a lot of pressure on the groups making these moves for them to go flawlessly because if something ever happened en route, likely that would be the end of such moves by the C1 RRs.

It's a lot easier moving a 0-4-0 via truck vs something like the 2716.

Congratulations to all involved for thinking outside the box.

With the right degree of determination and a dedication to professionalism I'm confident it will be a big success and that the class 1's involved will be glad they helped it happen

Best wishes to all for a healthy, rewarding 2022.

Ross Rowland

RBMN has its own 4-8-4 in restoration (RDG 2102). It was built to meet RDG clearances as they were in 1945 and isn't as big as 611, although the driver and cylinder dimensions are the same. BP is 300 psi for a J and 240 psi for a T-1.

RBMN is also a big interchange partner with NS so if they asked for 611 they would likely get it, especially with it in nearby Strasburg.

Phil Mulligan

Before this discussion gets way out of scope, let's see 2716 completed, steamed, and moved. 611's had a "magic carpet" in front of it for all intents and purposes. Seeing how this goes might open a new age of steam excursions, but it may be a one time thing or not happen at all.
All things remain possible at this time while restorations continue around the continent.

Two of the Gramling engines visited RMNE during the years 2010-2014, so we are familiar with the concept of traveling steam locomotives.

As to the route, and the "how", consider that the New England rail map is about to change, with the planned sale of Pan Am.

If anyone wants to see this happen, contribute to KSHC and help get 2716 funded- and finished-- that's really the key to this.

RMNE's Naugatuck Railroad is in rather good condition; the lightest rail is 107#, with plenty of 115, 131, and 140# in the main track. It's 19.5 miles long, with plenty of scenery. There are 5-6 open window, proper-vintage, passenger cars to use, and there will likely be another one or two in the next couple of years. RMNE has a large roster of vintage freight equipment, and it should not be too difficult to put together an 8-10-12 car train of those cars, for photo freights. So, the upper Naugatuck Valley is not a bad venue for some traditional steam operations, no matter what the size of the locomotive (up to a point- 611 and 4014 are a little too big....).

Howard P.
Signal-Foam-Meter, Conn.

I thought the whole point of the 2716 group buying the facility on CSX was that they would be able to operate on the mothballed EK division out of their shop facility? or potentially buy/lease a small segment of it. Seems like the perfect ROW is right outside their shop facility. Perhaps CSX no longer wants to sell the EK for a reasonable price or a piece of it.

Hey, don't diss the opportunity for 2716 and RMNE to garner some revenue and positive publicity. Indeed, this effectively guarantees 2716 and KSHC "somewhere to go" when completed.

And I'm not slighting the Gramlings at all--they're masters at what they do. But there's a MAJOR difference between trucking a saddletanker to a line that otherwise doesn't see steam, and a "special guest star" big steamer.

The British lines have gotten so good at "swapping steamers" (even Pacifics by highway!) that hardly any one there pays attention to yet another small steamer roving about--unless it's a case of a specific loco or loco type returning to a branch or line where it actually worked routinely in the past, its "native turf." What garners the big attention is exactly the likes of N&W 611 on the Strasburg, or Reading & Northern 425 going to the Conway Scenic, Steamtown NHS or WMSR, or Grand Canyon 18 or 29 running on the Verde Canyon or Santa Fe Southern for a season....... "big" steam handling big trains at something other than a crawl.

Hi Guys, It would be interesting to know information about the insurance needed and the future ferry moves over I guess NS, CSX and any other route she may have to travel. This would be more about the logistics then the rail fanning aspect. This info could be useful for any future big steam movements. Have fun – David Notarius, London UK via New Hope PA.