General info and update on this 4-8-4 in Albuquerque.

http://www.ngdiscussion.net/cgi-bin/NGDFcook.pl?read=38267
ryarger@rypn.org

I read the article on the 2926 and it does name me as one of the culprits with the 3751. The article is very flattering to me however I have to point out that the brains and talent behind the restoration on the AT&SF 3751 was Scott Brittin. Since Scott left, to go onto the grand Canyon and now back to Global Marine to Build ships, I took over as CMO with the 3751. Credit must go where credit is due and Scott certainly deserves that credit.

> General info and update on this 4-8-4 in
> Albuquerque.

As much as I'd love to see this "fly", does this group know something we don't about a more favorable legal, operational and insurance market in 2010?

The 614 sits, the 1522 is cold, as are the 2102 and 2100. The hard question is HOW are these no doubt fine and dedicated folks not going to be another group with no where to go?



superheater@rrmail.com

> As much as I'd love to see this
> "fly", does this group know
> something we don't about a more favorable
> legal, operational and insurance market in
> 2010?

> The 614 sits, the 1522 is cold, as are the
> 2102 and 2100. The hard question is HOW are
> these no doubt fine and dedicated folks not
> going to be another group with no where to
> go?

And where are you going to operate this huge locomotive? I, too would love to see it operate, but how practical is something this large? I have firsthand knowledge of some of the problems of a large locomotive, having worked on the #261 crew for several years. She is more than a handful for many wyes and secondary trackage and she is nowhere near as large as a 2900. Six years is a long time so maybe the climate will change for the better by that time......
Don C.

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

I agree with Superheater and the thought of once it is finished where is it going to run, who is going to ride, and the most important question is how will the locomotive be maintained after it is restored. The article hinted that about a million was needed to restore the engine but does not say a word about the cost of long term support and maintance. I think the the boys with 3751 can address that issue. This is a serious problem with mainline steam once you finish the restoration the whole process starts over and you have an ongoing need to take care of the locomotive and it cant just sit outside and allow the elements to attack it. If I had a $20 bill for every time someone asked us about 3768 and when we were going to put it under steam. We would have the money to do and build a building to house the engine in. It is also the only surviving engine of the fleet that got a new boiler and had a major shoping 11 month prior to it being taken out of service. All that aside there is not enough room for another big steam engine out there wheather its 3768 or 2986

johndeck@cox.net