> Well, that's a shame. I never could figure
> why NH&I would want such a big loco, but
> the dreamer in me would have loved to see it
> creep out thru Pauline trestle under steam.

As I understand it - IT IS A 4-8-4, and a one of the lightest 4-8-4's ever. It's probably the only large engine that COULD run there.

MG2AM@AOL.com

> The NdeM 4-8-4s look very similar to the
> orginal NC&STL 4-8-4s,the J2 class that
> were not semi-streamlined and also built by
> American locomotive company at
> Schenectady.How about the group that has
> been trying to get 576 in Nashville give up
> that task and concentrate on one of the
> Mexican 4-8-4s,there are still two surviving
> NC&STL Vanderbilt tenders to mate with
> one.I think a replica engine in this case
> would be a good thing,there is already a
> train to pull and a place to go.I think
> having only an authentic engine or no engine
> cause everyone to miss out on a lot of
> potential fun and big steam would create a
> lot of new railfans to pursue engines such
> as 576 in the future.

They actually look somewhere between a J2 and a J3, having elements of both designes in them. They are good looking engines.

The chief hangup for the group here is lack of funding at the moment. If there was money in the bank, and the city had given a firm no, that just might be an option, although the Preservation Society's charter not allowing for anything other than preservation could be an issue even then. But for now, they'll choose not having the money for an original engine over not having money for a reproduction.

drewa@comcast.net