From trainorders postinghttp://photobucket.com/albums/b32/railpast4/Reading%202100%20The%20Big%20Lift/?start=0sc 'doc' lewis

I would be very interested in the pictures of the tie down system that will use for the locomotive and tender. Also I am surprised the railroad will except this load that high on a flat car because of the high center of gravity. Also do you know if the load will go in regular trains and at what speed limit. This is probably the heaviest steam locomotive to be transported in piece on a flat car

Amazing pictures, and very gratifying. Where is she going and will she be operated? I must say that despite the lack of roller bearings, it seems a little stupid to not just entrain her.

Wow, what a lift! I wonder how they plan to move it all the way out west, that sure looks top heavy. I would hate to see something happen enroute and destroy her. I would have to suspect that it would certainly have a speed restriction at the very least. I was also wondering if the front of the frame was stressed to be able to take the load right behind the pilot like that. I don't know the details of why they didn't run her out on her own power, but it would sure seem a lot less risky to put some hot water in her and let her take herself west. Steve

Gives you some idea of what she would have looked like if the folks that wanted to hang her from a casion roof in Vegas had gotten her.Rob

Along with Dennis, I would also like to know how they intend to restrain that load. One good slack run-in and the ol' T1 just may decide to pay the front end of the train a visit. The load is both top-heavy side-to-side and relatively free rolling fore-and-aft. Those little wood chocks don't look very substantial with all that weight just above them. Could be an interesting job when it's finished and ready to be shipped.

Nice to see some tangible results from all of the 2100 talk this summer. My best to the crew of this fine locomotive (though my personal jury's still out on that paint...)Along with the other folks on this board, I must express some slight concern over the shipping arrangments. I saw ex-OC 76 shipped on a flatcar in a similar matter, but 2100 is obviously a MUCH bigger locomotive. Any insight from anyone "in the know?"Cheers!TB

Hi,Who made the centercab? Is it an eary GE or a Davenport?Stuart

It's a 1939, 43 ton GE. It is the first diesel electric ever owned by the Wabash Railroad. http://www.ecrm5700.org/wabash_51.htm

CPR Hudson #2839 was shipped coast to coast in the same fashion. Not quite as big as the #2100 but close. Also a pacific left Steamtown for TVRM on a flatcar, I don't recall photos as to if it was a depressed center.

I think CN's refusal to let them move the engine on its own wheels - hot or cold - has a lot to do with the engine owners' antagonizing CN through the years over issues like Open Access. I'm not surprised they won't cooperate with him now on moving the engine. The owner (Tom Payne) could do a better job communicating what is going on here and on what his plans are. I think escapades like the one he went on in Tacoma last year are bad for this whole industry.Chris.

CN 5288 was moved on a depressed center flat car. The tie down scheme for it was designed to meet all the AAR open top loading rules and was approved by NS and CP before we loaded the 5288. This sure made the inspection by the car knockers go real well. We also used Winters Rigging out of Buffalo to install the tie-downs since all the tie-down welding has to be done by AAR qualified welders.

Don't these people know that steam locomotives simply cannot ever be moved by rail? Certainly they should have loaded it aboard a gazillion-wheeled truck trailer, like all the other recent moves of big steam. While this is a very heavy engine on that flatcar, I do recall one of an American-built 2-10-4 for the Soviet Union loaded aboard a similar car in the 1920s or early 1930s.

Eight axles worth of locomotive weight, with the boiler dry, carried on eight axles worth of flatcar looks about right. Since most of the 2100's dry weight is below the bottom of her boiler, and presuming she is well-anchored to the flatcar, the center of gravity of everything above the flatcar's truck springs might be about even with the top of 2100's drivers. With four truck bolsters resisting sway during the move, and no hump yard action enroute, 2100 should have a nice transcontinental ride.

In reply to "Ctjacks" post, and not entirely aware of the previously posted messages about this engine and move, I agree that a little but of who, what, when, where, how and why would be nice in describing this event. Can anyone fill in the details? I know it's going to Washington.