The last USRA Pacific extant. Looking a little tired at Jacksonville. If I recall, the crossheads were welded when they wanted to move it here, so they slid it on greased rails.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPi ... x?id=43668

Sad to see this engine looking this poorly. How long has it been since the cosmetic restoration was completed? Ten+ years, at least?

The engine was still in its old location adjacent to the Seaboard Coastline headquarters building in 1981, so I'd guess it's been at least 10 years since it was moved. As bad as it looks now, it looked worse then. I remember it had large holes rusted completely through the sides of the tender tank at that time.

I heard Bill Purdie remark on the 1504 while I was riding an excursion on the Southern once. He had inspected the engine at some point. He said the claim was the ACL had rendered the engine "permanently inoperable" when it was placed on display, but as near as he could tell the only thing that had been done was small blocks of metal were welded to the guides to hold the crossheads in position. Purdie said that he could take care of that with an angle grinder in about 15 minutes. Purdie said that the engine was in excellent mechanical condition as far as he could tell, and might actually be one of those mythical "overhauled just prior to being put on display" steamers.

That's one engine I'd love to see run one of these days.

I have a good home for it: NCTM in Spencer, NC!

Nah. They already have an ACL loco (which looks beautiful) that will probably never run again. Plus they've really no place to run the poor thing. Don't get me wrong, I love Spencer, but I'd rather see a largeish engine like that go someplace that has a proper railroad to run her on. That's not SCRM either, BTW, our line is far too hilly and twisty -- the 1031 or 250 maybe (let alone an operational restoration of the 712), but not the 1504. Someplace like Steamtown with their ex-Lackawanna main would be better -- except I don't know of any museum like that in the ACL's territory.

Not that I have any idea it could actually happen, but back when I was working on the startup in Savannah I targeted passenger steam as a hole in the collection, and recommended acquiring FEC 113, which was at the time for sale, as a good choice, given the used FEC light pacifics (like 750) that went to the S&A (among other Georgia roads). ACL had a roundhouse complex off East Broad, now mostly gone apart from one old freight shed used as a restaurant supply, so Savannah would be an appropriate place to preserve 1504 under a roof should CSX ever wish to remove it from its current location.

Loose talk of potential for operating some excursions on the local friendly shortline may come to something some day there also - not holding my breath, but I'd sure love to see it happen. Doubleheaded 4-6-2'S?

dave

I haven't been dwn to Savannah since I fetched those Seaboard CTC panels. People are fascinated by them, especially kids -- for some reason everybody loves flipping switches. Still looking for the schematic panels for them, BTW.

I know there's a highway bridge blocking the old ROW to the roundhouse, and most of the tracks are long gone. However, just how difficult would it be to reconnect the roundhouse with the rest of the world? Is any of the Central's pax station left, and how close was it to the roundhouse?

If Savannah Roundhouse could get hold of the lower end of the old S&A, THAT would be a nice museum ride! My REAL pipe dream would be to see the SAL rebuilt across the river to Charleston, but that'll certainly never happen.

We had hopes for the remnant of the old Tybee Island Ry to Fort Jackson from River Street, killed. Trolleys on River Street, CAT Transit refused. I can't help but think that the River St trolley is such a no brainer it will happen someday. What it will connect River St to, another thing.

I plan to live long enough to see the RH and the VC connected by rail, subject to change without prior notification. Can't make any commitments on the rest.

dave

Dave:

What happened to FEC # 113 anyway? Was she sold and to who?

Les

I do not know, Les. Perhaps someone at Gold Coast will enlighten us. She is a wonderful example of her type - WW I era fast light passenger engine. I could easily see her hauling a half dozen clerestory roofed Boonton style commuter cars at 45 MPH on a less mountainous tourist line.

dave

Dave,

Last I know of the FEC 113 situation she is still in pieces at GCRRM. The museum has developed such affection for diesels-ready-to-run that she is pretty much an orphan. The 153 is stuffed and mounted, but at least intact. In all reality, I think Hurrican Andrew pretty much killed any possibility of steam returning to Gold Coast.

While GCRRM seems to have no plans for putting 113 back together, much less returning her to steam, they have not openly advertised her for sale. I would suggest that if there is any serious (repeat, SERIOUS)interest in acquiring the locomotive, begin making contact. I can't speak to the mechanical condition of the running gear, or the boiler. Seems to me I recall the tender rides on Fox Patent trucks. Does that ring a bell, Dave?

The first task at Savannah is to get track built on-site. Without that, they cannot hope to develop the interest to extend across Louisville Road to gain access to the Visitors Center, and ultimately, to points west. I've been out of the loop on the track plan for over a year, so what they plan to do I don't know, but I'm hoping for reconstruction of (some of) the historic track arrangement (c. 1940's - closure).

The biggest problem I see is having enough tail track near the former bridge location to allow a locomotive and a couple of relatively short passenger cars to clear a switch point without needing an overly sharp curve. So much soil was removed behind the south bridge abutment during site remediation that they would need to place engineered fill to gain the minimum length possible without the bridge being rebuilt. I hope they can work that out successfully. I believe they will knowing who is involved in the planning.

The Goat is nearing completion and needs track on which to be tested. If anybody knows of a supply of available 100# rail, please let me know.

We did have a small supply of 90 or thereabouts offered some years ago from a source in Pembroke, but I never could get it collected. It isn't hard to find - there are track contractors tearing up old industrial spurs and such all over. Might talk to some guys in the Atlanta area. I may have a source from SC within the next couple years.

dave