Has the last of these engines been removed from the siding at Galt, Illinois? Was the 8300 the last to leave? What happened to the ex-KCS Vanderbilt tender?

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/union/gtw8300.jpg
http://www.steamlocomotive.com/union/gtw8374.jpg

Bob:

The last two ex-GTW 0-8-0's at Galt were the 8305 and the 8374 if I remember correctly. I think the 8300 had been sold a few years ago to someplace in Iowa for display.

Les

Just received an e-mail from Rick Zorko, indicating that 8374 has been moved to Geneva, NE. Our web page for the locomotive is at:

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=1628

This is the photo Rick supplied of the locomotive (taken August 27th, 2006):



Doug

What are the plans for the one in Geneva?

So that leaves just the 8305 still at Galt. Or has it been moved out too by its new owner? And if it has, where did IT go to?

I understand that the KCS Vanderbilt tender (originally off of a KCS 2-8-8-0) was going to be taken to Union by IRM. Has it gone there yet, or is it still at Galt?

Les

I believe cosmetic restoration and display is the goal. On the property there are things like a city water tower(disassembled) and a BN caboose and lots of other stuff not necesarily railroad. It seems to me that I read somewhere about this, but I'll be darned if I can find it anywhere. I am sure that the operation of the '74 was not in the plan.
I did get to see it running at Sterling Ill. in 1979. There were 3 working that day, 8310,8374 and 8315. November 7th, 1979. Here are 2 shots of the 74 "live"
http://www.traincds.com/photo4rypn.html

Speaking of 0-8-0's, has anyone heard any recent information about the restoration of FLORIDA EAST COAST #253? Seems their website has not been updated for some time now. Has the restoration of this 0-8-0 in Florida ground to a halt, or is it still ongoing?

Les

We just received an email that the 8305 has been moved to Quincy, IL for cosmetic restoration, and have altered steamlocomotive.info to reflect this information.

Regards,
Doug

Les, you are correct in that we plan to add the tender to the collection on the IRM campus at Union. It has not yet been moved. Things rarely move during the winter (by truck) as the roads limits are de-rated during freezing conditions. Generally until May 1.

Bob Kutella

Hi,

Does anyone know what BN caboose is at Geneva, NE, &/or the name of the group assembling the equipment?

Thanks, Roger

I'm very glad to hear that the ex-GTW 0-8-0 #8305 has been moved to Quincy, Illinois for a cosmetic restoration. BUT, wasn't Quincy the original display site of Burlington Route 4-6-4 #3007? Kind of curious that they should have had a Hudson from a railroad that actually ran through Quincy (the CB&Q) only to end up with an 0-8-0 from the Grand Trunk Western which came nowhere near this western Illinois city. Did I miss some key point here?

Les

Yes, and the 3007 is now at IRM, who sold the GTW engine now moved to Quincy.

Bob Kutella

Bob -

I realize that the 3007 is now at IRM, and I am glad she is there. Maybe some day in the distant future, we will see Union work to restore her to service. But you missed my point. I am mystified why Quincy would want to dispose of a locomotive from the Burlington, a railroad which served the city, only to turn around years later and secure a locomotive from the GTW which ran nowhere near there. Plus a high stepping passenger steamer for a "lowly" 0-8-0. Seems like an extremely bad trade to me! Did I miss something?

Les

I beleive we did not get the 3007 from Quincy but from the Purple Martin Train out in Iowa (Red Oak, or Atlantic?). So maybe Quincy sold it to them for a wheelbarrow of money and has been counting it ever since. I do not know if Quincy was bidding in the auction to get it back when we 'won' it. And I am sure what they paid for the 0-8-0 was nowhere near the value of the Hudson. I am assuming the city is the owner of the 0-8-0 now??

So, full circle, what goes around comes around.

Bob Kutella

Les,

The 3007 was sold to the Purple Martin train at least 20 years ago. I suspect that today's city fathers regret that decision, and wanted any available steam engine to remember their city's railroad history. At least hopefully 3007 will one day run again.

Kevin