We have talked about the locomotives that "got away", or were stolen from preservation by ineptitude or lack of vision. Other than Doyle's ALCO PA restoration, which locomotives have been restored from hulk or shell, to operational? Which have been the worst basket cases, brought back to life?

I'd love to see the Pennsy B6sa in Delaware included in such a listing some day, but my missus keeps buying the wrong Powerball ticket.

Wasn't SOO 2719 in pretty horrible shape before restoration?

N&W 1218 also comes to mind.

By the longest of margins, New Zealand's K88. Dragged from a muddy river bottom as a rusty hulk, made operable. Nothing I can think of in North America comes close.

A couple of Britain's Barry Woodhams scrapyard rescues may also come close, but the worst examples are still long-term projects..........

Duke of Gloucester was the worst of the Barry crowd. She was just a frame, boiler, wheels, and center cylinder.

We're kind of proud of our Plymouth BL gas mechanical. This is how it looked upon arrival at the R&GV RR Museum in 1999:
http://www.rgvrrm.org/about/railroad/plymouthbl/index.htm

Although most of the major pieces were still intact when we got it, it had been subject to weather and vandals for over 40 years. One can imagine the condition of the mechanicals.

And after 7+ years of steady work (mostly by one individual), it looked like this about two weeks ago:
http://www.rgvrrm.org/media/photos/news/news_20070131_PlymouthBL_sheetmetal.jpg

It ran under its own power for the first time in October of last year. It still needs some more work (mostly cosmetic) before being turned loose on the Museum Railroad.

John Redden
R&GV RR Museum
Rochester NY

Yep, I'd call that a success story!

I seem to recall that Clinchfield No. 1 was very much basket case when it was pulled into the shop in 1968.

Wesley

Definitely NOT the case with SOO 2719. It was almost fresh from the shop when stored and in fairly good shape when the restoration started. I know SOO 1003 had some issues with a previous restoration attempt.

Folks,

both of the Sumpter Valley Railway internal combustion engines deserve mention.

The gas one #100 Sumpter Valley was built in the late 1920s had to get restored to narrow gauge as well as everything else.

The Diesel one #101 at Colorado Railroad Museum
was at the Roaring Camp & Big Trees where it got pretty beat up. then on to D&RGW before the CRRM.

Great Projects both.

Ted Miles

Ted -

And I think that the two Mikado's that Sumpter Valley received back from Alaska were really in rough shape. One has been restored to service, and the other is in the process as I understand it.

Maybe we can get some photos of all of these projects from someone at SV.

Les

I believe there are a small number of discarded tank locomotives in a marsh area in Alaska. I seem to recall reading about them being located in ground too soft to attempt extrication. My reference may be badly out of date.

All former New York Elevated Forneys; see

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomo ... splay=1551

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomo ... splay=1552

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomo ... splay=1553

Don't see any of these going anywhere. There is also the remains of some cars and a steam donkey (winch).

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project

Far and Away, the ten year restoration of John and Barney Gramlings 0-4-0 Flagg Coal Company#75 would have to be high on the list in the U.S.. Part of the collection of rusted hulks in Sand Point, NY, it took them 10 years, but now she's a beaut...





Correction --- a TRAVELING Beaut!

The only other one would be the #126, which they are close to having done as well.

Unless you count Frisco/ Mississippian #76 ---- and we'll be workin' on it for awhile............

TJG
@SRI

Les,

They were indeed a little rough. During restoration the 19 had a new cab built, new tender tank, all the jacketing, piping, and most all of the applianices replaced. New pilot, new dome and cylinder head covers, air tanks, all the brass, headlights, etc. Anyway, the locomotive was returned to home rails in 1996, and has been in regular service ever since. Work is slowly progressing on number 20.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c215/ ... r/1981.jpg

The number 19/81 on the dead line in Skagway, Alaska. When recieved the locomotive was in worse condition than pictured. Many of the smaller parts such as headlights and throttle arms were stolen before they were shipped back to Oregon...

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c215/ ... 9today.jpg

The number 19 today...

Thanks, Taylor

Absolutely magnificent! Do you have any before pictures, so we can gauge the transition? Are these locomotives those which Ron Ziel depicted in "Twilight of Steam"?