In case you missed it in Flimsies, here's the official City of Tulsa story on Frisco 4500. Looks like it really is for sale. A fine looking machine that deserves better; I'd sure like to get involved if I lived in the area. Fortunately, it appears they haven't lost too many pieces. Anyone ever seen color photos of these engines in their blue Meteor scheme?

http://www.cityoftulsa.org/Auction/locomotive.htm
ryarger@rypn.org

With 2 more ready to go 4-8-4 types already for sale I don't see someone buying her for retoration. But then again you never know.

Tom

Forgotten Delaware
tom@forgottendelaware.com

The page I got was a heading but no story. Anybody else have this problem?

The only way to recover the cost of restoring a steam locomotive is by using it to recover its capital investment in productive ton miles. Its fair market value isn't anywhere near the cost of restoring it. You might have spent 1.5 million making it legal to run but nobody will offer you anywhere near that at auction.

Presumably this is why the "ready to run" 4-8-4's aren't selling like hotcakes. The opportunity to recover the cost in operation just isn't out there. Probably this is why they are being offered for sale in the first place.

dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

Someone might contact them about starting their own steam program, with a "Flagship" engine of their own. After all these guys used to lease 1522(now retired again), 261, 700, and 4449 for trips in the past.
Last year they decided not to use steam for various reasons(insurance, costs, etc). But, having their own engine would be good for employee specials, and other positive PR, much like UP, and CP. Just a thought! Nice looking engine for sure!
Greg Scholl

Happy Thanksgiving

Videos
sales@gregschollvideo.com

If someone buys this locomotive to restore, it will not be because it makes "sense". A project like this needs a group of people who love the idea of restoring it to operating condition. In a group like this you need one or two true visionaries. You also need one or two money people who stay up nights thinking up ways to get money into the project.

This is why so many of these projects fail but that a glorious handful suceed against the predictions of all the naysayers.

Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society

tstuy@eldcps.org