Yes, it is true that there was a little-known proposal to restore Illinois Central 2-8-0 #790 to active service several years ago. An outside funding source was ready to pay for the restoration--with the intention of having the locomotive power excursions on the Carbondale line. A combination of things, including the deterioration of trackage on the Carbondale line, prevented that restoration from happening.

There probably are still a handful of smaller locomotives in the Steamtown collection that could reasonably be restored to active service, but as each year of unprotected storage goes by their condition worsens and the chance of running again becomes less. Steamtown NHS will be getting a rare opportunity to assess the exterior condition of the boilers of its "display locomotives" during the forthcoming asbestos abatement program on them. It would be an excellent opportunity to determine which locomotives might be candidates for future operation, and an appropriate time to take steps to preserve them with future operation in mind. There are precious few locomotives being "maintained" today for that purpose.

Frederick G. Bailey

Fellas', let's get real here. The reason S'town can't even keep one loco. road worthy despite a $ 6 million/year taxpayer funded operating budget is simple. The VAST majority of those funds go to payroll/plant maintenance etc. and NOT to the shop budget!!

Until and unless that changes (HIGHLY UNLIKELY) all this talk about restoring 759,2124 or any other engine is pure fantasy!!!

Sorry, but that's the reality!!

IMHO-Ross Rowland