Totally agree, absolutely brilliant.
Will be awesome to see a NYC 4-8-2 under steam. It 100% makes more sense for the org to operationally restore something that is so different and unique vs the 624 which like Kelly said is so very close to the 765. I mean who would have thought we'd be getting a very experienced organization to operationally restore a NYC mohawk. Props to all involved!

Wouldn't you rather have 1x NKP freight locomotive + 1x very unique NYC passenger/DP loco vs 2 NKP freight locos running?

It sounds like 624, from my perspective, would be quite useful operating in another location given its size. But if you’re Fort Wayne, yeah the draw won’t be there regularly for a mini berk. Not that there wouldn’t be any interest, but is 624 unique enough to bring in different crowds to northern Indiana that 765 wouldn’t already? Yeah it’s a fair point to suggest maybe it wouldn’t. Maybe keep it in good condition and perhaps if another organization nearby wishes to restore it… we’ll see.

As for 534, I think there could be a use for it on some shorter smaller trips. I can’t speak for anybody else, but I would be interested in seeing it run, given its Wabash heritage and it’s small enough to really run anywhere.

3001 has me excited. There’s plenty of NYC fans out there and I’m just really happy for them in that they have a chance to see it run with a fleet of cars that are very appropriate for it, like the plan for 1361 in Altoona. In terms of what it could be, it’s truly a perfect locomotive in size, how modern it is, and in fame to attract plenty of fans. I’m planning on donating because I don’t know if we’ll ever get this opportunity again.

- PS, Hope the whistle is still with the locomotive. As I said in another comment, the Herron clip with it blaring (if it was indeed live sound) is killer.

Likewise, appreciate it. Many of us are very fond of 534. We've been seeking out replacement trucks for the tender, performing tender frame work, and finished a UT survey a few years ago as part of getting a rough order of magnitude for restoration so that if a pool of resources did become available, we would be ready to pursue it. A few years ago there was thought of rebuilding the tender entirely and having that as a good first "showpiece" per some smaller steam engine restorations, but then shop resources focused on passenger cars and since then we've been able to turn out several renovated cars.

20 years ago, working on anything "other" than 765 was frowned upon, but the level of attention 534 has gotten in the last five years is the most it has received in 30 or more, even though it's not a primary focus, it's become kind of a "rainy day" project. None of this equates to languishing, comparatively speaking. (For languishing, see the 1920s Nickel Plate RPO we finally freed from the nearby industrial park forest, now we just need to figure out what to do with it too...)

Had our riverfront plans evolved, 534 would gave been the daily driver and perfectly suited for it. Mechanically speaking, we've considered that 534 would probably do "OK" on our shorter trips (we run about 10 days of these a year now), but a 2-8-0 or 2-6-0 would probably be more compatible with the profile of the line and the train length. The local water in Pleasant Lake and the appetite 534 would have running our normal shorter runs means we'd also need to solve not just the water problem but the water quality issue in town. (Yes, we have our eye on a tank car.) There is a lot of fleet rationalization, and a healthy dose of feelings in the mix, too. If I had a hammer, and a roundhouse, and...

Our charter mission statement is specific enough to include all of Northeast Indiana, which is where the NYC fits in fairly well. We've also considered sending 534 off somewhere where it could could earn its keep and eventually wind its way back to us (it could, in theory, fit on a flatbed trailer ala Loco de Gramling). As evidenced by the last few years, we're willing to get fairly creative if the right opportunity presents itself.

I hate to say this but I will. I feel like the FWRHS are over-extending itself a bit taking on the NYC 3001. I can understand on what they're thinking but still like I said I think they're over-extending themselves. having NKP 765 and now the NYC 3001 that's a lot to handle with you know? I believe the FWRHS should restore the 624 instead since granted it's smaller but they have the SD9 358 operating so they have that helper. 3001 I get it it's 'modern' but still. I know that FWRHS knows what they're doing so I can't really question them on their plans.

that's my two cents.

Huh?

I do appreciate the response, and maybe someday we will get to see something Wabash move. I applaud you and the group with trying to expand your horizons, it's great. I really wish I could get involved, but working weekends for the foreseeable future doesn't lend itself to what you all mostly do.

You know, there's 40+ acres listed for sale along the tracks between Angola and your depot...

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society HAS BEEN AND STILL IS the standard for over 40 years. From restoring a mainline steam locomotive without the benefit of heavy equipment or shop facilities, to successfully operating big mainline steam excursions year after year (e.g. the New River Train) to now the Indiana Rail Experience, the men and women of the FWRHS have demonstrated what is possible through their professional approach and “can do” attitude. It was once said that their unwritten motto was “whatever it takes.”

I have no doubt that if the funding is there, it’s only a matter of time until superheated steam rushes through the throttle passages, into the steam chest, and once again, a New York Central Mohawk will refuse to abdicate.

Congrats Kelly and everyone at the FWRHS. LET’S GET TO WORK!

IIRC 624 has a cracked boiler, so an operational restoration would be the same, if not more than 3001's restoration

Somewhat off-topic, and perhaps I'm a bit out of the loop, but is Headwaters Junction not moving forward?

Not moving forward, just moving up.

North, actually, to milepost 38, on the same leg of the Fort Wayne & Jackson that used to reach downtown Fort Wayne.

See this press release: https://fortwaynerailroad.org/2023/08/p ... -acquired/



More details at the link.

The timeline for development became incredibly protracted, mostly with the Army Corps of Engineers needing to move a floodwall, so much so that momentum and progress were under threat. At the same time, the opportunity to operate just north of Fort Wayne materialized after many years of discussions. Essentially the core tenants of the concept remain, the zip code has changed, and all of those years working on that potential long-term plan set us up fairly well to jump when we had the chance on the local short line. Case in point: we went from zero serviceable passenger cars to four, and then six in less than three years.

And we're talking about not just developing in Pleasant Lake, but Hillsdale, too...which is where the Fort Wayne and Jackson met the New York Central's Old Road.

We're eyeballing more real estate, but have a railroad to run first. Nothing is a silver bullet but these are good problems to have.

I'll remain cautiously optomistic. I think the biggest concern is if the money is there, or not.

I know of locomotive restoration taking place at a museum where the executive director falsely thought that the railroad historical society associated with the heritage of the locomotive being restored would make yearly contributions of a pre-determined amount and wasn't happy to find out that wasn't the case.

This is exciting news. Thank you for everything you're doing at FWRHS, Kelly.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed the proximity of Pleasant Lake to Ashley, IN, where the Gramlings are based. Obviously little tank engines and heavy mainline steam are different worlds, but I can't help but think there could be potential for synergy or cooperation there, simply as a function of geography.

-Philip Marshall

We threw a little party last summer with the Gramlings and Little River Railroad where we all had our trains operating during a little open house that drew over 2,500 folks. Look for a similar event next July.

The final sign-off from the open house: https://www.facebook.com/fortwaynerailr ... 3148410660

I'm typing this from the recently gussied-up Pleasant Lake depot, outside the stretch of track where a prior generation of Gramlings was responsible for track maintenance.

https://www.facebook.com/fortwaynerailr ... sDRkAvJKdl

Barney may still have a pile of pipe tobacco I gave him floating around his truck. It's how we communicate.

Maybe I missed it here, but I'm still surprised the NYC museum is getting rid of what has to be its greatest draw, one of the very few NYC locomotives left.

P51, yeah you missed it. The National NYC museum in Elkhart seems to be on its last gasp.

To quote something Kelly said earlier:


To that I would add, and a grandson of a NYC steam superintendent who has the passion to make things happen.

Mr. Lynch, its my hope you get to own or lease the Sandy Creek in the future, or have some other amazing follow ups to this major success!

P.S. nice use of ai voice over in your promomentory.