She sure has seen better days. I am sure when she gets her turn in the shop she will shine once again.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 84&nseq=90

Can somebody explain the profusion of locomotives in this condition, around the country? How is it we take an operable locomotive out of service (for good reasons, usually), then immediately start stripping it down to pieces and leave them out inthe elements for years, if not forever? It amazes me that this is done, parts are scattered, yes, the asbestos is removed, and then - done! A list of said locomotives would be a mile long.

Dying is easy - living is hard.

dave

In the case of 76 it has been a long time since it was in service. The 76 is another locomotive that pretty much needs everything. I am pretty sure it was disassembled to enable moving from Ohio to Michigan. With moving locomotives on their wheels being nearly impossible, or at best unaffordable, I think you are going to see even more locomotives reduced to this state just to enable affordable moving. In many cases, 76 being an example, nothing has been done that does not have to be done to restore the engine so why not take it apart if the shipping is cheaper? Add to the problem locomotives disassembled to this state and then having the actual cost of repairs sink in to the owners and I suspect you find much of the reason so many locomotives look like this now. I would imagine 76 is one that may have a better chance of beating the odds and running again someday. Unfortunately I think you will see more of this rather than less.

John Bohon

It happens when the previous management makes a restoration decision, and then the restoration stops due to time and money constraints.

Keep in mind that this engine last operated at Gettysburg, so I presume it was in pretty sorry shape regardless of what the paint scheme was.

Chris.

Generally speaking, it's usually a lack of money.

I did not post the link to bust on anyone for her condition. I am sure when she was at the Getty she was pretty well worn out. Keep in mind that many tourist railroads in the 60's and 70's simple found a locomotive with a half decent firebox and put in a set of tubes and ran with it making repairs as they went along. When one locomotive became worn out there was another with just a little more meat to press into service. The type of restoration work we are seeing done there days was not done in the early days of tourist railroads. Used up steamers were set aside and old girls like 76 are the result. There are dozens of them out there. Sometimes the owner dies, the railroad goes belly up, the economy turns, or what have you.

I did not post the photo to flame anyone associated with the 76.

Tom: Nor did I respond to stir a pot of dissention. I was merely raising the issue that so many nice, road-worthy, or unique locomotives have found their way into the hands of well meaning people who then just...stop! NH&I #9 came to mind immediately, and then there is DL&W 565. I guess rather than see a locomotive torn apart and left outdoors, I'd rather see it painted and left intact until a complete restoration plan is written and funded. Mississipian #76 is, hopefully, one of the lucky ones.

I think too, along with what Tom said, that this engine would have been running now if we were back in the 1980's/early 90's before regulations changed which now require so much work to be done, that an essential rebuild from the ground up is needed and often a feat which most museums/railroads cannot afford.

As an example, W&W's 4-4-0 #98 recently had over $500,000 worth of work done to it, which took place only about 10 years after a multi-year, pretty thorough, rebuild that saw it put it into regular service in 1992. 98 was heavily used but well maintained until is removal from service in 1998, seeing many winter shoppings to keep it in service for the following season.

Now, the 76 hasn't run since when?...and how well was it actually maintained during its' time in service? We all know how well their other loco was maintained.

SRI has a lot of work ahead of them to get a good little engine up and running, amongst many other projects. Give them a blank check and I'm sure we would see it up and running by next year, if not by years end.