The 2-4-4-2 in question, AKA the Skookum, is no longer at Mt Rainier Scenic RR either. It's now at the Oregon Coast Scenic RR, and since it finally has an owner with the wherewithal to get it restored, I expect to see it back in operation sometime soon.

http://www.ocsr.net/skookum/skookum.html

The engine never had much done at MRSR either, since it was only being stored there, and wasn't owned by the railroad. We shuffled it around to a new storage location from time to time, and I think a few minor things were done, but no significant work was completed.

what's the steamer stored in Cleveland? ran in the early '70s, been cold since.

Dave -

I think you are talking about Grand Trunk Western 2-8-2 #4070 (formerly #3734) that has been sitting in the remnants of an old B&O roundhouse in Cleveland for many years now.

Les

Three more locomotives in the southeast come to mind. Southern Railway 722, Ks-1 2-8-0 that was built by Baldwin in 1904 currently sitting in pieces near Dillsboro, North Carolina on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad along with GSMR's ex-Reader, ex-US Army 2-8-0 1702, which last operated in 2004. The 722 was purchased by the GSMR, then owned by Malcolm McNeil with the intention of restoring it to operation. I heard that it was to have been converted to burn oil like the 1702. The GSMR was later purchased by the owner of the Durango & Silverton. With that said, the 722's sister Southern 630 is making progress towards running again after a nearly decade long restoration at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga.

The third engine is former Buffalo Creek & Gauley 2-8-0 4 (disguised as Southern 604, not to be confused with the "604" that was used in the George Clooney movie Leatherheads," that engine was actually ex-Southern 2-8-0 542 mated with the #4/604's tender). The 604/4 last operated in November 2001 and had been undergoing overhaul with boiler work being done in Alabama. However, the project was halted and the 604 (4)'s boiler, frame and running gear are currently stored in the backshop at Spencer. The Graham County Railroad 1925 last operated in 2005 and also needs some work before it runs again, but is intact and has been on display in the roundhouse at the North Carolina Transportation Museum for the last several years now. The last time I was at Spencer, the Southern 542's tender was having a cosmetic restoration and so the 542 should presumably get it's own identity back after masquerading as "604" in the previously mentioned movie "Leatherheads."

A quick correction to Mr. Ashley's post. The sale of the GSMR from Malcolm MacNeill to Mr. Harper had already happended when the 722 was purchased.

Ryan

That's it Les.

I don't think so. In my experience, the excitement of charging into a project is a powerful antidote to the usual politics. I've dealt with several iterations of museum leadership that was notoriously hard to get along with, and driving away volunteers left and right -- but they DIDN'T have that problem in the midst of a project; during the project it was just all eyes on the project. At the Southern Michigan Railroad in the early days, it was just that way - all hands were on deck to overhaul a suitable train for daily passenger service. Once the railroad had accomplished the big tasks and entered "cruise mode", the personality problems rose to the top. Nothing unites like a shared, reachable goal.

Once the goal is achieved or forfeit, THEN the politics show up. IME.

We too suffer from too many projects going at one time. Too few volunteers to keep the progress moving forward. So I took over as volunteer coordinator and outlind this years projects and insisted that there will be no deviation from that plan as has happened in the past. So far, so good! And we are a weekend away from completing the first project.

Later!
Mr. Ed

Nickel Plate Road 587:
- Undergoing the FRA-15 @ Indiana Transportation Museum

http://thetimes24-7.com/m/ArticleDispla ... ctionid=13
http://automaticsitebuilder.net/news/Ni ... e-587.html
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/LocoPi ... 487&Page=5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhSCWIbWk-Q

Cotton Belt 819:
- Went into extended overall @ Arkansas Railroad Museum

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPi ... 786&Page=2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmCraBXOFGM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8pAz4MVWNw

What about the little 0-4-0 tender engine in Iowa at the Ft. Madison, Farmington & Western? Originally built for the Indiana Northern Railway as their # 4, restoration started, owner passed away, locomotive was for sale some time ago.

Les