I took these photos last year. (Scared the heck out of a kid smoking pot in the tender) Mind you it's whats under the flaking paint and rust that counts.

Thanks for the photos, reminding us of what a handsome locomotive this was, and even now still is. . .oh, how good she could be for some tourist road, say Conway Scenic, big enough to handle anything they have, but not too big, at least in my eyes (though someone else would likely disagree). . .

I concur with the earlier posters who suggested a fence and some paint would buy some time to get her to a good home.

Where can I send some money?

A few people with scrapers and wire brushes...some of that rust-combining primer...and a lot of black paint. It could look nice at minimal expense.

I think the only real basket cases are engines with jackets, water-logged lagging eating through them as well as pitting the boiler plate, asbestos-containing insulation dribbling on the ground where the engine is destroying itself and mere mortals may not even touch it. You've got none of that here.

Is this really worse than so many park engines? I don't think so. It looks like much of the back lot at IRM. And that's not a jab at IRM. Things stored outside get rusty.

Steve

Photos of 470 from 1966 to 2012:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/Locopi ... x?id=58713

1980 looking bad:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3023892

1983 after cosmetic work:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3007371

2012 looking bad:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3079649

Speaking as someone who has never taken a good look at 470 before now, it does not seem as bad as it sounded. Looks largely cosmetic to me. I think a fresh paint job and a few things like glass in the headlight would make a world of difference.

Insurance for volunteers is the kicker. If it were me (and it is not me) I would try to work with the city to find some common ground whereby volunteers could work under the auspices of the city's insurance. Perhaps by putting together a detailed code of conduct for volunteers, focusing heavily on safety (hard hats, dusk masks, respirators, ladder and scaffolding securing, safe practices, brush rather than spray paint, etc.) that all volunteers must sign, perhaps you could convince the city you can minimize their risk.

If successful in getting volunteers on the job, try to make a deal with the city that your group will provide materials and labor in exchange for the city erecting a fence. Contact local businesses that carry the right supplies and try to barter supplies for approval for the businesses to erect signs on the fence showing their name and support for the restoration. Start with the tender as it will be simpler and more quickly show results.

These are just my thoughts on it, and like I said it is not me.

Exactly! I see nothing that isn't cosmetic. At this point as we are not talking about an operational restoration we don't care about any internal corrosion. Maybe the cab is a mess inside but for a cosmetic restoration that results in the locomotive being fenced off anyway, it doesn't much matter. Still, remove or ameliorate any dangerous broken glass or sharp edges for the safety of the inevitable trespassers. Any jewelry that's left should be taken off and put in storage anyway. But really...a coat of paint will do nicely for now.

Steve

What you are seeing is a two dimensional image of a badly corroded and neglected steam locomotive. If you haven't visited her, please refrain from pronouncements of her condition.
Please refer to the other thread for newer information.

i guess I have to ask, Richard, who appointed you the official spokesperson for the #470? Last i heard, this is an open forum, and all viewpoints can and should be heard.

Mike

Mike, I have been on her, around her and look inside her. Have you? I am not "the spokes person, but I have been brought into (requested to join) one of the groups making a proposal. I do hope that meets with your satisfaction. I would encourage you to submit your own program initiative for the 470 at your earliest convenience if you think you have better information, planning, and funding, than those who live within a 60 mile radius of the locomotive. Believe me, I'd be delighted to secure the Pacific and make her into a showpiece once again. This will free up the time and efforts of quite a body of individual here in Maine.

Do whatever you want, Richard. I am only somebody with hands-on steam experience who unfortunately is 2,000 miles away. I have said all I want to say about the #470; the responsibility going forward lies now with the boots on the ground. Good luck.

it will be interesting to see how this all works out--to see if the deeds match the words. We out here in the hinterlands will soon, I suspect, be able to separate the concrete from the foam.

Mike

Wish you were here, Mike!

LMFAO

Glad to hear that y'all don't need any donations for the project.

Let me 'bump' a reference that PCook had cited in the 'other other' 470 thread:

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... 77&t=12162

Perhaps this will clarify why Mr. Glueck has, or deserves, a certain amount of recognition regarding attempts to preserve this locomotive.

Thank you, Overmod.

I can only offer that a group is being brought together, all steam knowledgeable, some of whom members of RYPN have publicly thanked for their outstanding steam work. I am the spokesman for the group at this time. I must ask that everyone understand, paperwork is being completed for submission this week. We do not yet have possession of the 470, and we remain as only one of several groups who want a shot at saving her. To my mind, that is great, since it gives multiple organizations a chance to show what they can do, and if one passes by the wayside, another may be able to step in.

In the end, at least in the case of the group I am with, the object is to save, preserve, and possibly restore the big Pacific. Harry Truman once stated, "It's amazing what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit". If somebody else can step in and execute a similar or better plan, we want them do so.