A friend of a friend of a friend told me a little birdy explained the absence of the Museum's prized 1937 B&O shovel nose EA #51 from the Mount Claire Shop display could be due to an unanounced 2 year cosmetic restoration which started last Fall (2015).

If true, this is great news and reflects positively on the Museum.

I recently visited the Museum after seeing a YouTube clip showing equipment being moved around including one of my favorite locomotives, the C&O streamlined Hudson, #490. I'd have loved to have once again have been able to see more then just its headlight and pony trucks (thanks in part to the tight confines of its previous display location).

Seems both are no longer on display inside, though #490 can be seen through the shop's alarmed back door window (C&O #2705, as well, through a slit in the door). No sign of the EA - perhaps this rumor can be confirmed? Not much of a secret if it's been moved off display since last Fall and might not be seen again for well over a year - someone would eventually be asking.

Same source suggested #490 was next on the list for a potential cosmetic restoration. If so, kudo's to the Museum. This would be much needed good publicity for a Museum that seems to take a fair share of criticism despite the investment in time, politics and cash required to rebuild the roof and the locomotives damaged under the collapse. Oddly, however, any such project is absent information via any search through Google, the Museum's own site or FB.

So - with hopes of keeping this thread informative, positive, and constructive -

Can anyone confirm this welcome project? Plans for #490 and possible plans to eventually restore the treasure which is RDG #2101, aka; the Freedom Train? And, dare an inquiry be made regarding the terms of the sale or possible lease of C&O #1309 to the WMSR? I heard only that a stipulation existed that the locomotive be returned should operation ever not come to fruition (I have faith we'll see #1309 in operation before the year's end, if not much sooner) or should it cease operating in the future, a future that could be decades away.

Again - if you have nothing constructive nor positive to contribute, please find another topic!

/Mitch

EA 51 was moved to the shop late last fall (honestly can't remember if it was Oct or Nov.) The metalworking staff/volunteers are working on a detailed scope of work for restoration. A lot of the other equipment in the North Carshop was shuffled around at the time the 51 was moved out, partially to clear some indoor space for the Polar Express Event, partially to clear floor space to assemble the operating running gear display acquired from Chicago along with the York. Long term plans are usually held pretty close to the vest, so as a run of the mill volunteer I don't really know what goes to the shop after the 51 (but she'll be there for a bit anyway). As soon as the running gear display is reassembled and put in place 490 and the other equipment moved outside will be moved back in.

I would urge the B&O RR museum management to PLEASE take AFT #1 ( Rdg.2101) off public display until she is cosmetically restored.

Her current shameful condition is a black eye for all concerned and a poor business decision in the sense that she was one of the most photographed and talked about engines in the collection courtesy of her stints pulling the AFT ( 1975-76) and the B&O Birthday train ( 1977-78) and thus generated a substantial fan base.

As confession is good for the soul I must confess that I have made inquiries in the past as to possibly leading a fund raising effort to get her awful condition corrected and failed to follow through, so I own some of the issue.

Again, I would hope that the museum management would find a place to hide her ( or tarp her over ?) until the resources are available to make her presentable. She deserves no less.

Hope springs eternal.

Ross Rowland

One thing all of us have to come to grips with - assuming we haven't already - is that no matter what we do and how we do it we will be criticized by others. Some of it is deserved, some not - if we're honest we know where we fell short and we may or may not have good reasons for choosing compromises. Those not involved are sometimes critical because they don't know those reasons. those who simply "would have done it differently" but have no reason are not worth the trouble of listening to. After a few years in the trenches you grow a thick skin. The guys at B&O know better and can deal with it, as their record of achievement and response to disaster has proven.

I visited the B&O last year. No one can argue it's a lovely museum, and the staff were friendly enough. They have alot of truly unique equipment on display.

I think it's a shame they don't value steam, they aren't running any steam at all this year. I realize the kids events bring in the money, but it would be nice to see a "museum" invest in an event for the railfan like me. I know I would pay ALOT of money for the chance to ride behind one of those unique old locomotives, or see a few of them fired up. I'm not sure which ones are still serviceable, but a few have operated over the years.

The T-1 is also a true shame. One of the most famous locomotives in the country. Hopefully Ross Rowland can make something happen to properly display her. Would love to see her restored to her American Freedom Train look.

Has any other railroad preservation venue managed half to million dollar restorations every year or every other year one after another for over a decade?

And do this after rebuilding their primary indoor facility?

And also build a top of the line restoration facility?

And run steam several times per year for the past eight or so years?

And do a few restorations for 3rd parties?

And reinvent the presentations in the primary facility to make them more interactive, and better tell their story (in time with a major historical celebration (250th anniversary of the civil war)?

And rearrange their outside displays to tell a very cool story (the local freight)?

And be outwards looking enough to allow one of their historic assets be transferred to an operation where it will (hopefully!) be doing what it was built to do?

And recover a couple of pieces of the collection that wandered away decades ago?

And now use all this momentum to continue world class restoration of pieces of the collection that weren't damaged/destroyed in the disaster? (IMHO, the EA move to the shop is wonderful news; that they aren't just stopping now they have finished collapse repairs)?

That tells me there are good chances we'll see other major pieces of the collection, from AFT #1 to #4500 to #490 find their way into the shop.

Oh, I could nitpick, point out issues here and there, focus on favorite pieces that haven't been worked on, but they are all tiny things when you step back and look at the big picture and ponder the future.

JMHO.

Bob

Thanks Bob, I can assure Crescent-Zephyr that steam is valued. There is no steam planned this year as #4 is due for 1472 day, and that's the only operable steam engine we have that can pull the passenger train. I wouldn't be surprised if the Lafayette or Tom Thumb make a brief appearance at some point, but I can't say I'm aware of any plans at this point. The Mason's 1472 day is paused due to needed crownsheet work. That pretty much covers operable steam. Anything else would require a brand new 1472. So please don't question our commitment to steam. #4 was extensively reworked when it was returned to steam so hopefully the 1472 won't take that long, but resources (especially the time of our metalworking crew who handle steam) are very limited so it must be worked on as time allows.

C. Edwards, I do thank you for your reply. As you hopefully noticed I was very complimentary of the museum as a whole. It's indeed a lovely place.

I'm glad steam is valued. But I still wish it was valued more. The fact that you have 2 serviceable engines, yet no plans to fire them up this year is pretty much my point. Lots of plans on your website for Thomas and Polar Express, and other kids events (which is fine, they bring in money and unique visitors, I'm not knocking them). But no planned steam events.

But I am glad to hear that part of the reason for the lack of steam this year is #4's 1472. Since that isn't explained anywhere on the website, I assumed it just wasn't running this year because of a lack of desire to run it.