Not to mention the historical significance to Steamtown's history, being that it was Nelson Blount's first engine to haul excursions using the Steamtown name.

To borrow the title of a song by the 1980's new wave band Missing Persons-Destination Uknown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1pahoz ... rt_radio=1

You do realize that 26 doesn’t do much more than 10 miles an hour, both on the yard shuttles and the Carbondale trips, right?

26 goes down in 2027 for its 1472-day inspection; the Shay is meant to fill that gap, not bring mainline steam back. That’s down the road a bit.

For anyone curious as to one of the reasons the Shay was chosen for restoration, I invite you to check out this post on Facebook, showing the condition of the cylinders upon being opened: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C5npT ... tid=wwXIfr

Having fired the 26 successfully enough to have thought I would be fully qualified as one of its firemen in 2019, before life interrupted my plans. Let me offer this.

The 26 can go 20 or 25 (it was timetable limited to 15 or 20 with train) as long as it has a train attached, but light it waddles like any other 0-6-0.

The limitation of the 26 is that is a saturated engine, with a relatively small keyhole firebox, designed for light intermittent use-but it can easily pull three coaches to the Nay Aug Gorge with 160-170 on the gauge.

Not only is the Meadow River Shay not road steam, it's 2/3 of the 26.

And here we are. Debating with ourselves. Meanwhile the Shay moves closer to operation.

"Meanwhile, work continues to bring the Shay online inspite of the bandwidth used here. "

"Debating with ourselves."

There's no "debate" here. A debate would involve a contest of ideas. Point: The Shay is rated at 17.000 pounds of starting tractive effort. Position 1: That is sufficient for the intended use. Position 2: That is insufficient...


This is no different than one of my other favorite haunts-a college wrestling board or any of million other boards where the interest is a mile deep-but an inch wide. This is a tempest in a teapot, and always has been.

Look, I like Shays. I think they are fascinating. .But I'm not only a former volunteer, but a current taxpayer-and I want what's lifted out of my pocket spent effectively and efficiently-even though that's a pipe dream.

But having watched the 16 plus year effort to launch the 26, the now 27-year-old moribund effort with the 3713, call me when there's a hydro.

So, assuming that the Shay is out in 2027, the next questions are: Is it up to the task of replacing the 26? Does it fill an interpretative mission, is it mechanically capable of running three coaches to the Gorge on the same schedule as the 26? Does it present an extra burden to a thin shop force? What's the learning curve to the operating crews.

If I had a few extra bucks and years to wait, I'd file a FOIA request to see how this decision was made and who made it. Quite frankly, it should be public without a request.

My understanding is the Shay is being restored because it was found to be in significantly better condition than previously though, and presented the opportunity to have an operational steam locomotive in a relatively short time frame for a comparatively low cost. From what I've seen on Facebook, I'm inclined to believe this; just take a look at the condition of the cylinders and pistons.

One thing semi-buried in the comments sections on Facebook, was this tidbit from one of the Iron Horse Society folks: "there are multiple plans in the works to get mainline steam experience back on the Pocono - will announce more once things can be announced!"

Received this comment from an experienced locomotive mechanic off channel.

"Look closely at the one bore with the missing segment of ring and the deep scores in the bore. "

The stated mission of Steamtown is to preserve the history of steam railroading, not to preserve the history of train collector F. Nelson Blount.

True. Doesn't change this:

"Bi-directionality and modest size, plus its ability to be a Standin for similar CNJ commuter engines would make it an excellent Carbondale and shuttle engine."

There's no fear of "preserving the history of train collector F. Nelson Blount."

Many of his locomotives are gone, some when you were in grade school. Others at later dates-including the UP 737 the oldest engine (a favorite of the late Mark Brennan who enjoyed moving it to places conspicuous to the visitor-in defiance of the curatorial staff's preferences.)

CP 2816 (in a good place, and I helped prep it for departure-however still not sure what concessions the late Terry Gess negotiated with an alien corporation and I don't anything was received-a good trade would have been a GP-38-2 in operable condition). That too would have been a good subject of a FOIA request. If there was inadequate compensation, that quite frankly would raise some troubling possibilities.

A tank engine now at Oaks, PA. Also gone, and now at a second destination CN 5288.

https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_ ... /shs3d.htm

Condition: Reportedly the locomotive is in fairly good condition, with low mileage since its last major overhaul, but it also has much of its "jewelry" missing--the brass-rimmed gauges, brass valve levers, and other appurtenances in the cab and elsewhere that attract thieves of brass or railroad artifacts--though some of these items may be in Steamtown storage.

Recommendation: The locomotive type No. 5288 represents, the 4-6-2 "Pacific" type, is also represented in the Steamtown collection by Boston & Maine No. 3713. It should be noted that No. 5288 is known to have pulled international trains across the Canadian border into the United States at least as far as White River Junction, Vermont, and No. 5288 could represent that history of a Canadian National Railways locomotive actually operating in common-carrier service in the United States.


I'm all for "right-sizing" the collection in response to fiscal reality of what can be hazmat abated and stabilized. If an engine is repetitive in the collection (there's four 2-8-0's) maybe a couple can be offered to a "good home". However, like or or not, Steamtown only exists because of the Blount endowment and the collection became the property of the taxpayers and they should get a return on those items that leave-because the NPS has implicitly admitted they can't preserve the entire collection. At some point however, too small of a collection is an attenuated view of steam railroading.

If you don’t mind me asking, are you insinuating that the condition of the Shay is too good to be true.

Given the connotation of insinuation as implication in an indirect and unpleasant way and for self-serving purposes absolutely not.

Nor would I imply it. I don't have the skills and experience to make mechanical evaluations.

I'm simply passing on the comments of somebody with the ability to examine the pictures from a knowledgeable perspective.

From a general perspective however, we know that is often degradation in locomotives that spend a long time (decades) exposed to the elements, so I'd be surprised if the entire locomotive was spared damage from the exposure.

If that's true they should get rid of all the diesels in the collection.