I was told sometime ago by a relative who worked on this K4 that when it came time to pick one in the '50’s for display at Horseshoe Curve, the steam motive power foreman picked one in very poor running condition since it was only supposed to be a forever static display. (At that time Pennsy was still running steam freight and K4’s were still carrying passengers in NJ). Unfortunately, the Altoona Railroaders Museum has paid dearly for that choice.
…In what time frame is it expected to run again…?
Took some pic’s. of it some years ago sitting in the yard there at the Altoona R R Museum.
From what I’ve seen on other sites, It’s not expected to run again.
(at least not anytime very soon)
Too much work and not enough money, which seemed to be mismanaged.
Plus, I understood that there were some problems with the engine it’s self,
probably wouldn’t pass any of the tests as of now.
…Morning Walt…I haven’t been keeping up very close to what is really happening to it in the last recent years. Just that occasionally, I would see some remarks about it and assumed from those comments, it was being put back into a working order, howbeit so slow…
I didn’t get to see that one run, but guess I’m in the minority of folks on here seeing “any” K-4’s run…That I did, when they were still in regular service coming through Johnstown, Pa. And…rode behind them between Harrisburg and Johnstown, many years ago. Makes one wonder if it might have been one of them.
when we went to see nora rick and the boys we went to altoona.they said the K-4 was being restored thats why they had a gp 9 there now.don’t know of the progress of the repairs.
stay safe
Joe
Joe…If I understand what you are saying of the K-4 that was at the Curve…Yes, it was taken off there and put back into working order some years ago and did quite a bit if running on the line up thru the valley next to rt. 220 {Tyrone up towards Lock Haven}. Believe that is now the Nittany and Bald Eagle RR…Ex. Pennsylvania RR from years ago.
But it has been sidelined for some time now and as I said in previous post, I was under the impression it was going thru the process of repair and up date {again}, to become, once again, an actual working steam engine…
But Walt {Lousiville}, indicates it is in a state of limbo and won’t run again. Personally, I really don’t know. But I do know it did run after it was removed from the Curve. And Yes, I’ve seen and photographed it’s successor at the Curve several times. But that’s been several years ago now…
Actually, we’re headed for Pennsylvania again in about 2 weeks but don’t know if we’ll get over in that area.
The K4 has been at Scranton undergoing a multimillion dollar rebuild. It is completely in parts at this point and whoever is in charge can be viewed in one of two ways. More keeps being found that is not perfect and it is being corrected so the costs keep rising and the time keeps slipping. Some question how good is good enough and some are thrilled it should last eternally. The state of Pennsylvania has underwritten app. two million dollars of repairs BUT the project is being halted next week as the National park Service has yet to receive the funds. last etsimate I heard was possibly two more years before it would be ready to run but now that is in question.
The National Park Service doesn’t receive any funding for this. The K4 project is, and always has been, administered by the Railroader’s Memorial Museum in Altoona. The Park Service provided space for the work to be done at Steamtown and use of the facilities, but hiring contractors and funding the work has always been up to the RRMM in Altoona.
There’s another thread under “Steam and Preservation” that provides links to official statements from the Altoona group.