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Altoona museum roundhouse nearly complete, K4s to move in soon
With such meticulous restoration, K4 No. 1361 could be restored to operating condition. Locomotives were built to run.
It is being rebuilt to run, isn’t it?
Finally, a decent stable for the 1361. Long time coming!
That would be a shame if the K-4 doesn’t run. This distinct loco with the Belpaire firebox, cab, and other features unique to the PRR represents a late, great railroad, the Pennsy.
Michael, The original plan was to restore the engine to operating condition. That was about 20 years ago. After it’s initial restoration, the engine was sidelined due to an overheated axle bearing that ruined an axle. They didn’t have a shop in Altoona, so the engine was sent to Steamtown in Scranton. I have photos of the engine I took in October of 2000, completely dissembled, including a newly made front flue sheet.
Unfortunately, the old management at Altoona wasn’t supervising the project very well and the guy running things in Scranton made some major screw-ups. (Pardon me if that steps on anybody’s toes). Some of the boiler work wasn’t done correctly and would have to be re-done. A lot of money went down the tubes, and the engine was still an empty boiler shell on a frame.
Once the mess was straightened out, there wasn’t much money left, so the new management decided to cut their losses, bring the engine back to Altoona and put it on static display inside a new building. It won’t be running, but at least for the first time in nearly 20 years it will be all in one piece and people will get to see it, and it won’t be outside exposed to the weather.
A future restoration to operation isn’t out of the question, but don’t hold your breath. But hey, we have NKP 765 and the 611 is coming back. That counts for something.