Hello Crew,
I think It’s been about a year since I’ve last read on this forum that the 614 was somewhere on New Jersey Transit property possibly for sale, at a healthy sticker price, and that Mr. Rowland no longer owns this legend.
I was very curious as I was fortunate to have seen her in action back in the 80s and even got to ride the Operaton LIfe Saver specials that she pulled. Would be a trajedy if this giant never runs again.
I ALWAYS like it when the questions are about something we’ve got the answer to right here… from Feb. 7 newswire. Best, Jim
Ross Rowland updates status of C&O 4-8-4 614
SACKETTS HARBOR, N.Y. - Steam promoter Ross E. Rowland Jr., sent an e-mail letter last week to fans of Chesapeake & Ohio 4-8-4 No. 614, giving them an update on the Greenbrier-type locomotive, which gained fame in the 1980s as a Chessie Steam Special excursion engine and again in the late 1990s on NJ Transit.
Said Rowland: “We are continually seeking out an opportunity which will allow us to justify the substantial investment it will take to put the 614 back into service. As previously discussed on the co614.com web site, to complete a full FRA compliance inspection and retrofit, it will cost somewhere between $500,000 and $700,000 depending on what’s found when the disassembly process is completed.”
Rowland, CEO of Iron Horse Enterprises, thanked Reading & Northern CEO Andy Mueller for storing the locomotive at Port Clinton, Pa. He also appealed to fans for donations to keep the locomotive’s web site going.
Rowland was a commodities broker with a love of steam in the 1960s when he began organizing and promoting excursions. His excursion operations blossomed with a 1969 trip commemorating the completion of the transcontinental railroad and featuring Nickel Plate 2-8-4 No. 759 in steam. The business culminated in the 1975-1976 tour of the American Freedom Train, powered at times by Reading T-1 No. 2101 as No. 1, Texas & Pacific 2-10-4 No. 610, and Southern Pacific Daylight 4-8-4 No. 4449. Rowland also backed a proposed modern steam locomotive, the ACE-3000, in the mid-1980s, to compete against diesels.—Jim Wrinn
What is the website to this engine?
And does anyone make this in plastic yet?
Precision Craft Models has a model of it in HO. It’s advertised in this month’s issue of MR.
That is the Reading T1. The 614 is an entirely different beast. The original T1 (Reading 2101 I think…) that pulled the AFT is at the B&O Museum in Baltimore.
The 4-8-4 being looked at here is the Greenbrier, something I have yet to see outside of brass.
the reading engine was in a roundhouse that caught fire so chessie switched it out and used the 614 for their steam specials.matt and i saw the video on rfd-tv.
stay safe
joe
Wasnt the originalT-1 in a wreak on the first outting of the AFT?
Back in 1980, Lionel made an excellent set decorated for the Chessie Steam Special that utilized the perenially popular 736 Berkshire in the starring role of #614. I still run mine to this day. I am able to overlook the fact that the set’s locomotive is a Berk instead of a Northern. Lionel numbered this engine 8004. Never quite understood that.
George