Do any of you know the status of locomotive 614? This beauty was owned by [4:-)]Ross Rowland. [C):-)] Engineer Steve Wickersham frequently ran her.
For those not familiar the 614 was built by LIMA and the body style is basically identical to that of the Nickel Plate #765, except for the wheel arrangement. It was a nice contrast to the ALCO body styling.[8D][tup]
In the 1980s #614 was involved in various Operation Lifesaver excursions. She came to Florida in 1981 pulling 21 mostly heavyweight coaches at 60mph! The trips were very enjoyable. She appeared frequently in magazines and tv specials in the 80s and early 90s. Now I wonder if many of our younger railfans have even heard of her.[sigh] A few years ago, rumor had it that 614 was for sale.
Also, does anyone know if Mr. Rowland is still involved in steam? He was very dedicated.
There was just a thread about this very subject. It pretty well covered about all there is on current status. The thread was about the rail event coming up in Ohio. I ran into Mr Rowland the other day, but didn’t have time to chat. If I recall correctly, the engine may make an appearance in Ohio in July.
After the many excursion runs over the Southern Tier line, some with varying degrees of success, the 614 was put away by NJTransit. Seems Ross didnt fully pay his bills and the locomotive was being held as colatteral. It was in the NJT yards someplace although it might have been moved, possibly to Port Clinton. It seems that it will not be running again. The excursions were fun while they lasted, but the local railfan community here had a lot to say including that the volunteers werent always treated the best, and by the end of the trips it seems that everyone had just had it.
With NS and Metro North controlling things up in NY state, it doesn`t look like there will be any more railfan trips in this area.
Please tree don’t play with my emotions like that… I have been asked by my Road Forman to be a piolt engineer for Pere Marquette 1225 between the Detroit area to Toledo. C&O 614 is my all time favorite steamer…I could listen to the whistle all day long.