I wonder if someone can connect the dots…my understanding, according to the B&O Museum, is that in the 1990’s, CSX sent a team of mechcanics in the 1990’s to evaluate one of the C&O Allehenies, 1604, for restoration. Her sister in the Ford Museum is in perfect condition, apparently still leaking lube oil…anyone know the back story…? One can only hope, they reconsider…it would be quite a public relations tool.
The Alleghenies may look to be in good shape, but the condition of key mechanical items such as bearings, boiler and superheater tubes, cab fittings, etc. may be a different story. While I will agree that the Allegheny is an impressive piece of machinery, its range of action would probably be quite limited because of its sheer size and weight. After all, we’re talking about a locomotive that is almost identical in size and weight to a Big Boy.
This could be the case but in the absence of any hard facts regarding their condition, it certainly sounds as if someone seriously considered this to be a viable avenue to explore. If the engine in question had serious problems…well, what were the alternatives for an excursion engine?..perhaps the concept you hit on…going toe to toe as a public relations counterpoint to the UP Challenger was exactly the reason for pursuing restoration,and why those fellows were out there doing their evaluation. Again…I don’t know but I would love to hear the story behind it…Here’s another candidate…now residing at the B&O Museum…
If CSX wanted to start a steam program, they’d probably be better off getting the former C&O Greenbrier 4-8-4 614 up and running versus an Allegheny. The 614 has the power and speed for excursion trains plus, it has a smaller wheel base which would allow the locomotive to visit places a 2-6-6-6 couldn’t.
It would be interesting if CSX chose to persue a steam program. Maybe it would inspire Norfolk Southern to restart their program. Ultimately, it comes down to logistics, and the almighty dollar, and CSX needs to get their house in order first before undertaking such a venture.
I wonder if there is a listing somewhere of extant C&O and\or B&O steam engines…
The C&O’s Alleghenney class of locomotives are quite a bit heavier than that of a U.P. Big Boy…or so I was once told. I was also once told that one of the reasons why the C&O retired these engines so early is that their overall weight just beat the h*** out of rail. As much as I would love to see a C&O 2-6-6-6 back in operation, I am inclined to think that it will never happen.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816
Surviving Steam Locomotives
There is more to it then just logistics and the almighty dollor in the sence of capital to restore a steam locomotive… there is also the BIG issue of potental LIABILITY of running an excursion train… and that is one of the biggest issues that is keeping csx from restarting a steam excursion program… and anothe thing that people dont think about is the condition of the overall physical plant(track) the track structer might be up to standereds as far as opporating the locomotives of today (no comments about csx and there track condition please) but steam locomotives are much more sensitive to track conditions…
csx engineer
…In various articles, writeups and comparisons of the UP Big Boy and the Allegheney engines I’ve seen over the years, the weight comparison was relatively close…Believe one did not out weigh the other by any great amount. Actually, seems there was argument of which actually weighed the most.
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