I’m sure it’s been asked 1000’s of times before, but I was wondering,
If you had $5,000,000 to be used to restore a train and take it out of mothballs, and restore to working order, what would it be and why?
My vote: the H-8 (2-6-6-6) at the B&O museum down in Baltimore. She’s in real real bad shape and might not be saveable. But I would act now before she deterioates any more.
While there is one in “decent” condition at the Henry Ford museum, there are only 2 left of the biggest baddest beast in the east.
It would be a tough choice, between steam and classic diesels.
On the steam side, I’d like to see the NKP 759 restored. If not possible, one of the Reading T-1’s that could stay in NE Pennsylvania
On the diesel side, I’d like to take a trip to Michigan and see if I could get hold of the last two Baldwin RF-16’s, my favorite of the early diesels, and I understand, the last two of them in existance.
Wow tough choice. that’s years of operating money for oue museum,however our first two cars in the collection have not operated regularly in years,both need complete top to bottom rebuilds,bout $1m of it would do, and 1326, a double trucked deck roofed TR car from 1915 and 55 a single trucked arch foofed 1917 car from the Toronto Civic railway would be back up and going, the rest of the money would be used for mainline and storage building repairs, construction and upgrades,heck i bet we could make two or three other cars operational as well. www.hcry.org
The N&W A class 1218, but I wonder if $5 extra large would do it.[:(] BTW Digital Griffin, If $5 extra large could get an H-8 out on the road, I’ll be there, if only to experience the earthquake that puppy would start as it rolled by me at, say, 60 per![:p]
How about this…
exSP #3025 4-4-2 Atlantic w/ 81" drivers and 3 or 4 restored coaches, this engine is rusting in peace here in L.A. at Traveltown Museum in Griffith Park[:p]
I may be a died in the wool easterner, but this girl does look very nice! Well, now I know why it appealed to me! Erie had a group of high wheel 4-4-2s from Baldwin in classes E3 and E4, built as compounds and simpled when they were superheated, if not before! See them in Fred Westing and Alvin Staufer’s “Erie Power” Pg.232-245.
I don´t know if 5 mills would be enough, but if I could restore a whole complete train, then it would be SP´s 1950 15 car Sunset Limited complete with Mail/Baggage car, Baggage Dormitory, Sleepy Hollow Coaches, Pride of Texas Coffee Shop, Audubon Diner, French Quarter Lounge and the 10-6 Sleepers with the Blunt End Sleeper too. And the probably best feature would be the 4449 deskirted and painted black pulling the train!!!
I don´t know if 5 mills would be enough, but if I could restore a whole complete train, then it would be SP´s 1950 15 car Sunset Limited complete with Mail/Baggage car, Baggage Dormitory, Sleepy Hollow Coaches, Pride of Texas Coffee Shop, Audubon Diner, French Quarter Lounge and the 10-6 Sleepers with the Blunt End Sleeper too. And the probably best feature would be the 4449 deskirted and painted black pulling the train!!!
the V&T in carson city nevada is being resurrected to travel to virginia city. think of it: a 1:1 scale toy train using most of it’s original equipment.
the five mil would go a long way toward finishing this one that has already begun. if not the five mil, at least send them what you can (the nevada state railroad museum in carson city, nevada).
$5 extra large would get you started. Another $45 extra large would get you home!! And I’d think twice about going west to photograph and ride that consist! Since, I ain’t rich, and live in a Soviet Republic that taxes the[banghead][censored][censored][censored][X-)][X-)][banghead][] out of single folks like me,well If they have a sale for when I would need to go out there on a budget Airline of some fame[:p] then, I’m going!
SP GS-6 4460 or the AC12 4294, both are the only existing examples, oh’ i’d also, locate or produce the correct whistle for 4449 while I was at it. The remaining funds would be allocated for operating cost and manitaince and to purchase a sixteen car excursion fleet.
] out of single folks like me,well If they have a sale for when I would need to go out there on a budget Airline of some fame[:p] then, I’m going!