King of the Army 2-8-0s

Guest · January 25, 2016, 4:24pm

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Firelock76 · January 25, 2016, 4:24pm

Cool! By the way, anyone know of what happened to the ex-US Army 2-8-0 that was owned by the Reader Railroad in Arkansas?

andychandler · January 25, 2016, 6:59pm

Could Trains compose a feature about Mr. Franzen? seems like he would logically be the next successor to Bill Purdie!

CHRISTOPHER_S_KOVACS · January 25, 2016, 10:32pm

To Wayne, the ex-Reader Railroad 2-8-0 is now Great Smoky Mountain Railway #1702.

ERIC_SCHNEIDER · January 26, 2016, 2:11am

Wow!

WILLIAM_A_GIBSON_JR · January 26, 2016, 4:41pm

There are seveal "King"s. USA has ARR 557 in Alaska and there are 2 or 3 more in the U.,K.

Firelock76 · January 26, 2016, 5:37pm

Thanks for the info Mr. Kovacs! It was a good-lookin’ machine when the Reader had it, I wondered where it ended up.

VERNON_E_HOLYOKE · January 26, 2016, 6:01pm

Wonder if he could save the 2 4-6-0’s up in the allagash and are some of the last NYC versions.

old_rail · February 2, 2016, 1:24pm

Interesting story. Unfortunately the engine is entirely unsuited for the heavy grade on Great Smoky Mountain. Far too light an engine. They would have been better off getting something for suitable for the task.

BTW What happened to Jack Showalter’s old Army 2-8-0?

ole.tn.hillbilly · February 4, 2016, 3:23pm

TVRM’s 610 was the last Army 2-8-0 if my memory is correct. GSM Ry has what is left of Ex-SR 722; it would really be great if it could be rebuilt; although that may be me fantasizing.