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Pennsylvania T1 Trust casts new driving wheel
I wonder where the T-1 Trust thinks they will be able to run their locomotive at high speeds. Unless Amtrak allows them use of the Corridor, all PRR main line trackage is capped at 40 MPH for steam currently because it’s owned by NS. If not, we’d be seeing 611 pushing 80 MPH on a regular.
Check out answer #10 in the T-1 Trust FAQ https://prrt1steamlocomotivetrust.org/faq.php
I honestly do not think that building a ‘new’ PRR T1 from scratch is a good use of resources when we have a plethora of other steam locomotives throughout the country deserving of funds to restore them to operational condition. While it would be neat to see a PRR T1 running, I think as far as preservation goes, the limited funds and resources should be focused on what we already have in this country.
I agree with Mike to be honest seeing a T1 racing down the main line would be awesome, I like to see 1361 hit the high iron again.
Paint “Union Pacific” on the side and you could run the entire west
There are a lot of restoration projects out there, and all of them are worthy of both attention and resources. However, I think there’s a unique opportunity here to “expand the base” of rail-fanning in the US. Because this project is so different from everything else that’s happening out there I think it will pull interest from a lot of people that never would have otherwise thought or cared about rail heritage preservation. I’m all for it.
Unfortunately, the naysayers and quibblers have no skin in the game. It is cheap to complain about others’ grand visions. It is on the order of: “if it is not my idea, or project, or whatever, it cannot be good,” The very best response is: go for it. This is a big country. Those who have been involved in rr’s for a long time know the type who carp.
Just think about how grand a new box driver is.
Who built the patterns, and who did the casting?
Who is going to machine it to final print specs?
Between the T1 Trust’s FAQ (link shown in 2nd post below) and their Facebook page (link at end of this post), most questions should be answered. https://www.facebook.com/t1locomotive/ Just copy the link and paste it into your browser’s address line
While you have a point Mike, one thing that is missing is someone else owns those other steam engines needing preserved and they aren’t willing to give up control/use of them no matter how much money is thrown a them. In the T1’s case, they can start completely from scratch building their own machine, have a full say in what happens with it, and put on the rails probably the most technologically advanced steam engine ever produced in the world. As for where it can stretch it’s legs, there are many options. Maybe the PRR rails will not be that option for +40mph, but if you build it, someone will open up the door to be associated with such a great event.