Union pacific has the 3985 and the 844, but what does BNSF have? I think they should take old GN2584. go to http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/gn/gn-s2584bdl.jpg any other ideas?
Thats a nice looking locomotive.
Do you know what shape it really is in?
Just about every display locomotive I have ever seen is too far gone to put back into service.
I think UPs 3985 wasnt on display that long, so it wasnt ignored too much, and the 844 was never off the roster.
But still, you got a valid point, if you want to attract attention, that would be a great way to do it!
Ed
And the good thing about that locomotive is that it carries the railroads history along with it. Great Norhern is a large part of the BN, and later BNSFs history. Even 3751 would be cool.
or SP&S 700!!!
dont forget some frisco locomotives too.
stay safe
Joe
Just remember the condition 4449 was in before being chosen for the American Freedom Train. They had to do some specialized ‘space aged’ as they called it, welding jobs or she would still be displayed in a park- minus the sheets for the orange stripes. just a plain black steamer.
And while we are on the thread subject: Why not CSX? why did NS not bring back the N&W steam program?
Cash Cash Cash. These things cost lots of $$$.
Competition is to stiff, profit margins to slim to be spending lots of money on these things.
It’s not like the railroads don’t have it.
well, now we know why money is green huh?
Milwaukee Road 261 or Frisco 1522
DOGGY
GO DUKE
Current FRA mandates on steam loco maintenance, as well as astronomical liability insurance costs, make it very expensive to run one now, even if the equipment has already been refurbed. And if it breaks, the costs go up through the roof–just ask the Austin folks about T&NO 786 after they discovered the crack in the cylinder block. Or better yet, send them some $$ to help with the rebuild, which is in excess of $700k, I think. They’d appreciate it.
Lionel really should be blamed for my love of the ATSF and the Big New Santa Fe. Yes, I’ve seen Lucius Beebe’s pictures of majestic struggles by ATSF steam over Raton pass. But I played with Warbonnet E’s… what would really be nice is someone (like AOE) preserving a Super Chief trainset. Talk about excursions… I would kill just to have the opportunity to ride the Super Chief from Chicago to LA…
Erik
If one takes into account the many predecessor roads there would be a nice selection of servicable and even operating steam to choose from if the BNSF wanted to: an NP 4-6-0, a CB&Q 2-8-2, a Frisco 4-8-2, a number of Santa Fe engines including a 4-8-4. These engines are primed and ready to go – no need to find something rusting in a park or museum, although a GN steamer in green paint would be something to see.
But remember – the money it costs (and it costs plenty) belongs to the stockholders not the corporate management. This is the lesson of all these recent corporate scandals – corporate management spending other people’s money on themselves or things that interest them. and forgetting the stockholders. A case would have to be made that the expenditure is to the long term benefit of stockholders. UP evidently feels comfortable that it does as advertising or PR. Also UP cleverly can allocate some of the steam program’s salaries to their snow removal team.
Dave Nelson
Okay, let’s look at it this way:
If BNSF or any Class I wanted to run excursions, then they certainly have the money. After all, a decent-sized locomotive restoration costs about $500,000, right? And how many millions do these railroads have? Then, of course, there are a pluthera of ways to justify the expenditures–PR, advertising, and a bona-fide investment in new markets. New markets, you ask? Well, you would quite possibly make money on excursions right away, and remember that it isn’t completely unheard of for 844 to haul freight either…
If you are interested as to what locomotives might be candidates for restoration by BNSF, go to www.steamlocomotive.com/lists and enter your search criteria.
Why they haven’t done it yet is debatable. They may not think that it would be in their best interest, or the thought just might not have crossed their minds. Let’s write to them, urging them to consider it. Does anybody know their adress, since I can’t find it on their website?
As for Norfolk Southern quitting the steam program, I think it was one of the greatest mistakes in railroad history. In our times, it is easy for a railroad to lose favor with the public. NS was a railroad adored by many railfans for operating so many steam locomotives, and it certainly didn’t harm its image with the general public. But NS stopped running steam excursions, and a decade later it is has gained a reputation as an anti-railfan railroad which arrests railfans right-and-left. What a shame, both for the railroads and the locomotives.
See you around the forums,
Daniel
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation
2650 Lou Menk Drive, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 961057
Fort Worth, Texas 76161-0057
(817) 352-1000
Wow that’s a great list!!! I have to add this to my favorites. Did you see in wyoming they’re thinking about restoring a Burlington 4-8-4 number 5633. AWESOME. 5632 is my favorite steam engine, and this is a sister engine. SWEETNESS.
I think we should get a lot of people to write or mail. get your E-MAIL accounts ready!!!
I always thought that the BNSF would take the Frisco 1522 when they retired it…oh well…it’s not too late!!!
Will someone please tell me who owns 4-8-4 Santa Fe #3751?