"The lost" N&W Steamers saved...

[smash]

I read this in my local newspaper. Could not find it online but here is the story.
Steam, diesel relics to be saved from scrapyard

Published: Wednesday, July 15, 2009
ROANOKE, Va. - Three Norfolk & Western steam locomotives will be removed from a Roanoke scrapyard for restoration after more than a half-century of rusting in their places. The Virginia Museum of Transportation, the Railroad Museum of Virginia, and North Fork Lumber Co. will each get one of the engines.

VMT has been working for 30 years to save the engines. Virginia Scrap Iron & Metal Co. will donate them to the museums. The company recently sold its Roanoke scrapyard to make room for an expanding clinic, which enabled the deal to take place.

As part of the agreement, VMT will get N&W M2c Class 1151, the Railroad Museum of Virginia will get Class M2 No. 1134, and Will Harris/North Fork will get M2 No. 1118. The M2s date to 1910, while the M2c arrived in 1911. The three were among the oldest engines on N&W's roster in the 1950s, when they were sold for scrap.

In addition to the steamers, two Chesapeake Western Baldwin diesels will be saved. VMT will restore one and use the other for parts and scrap. The two railroad museums will each get one N&W steam locomotive tender from the deal, while North Fork Lumber will add an N&W maintenance-of-way-service flatcar.

"We are excited to be taking action on the lost engines and to be able to put together such a wonderful coalition of partners to make it happen," said Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr., VMT's executive director. "The lot engines will be saved, but it will take additional funding and support from the community to restore these pieces and put them on display."

All equipment is to be moved by Sept. 30.

Above text taken from here:
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,1976828

Looking at the pics in my local paper and online it will be LONG road to restored.
Some pics here:
http://lostengines.railfan.net/nw1151.shtml
Kenny

 

[ZapperJet]

Yes I heard this on the local news. Hopefully once they are in the museum I can get pictures!

Cheerio,
John

 

[TweetsieDude]

This is AWESOME!.

1 question; will the steamers just be put on display or restored to running order, I hate cosmetic restoration.

Rock On!
Dusten

 

[smash]

That is one distinction that was not made.
Kenny

 

[TweetsieDude]

Ah well, it really does not matter, as long as they're being saved from the tourch.

Dusten

 

[transitguard]

It's good to see pieces of history saved. That's one thing we can't replace.

 

[bdaneal]

It's about time! The engines were donated to VMT a few years ago, and I was starting to wonder if they would ever manage to get them out. Having moved a steam engine myself, I wish them luck.

This is AWESOME!.

1 question; will the steamers just be put on display or restored to running order, I hate cosmetic restoration.

Rock On!
Dusten

As I understand it, they are all such basket cases that it would be nearly impossible (unless one has many tons of cubic money) to get them running. It isn't worth it.

I like cosmetic restorations. I hate when people insist that (insert basket case) needs to be restored to operation, or that (insert huge engine) needs to be running. In most cases, it is not practical to do so. Back when I was a mechanic (occasionally on steam), I got to hear that sort of thing way too much.

Cheers,
Ben

 

[Euphod]

I think any piece of the past that is able to be cosmetically restored should be, and that it's not necessary for the engine to actually run. I think of the planes and spacecraft and such at the Smithsonian,...do they need to be able to run as well?

 

[ZapperJet]

I have a picture on my wall of one of these locomotives, I'm afraid it is in such bad condition that it probably isn't worth restoring to working condition.

Cheers,
John

 

[TweetsieDude]

Not to start a fight.

quote from Bdneal;

I like cosmetic restorations. I hate when people insist that (insert basket case) needs to be restored to operation, or that (insert huge engine) needs to be running. In most cases, it is not practical to do so. Back when I was a mechanic (occasionally on steam), I got to hear that sort of thing way too much.

Well if it's rusted to hell and back, then it is more feasible for a cosmetic restoration, but if the engines are in a good line to be restored to running order, then let them be restored to running conditions. I am a history buff, and i don't want an art to dissapear. Running, and maintaing a locomotive is an art, as well as working on them.....some people such as me, really love to see a engine restored to its fullest; be it car, plane, truck, or a rocket.

The are of steam is slowly slipping away. I like to take the UK for example; they have really done a great job with there historical equipment, almost all of it runn-able. I personally believe that if we loose something like that, then the future to come will look at it, and have nothing to do with it, but to let it rust, and slowly dissapear.



Rock On!
Dusten

 

[ZapperJet]

I just went by the locomotives yesterday on my way into Roanoke. They've cleared the brush away from the tracks and the three locomotives are clearly visible now. The area is now fenced off so I'm not able to get any closer, however I don't believe they will be moving them quite yet. There is a concrete building just in front of them which is being demolished, and by the speed that it appeared to be going, it might be a while.

Cheerio,
John

 

[springtransit]

I remember earlier in the year a deadline was set to get them moved. I was a little worried, but it's good to see them being preserved.

We all remember how the Flying Scotsman was, in the '90's, damaged to the point where it would be nearly impossible to get it operating again. But its owner managed to get it running again!(Of course, he had alot of money!)

While getting them to operate would be nice, if it's in such shape that operation would be nearly impossible, then a cosmetic restoration is just fine!

That doesn't come cheap either, and it may be sitting around for some time at the museum, but just having it there is reassuring that it is preserved and in good hands!

 

[Sampug394]

The Most Amazing part of this, that most of you seem to be Missing, is that the Steam Locomotives are 4-8-0s - Other Than Strasburg's 475, They are the LAST Units of their Type in the World.

It's Even more Miraculous because of this...

 

[springtransit]

Well, at least in North America! Too bad Central Pacific's prototype wasn't preserved...

 

[Sampug394]

Well, at least in North America! Too bad Central Pacific's prototype wasn't preserved...

You mean this Beauty?

 

[springtransit]

Of course!

 

[Klinger]

These engines have been sitting outdoors, exposed, and with NO protection either in the form of painting, grease, anything.

From what I have read, the wheels and running gear is completely seized and to be honest, I cannot see how the hell anyone could free the running gear.

Granted, 4455 at the Colorado Railroad museum sat across the street in similar shape, and it rolled to everyone's surprise.

So maybe there is hope, but seeing how long they have been sitting, I think operation is insane to think about at this time. I am personally amazed that the Diesel's will be brought to operation. One for parts one for operation.

I hope the parts locomotive does not end up as scrap as the post says, maybe make it cosmetically appealing.

 

[ZapperJet]

Knowing the financial condition of the Virginia Transportation Museum, I think cosmetic restoration is about as far as this is going. If the funds were available to restore a locomotive, the 611 (NW J Class) and 1218 (Heavy Mallet) are both sitting in nearly full working condition under a canopy in the back. Should any organization wish to restore a locomotive to working condition, these two would be more of a viable option.

Cheers,
John

 

[UP5521]

I agree with you zapperjet, al least restore one of the steam engines to working order like the UK did when they saved alot of their steam engines from being scrapped and as far as I'm concerned this is virginia's and not to mention the N&W's history which cannot be replaced and is extremely valuable and I say they belong on the rails under steam not in a museum rusting like the others if they are smart they will have to test the boiler once they get it cleaned up and see if it is worth putting it back on the mainline where it should be and impressing people like myself as well!

 

[amigacooke]

Good news to hear these locos have been saved. As to which is best, cosmetic or full restoration well, I think there is no contest.

Tornado at Durham

Old planes, old trains, but no automobiles