Restoration candidates

[NW Mailing List]

I'm actually enjoying this conversation guys... Let's keep it up.
 
Signed...
 
Richard D. Shell
Troutville, VA
 
 
In a message dated 12/17/2013 6:55:07 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org writes:

 
 
 
 
The conversations here have been all over the place of all the coulda,  
woulda, shoulda, wanta, wannabes for restoring this or that favorite  
locomotive, wherever it may be located, and hopefully preserved. Enough  already, let 
it go, let's move on as at least these two animals are forever  ensconced 
in their respective museums, probably for eternity, stuffed and  mounted. The 
animal is no longer free to roam where it once did so quite  successfully.


Many such properties, once they receive such things  do not feel the need 
or desire to let it out of their grasp ever again, for  whatever the reason. 
IRM is not one of such properties as they have probably  done a better job 
at restoration and preservation than many others. They are  not perfect but 
they try hard and mean well and do share.


As for  the 2156 owners, regardless of the cracked frame segments, all that 
is  restoreable should the parties so desire. All it takes is a willing 
railroad  and then lots of $$$$$$$$. Over the years, take a look at what 
significant  rail objects with flanged wheels this property has permitted to 
return to its  former environments or even off its own property unless in the 
total care,  custody and control of its people? Answer -- little if anything 
significant.  Five years ago, Who would have thought that a Big Boy really 
would be  restored? Okay, it hasn't happened yet, but ifr I were a gambler, I 
wouldn't  be making odds against this one. However, look at what has departed 
St. Louis,  once it was there? Answer -- not much and if so name it, 
please? What HASN'T  left where genuinely interested and caring parties would have 
liked the items  back into its original home territory for display and 
recognitions? The  Reading inspection engine didn't leave; neither did the 2156 
some 30+ years  ago when polite and discreet inquiries were made. And then 
DL&W 952,  albeit with some serious faux-pas on the parts of both interested 
parties,  still sits in St. Louis, too. Nothing leaves there once it arrives 
and barring  a serious change in managerial attitude, probably never will,  
either.


Everything can't "return home" sure and the parties which  have served as 
the willing hosts need proper appreciations made on their  behalf, but the 
idea of permanently stuffing and mounting these iron horses in  a permanent 
manner, and many others for that matter, too, I find sad. I can go  to a zoo 
and see stuffed and mounted long-deceased animals, but to see the  beats roam 
in its native habitat, now THAT's something to behold, be it Y6a,  or any 
of the dozens of others around, many of which have received minimal  care, 
which is also sad.


So, unless there is something new, let's  cut this discussion as it's going 
to lead nowhere further and let's get on  with some real productive and  
investigative discussion.



 

Subject: 2156 and 2050 restoration

As a Virginia transplant to  Illinois and N&W Historical Society member, I 
want to let you know I would  hate for the Illinois Railway Museum to lose 
the 2050 and for the National  Transportation Museum in St Louis to lose the 
2156. There are N&W fans  worldwide and we like having a small piece of its 
history in easy driving  distance. That said, I do understand the desire to 
bring the girls home to  Roanoke. And seeing them under steam would be 
glorious ... since I have missed  everything since then, steam wise. Something 
neat happened at IRM--I was  videotaping a kid about 5 years old running 
around being a nuisance .. (to  everyone but me) ... he climbed on the nose of 
2050 and was yanking the bell  cord...I muttered to myself, That's N&W brass, 
boy, and you just go to  town and let me record.? His parents have no idea 
that they were the ones  being a nuisance...they took him off the locomotive!
Mike  Shockley
Peoria,  IL







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