C&O 2716 To Return To Service

Whelp the rumors are true. Glad to hear it! 

Yes! Another locomotive prepares to return to steam...and quite a good choice too!

Mmmmmm....... That's a flashy web site. They haven't even pin pointed where the restoration work will be done yet. Then it will be "evaluated". I wish them luck, but it doesn't sound like a done deal yet.

Exciting news...the more steamers the better.

ES44AC posted:

Yes! Another locomotive prepares to return to steam...and quite a good choice too!

A "good choice"? Really?  Apparently you are not aware of the condition of the boiler & firebox.

A good choice for C&O fans/lovers of big steam.  As far as the boiler and firebox are concerned - it's only money...  

Yep it only takes money.  I wish them all the luck in the world in their attempt to raise the required funds.

If you watch their video KSHC site, one of their newly form Corp members tells that the engine is in better shape than most existing and running steam locomotives?????

This is/was a completely different story, than I heard from one of the KRM Officers that comes to the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Show. He told me that there was a cracked crown sheet, on that locomotive, and it would take between 1-2 Million Dollars to get it to running condition again, then if it was it is land locked, as CSX wouldn't let it be dead headed to where ever to run. 

Must be something to this, as look what they did, just to move the C&O #1309 to Cumberland Maryland, did that by flat car!

I remember reading somewhere that the Fort Wayne Folks had a miriade of leaks to deal with, when they had this engine, running it while restoring the "765" for operation! 

I just hope that all of the negative boiler stories we're "BS", and it is in as good of shape, as reported, on the KSHC site's accompanying video.

I personally know Kelly Barnett, he is one of their Steam Collaborators, and find him very credible, and wouldn't waste his time on some "BS" pie in the sky project.

Being a C&O Fan I hope all goes well for that new organization, and their task to restore the C&O #2716....................................

I went to this museum about two years ago. They have a L&N E6 and Monon BL2, but at the time both were stashed on some siding somewhere rusting away. Instead of these gems, the museum had a Santa Fe CF7 running......in Kentucky. Maybe the group should focus attention on what they already have and could do something with, rather rather than an off site pipe dream. Even if they did get 2716 steamed up again, where would they run it? I recall they had some kind of bridge issues when I was there.

This locomotive does not have a "...cracked crown sheet..." What it has is a tired, worn out firebox, which is not unusual and relatively easily fixed. They will have to do all the work required under CFR 230. That means ultrasound tests and measurements on the boiler, flues and tubes removed/replaced, appliances checked and overhauled, running gear checked, etc.

When we ran this engine back in 1996, there were a few leaks in the firebox we had to deal with, but nothing serious.

Sam Jumper posted:

 Maybe the group should focus attention on what they already have and could do something with, rather rather than an off site pipe dream. Even if they did get 2716 steamed up again, where would they run it? I recall they had some kind of bridge issues when I was there.

You should reread that new website more carefully. The Kentucky Railway Museum is NOT going to "rebuild/restore" the C&O 2716. The locomotive will be LEASED to a new, not for profit, 501c (3) organization (which is named in that website), and when they raise the required funding, the 2716 will be "rebuilt/restored".

Sam, I don't recall any bridge problems, the only problem was steam onto the "CSX", at the Lebanon Junction site, then it's CSX anyway you go, left/right or straight ahead!!

The KRM folks are doing the L&N "152" themselves.

The "2716" is a previously formed group called Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation (KSHC).

Click on the www.kentuckysteam.org site on the 1st post at the top, then you can scourer all of the info, and who's doing what, and where with in that organization. 

I 1st heard about this from a Collis P. member, that this was to be announced today, and this was back a few weeks ago. He did see some work going on when attending a work group for the L&N "152" at New Haven, Ky Museum, and Shop's, learning about the announcement that would be associated with the Engine's Number.

2 Feburary second month, 7th day, and 16 = 2016!..................................

The engine is a Berkshire to us more common folk.  But doesn't the C&O have a different name for this class of engine?  Was this a Kanawha on the RR?  If so, I believe that there is another example sitting around somewhere, lost track of her now, that perhaps could be used as a source for some parts?  Not sure if the two engines are really similar enough for that.

Paul Fischer

Yes, the C&O named their 2-8-4 type locomotives after the Kanawha River. Also, there were a LOT more C&O K-4 Class locomotives "saved" than most folks realize.

Article from Trains magazine posted today:  http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2016/02/07-2716

From watching the video, and the results from the boiler inspection that was done, says a lot to me of "Just How Good the Fort Wayne Indiana Group" was, and still is to this day.

The repairs that they had to make to keep this engine running, and how they left it, when the last fire was dumped says a lot, thus giving the new group something to build upon! 

I always have said, that persons or groups, follow as they are lead!  I think the  Fort Wayne Group has a "Super Organizer/Leader in Richard Melvin!......... 

This news made my day. I can't wait for a meet up of 3 AMC designed 2-8-4s with 2716, 765, and 1225.

Brandy posted:

From watching the video, and the results from the boiler inspection that was done, says a lot to me of "Just How Good the Fort Wayne Indiana Group" was, and still is to this day.

The repairs that they had to make to keep this engine running, and how they left it, when the last fire was dumped says a lot, thus giving the new group something to build upon! 

I always have said, that persons or groups, follow as they are lead!  I think the  Fort Wayne Group has a "Super Organizer/Leader in Richard Melvin!......... 

Brandy, I truly appreciate your kind comment, but please remember that I am just one member of a truly GREAT team...the NKP 765 crew from the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society.

Yes, the 2789 which was the last ALCO K-4 Class locomotive, and one of the five constructed in 1947 with an ALL WELDED boiler. Your 2789 is the locomotive that they SHOULD be restoring, instead of the 2716, in my opinion.