Bessemer and Lake Erie 643 on Ebay.

Sam, I'm in with you on this old engine, but it takes a lot of money to anything with it. I was hoping that Jerry Jacobson would take another look see. My wife and I were by there a few months back visiting friends/family in the area. I went down to look it over and very sad to say the least. It would be bad, deteriorating in a bld somewhere, but out in the elements, . There is hvy equipment to get it back to the rails for shipment, but then there is the CSX, and unless it would go out on a special car capable of handling that engine, and tender. But anything is possible ......................Brandy! 

An informative thread here, including some expert opinions IMHO:

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...r-a-new-home-for-her

Another "beating a dead horse" thread.

Nothing until the owner dies.

Ideally, it would be nice if BLE 643 was moved from McKees Rocks to Ohio for restoration, and ideally someone would have the guts to take on CSX or CN to operate excursions on their mainlines.

Practically, however, Hot Water is right: We're beating a dead horse. 643 is physically disconnected from the rail network and unable to be moved out via road. No one with an interest in BLE 643 (save possibly Mr. Jacobson) has the money or facilities to restore her even if 643 could be moved out of Mckees Rocks. Mr. Jacobson, if he still thinks the whole endeavor is practical, is still biding his time.

So to answer your question, Bessemer Sam, unless you or someone else out there starts a fund drive to raise the MILLIONS required to ensure a safe future for 643, we'll not by seeing her move anywhere for at least 5-10 years. And even if Mr. Campbell has a change of heart, you still have to talk to CSX.

I don't know what the legal issues are but eventually a person or a group with the proper funding should move it and restore it.

Nice idea but, the current owner has previously rebuffed any and all attempts from individuals that DID have the money, and the wherewithal, to retrieve poor 643. Thus, as stated on the previous thread/threads about BLE 643, until the owner finally passes, nothing will happen with 643. 

Even after the owner passes, it still could go the way of CB&Q 5632 and GTW 5629.

Rusty

Oh yes, the Dick Jensen debacle is first and foremost on my mind every time the 643 is mentioned. Unfortunately, when people don't learn from the mistakes that were made,  history is doomed to repeat itself.

It's been along time since I've seen her, but at the time I knew the owner. My impression is that it will be the subject of several more ill concieved id3as to run it on branch lines that are too small, with no money to actually make it happen. In the meantime it will continue to rust away until it becomes basically unsalvageable.