I am a big fan of the PRR 1361 and I would love to see it run once again. The thing is will it ever be able to run. I know that the museum is trying to restore it but it is not looking to great. I would like to know if they will finish this.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
rugsy3 posted:I am a big fan of the PRR 1361 and I would love to see it run once again. The thing is will it ever be able to run. I know that the museum is trying to restore it but it is not looking to great. I would like to know if they will finish this.
For what it's worth, the "museum" no longer has any control over 1361. A group of very influential and wealthy businessmen, including Mr. Bennett Levin and and retired NS CEO Mr. Wick Moorman, have taken over the responsibility of restoring and operating PRR 1361. Thus, there have been no further press releases since the original "announcement", and I wouldn't expect them to "announce" anymore information in the near future.
Hot Water posted:rugsy3 posted:I am a big fan of the PRR 1361 and I would love to see it run once again. The thing is will it ever be able to run. I know that the museum is trying to restore it but it is not looking to great. I would like to know if they will finish this.
For what it's worth, the "museum" no longer has any control over 1361. A group of very influential and wealthy businessmen, including Mr. Bennett Levin and and retired NS CEO Mr. Wick Moorman, have taken over the responsibility of restoring and operating PRR 1361. Thus, there have been no further press releases since the original "announcement", and I wouldn't expect them to "announce" anymore information in the near future.
Well, that’s the first good news I’ve heard on 1361 yet. Hopefully they can make it happen... I’m sure they can. I’ve been “out of the loop” on this for a while and hadn’t heard about it.
They may have to put a brand new boiler on her.
But the big question: Where are they going to run her? I do not see a rail version of Jurassic Park any time soon.
Dominic Mazoch posted:They may have to put a brand new boiler on her.
But the big question: Where are they going to run her? I do not see a rail version of Jurassic Park any time soon.
Have you not heard of the Reading and Blue Mountain RR?
Hot Water posted:Dominic Mazoch posted:They may have to put a brand new boiler on her.
But the big question: Where are they going to run her? I do not see a rail version of Jurassic Park any time soon.
Have you not heard of the Reading and Blue Mountain RR?
No. Have to Google it.
I would much rather watch 1361 in operation than 4014.
Good morning Brandon thanks for posting this latest Altoona Mirror newspaper article.
Heading up town to get a copy of this paper for my collection of newspaper articles on the K4 !
News of its return pops up now and then but being an elderly I don't expect to see it run in my lifetime.
Here is a photo of today's Altoona Mirror.
Front and center on the front page !!!
Well, the declaration that Levin will NOT have anybody form the prior project on this effort is a good sign. One of the first things I came across on this internet "thing" was the news that 1361 was going to be restored, I was thrilled (I knew nothing about she was pulled off HC in the 80s and ran briefly!). The 20 or-so intervening years certainly helped foster my cynicism of such projects...and Hotwater's admonitions!
I think it will be a lot easier to find a place ot run 1361 than 4014. It is much smaller and can run on branch lines and shortlines easier. I think there are 2 shortlines out of Holidaysburg near altoona. I know one, the Everett RR actually has a steamer so I would think they would be willing to host it. The other I am thinking of is the Bald Eagle and something I think. It is in that area.
It would be nice to see it run. I like the idea of it runnig better than a T1 too.
Allow me to clarify then, whoever got the thing tangled up for over 20 years are the ones I'm glad won't be involved. I did take the shotgun approach there, but the frustration with the project is real. As with most human endeavors, some good, qualified folks get splashed with the incompetence of others.
I'm really hoping to see 1361 alive and steaming one day in the near future. The Pennsy deserves more than one surviving operating engine.
Kelly Anderson posted:Times Square posted:Well, the declaration that Levin will NOT have anybody form the prior project on this effort is a good sign.
My employer was involved previously, so was Scott Lindsay of Steam Operations Corp, so I guess we're out. That begs the question of what competent contractors are left? Robert Franzen of Steam Services of America, but this may by a very large project for him.
There are some real charlatans out there who screw up project after project, yet keep getting hired. People need to check references more than they do many times.
Strasburg is where 1361 should have went in the first place. It would be due for an overhaul by now if it had.
Kelly Anderson posted:prrjim posted:I think it will be a lot easier to find a place ot run 1361 than 4014.
All the #4014 will have is the entire UP system.
Only where it will fit, which is not everywhere 3985 could fit. 3985 could actually go places 844 could not as the rigid wheelbase be 6 versus 8 wheels. The centipede tender is another issue as well.
Why is 4014 more flexible than 844? To my knowledge 4014 will have more overhang issues than 844.
Kelly Anderson posted:TexasSP posted:Kelly Anderson posted:prrjim posted:I think it will be a lot easier to find a place ot run 1361 than 4014.
All the #4014 will have is the entire UP system.
Only where it will fit, which is not everywhere 3985 could fit. 3985 could actually go places 844 could not as the rigid wheelbase be 6 versus 8 wheels. The centipede tender is another issue as well.
I understand that the centipede tender is the issue in each case. The #844 locomotive is more flexible than her tender, and #4014 will be more flexible than #844, so if her tender can make it, so can the locomotive.
Nope. For example, there is a VERY sharp curve from Albina Yard, in Portland, OR which provides access to the Steel Bridge over the Willamette River and into Portland Union Station. The FEF class northers will NOT negotiate that curve! When the UP attempted to replace the 4-8-2 passenger locomotives on the Portland bound passenger trains with the 800 class FEFs, (the early 800s didn't have the centipede tenders, either) the 22 foot ridged wheel base of the FEFs, would NOT go around that curve. Thus, the FEFs could not go to Portland on passenger trains, and 3900 class Challengers were converted to oil burning, painted two-tone gray (starting in 1946), and assigned to UP passenger trains to and from Portland Union Station.
I've around that curve on 3985, but 844 was not allowed to use that routing. I've also been places, on the UP system, that could NOT handle 844, yet 3985 was OK, and they both have the same centipede tender. The 22 foot rigid wheel base of the UP FEF class northerns, with 80 inch diameter drivers, and all roller bearing axles, are the limiting factor.
EDIT:
For those interested, here are the curve negotiation data numbers for the "big three" UP steam locomotives:
Forward direction:
800s = 14 degrees
3900s = 17 degrees
4000s = 16 degrees
Reverse direction, i.e. backing up:
ALL = 12 degrees
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
