Steam & Excursion > 1361 @ Steamtown- 2 views

Two photos of the above mentioned engine, the first taken 17 March 2008, the second, today March 4, 2010. You can see how much has been accomplished.
What? You can't see any difference? Me either.
John

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Sure there is a difference. Its more rusty in the newer picture.

And everyone knows nothing seals staybolt leaks better than rust.

mikewiss Wrote:
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> Sure there is a difference. Its more rusty in the
> newer picture.

Yes, which was caused by saturation difference during the editing process. Note the color of the bricks behind the locomotive.

- Chris



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/10 17:55 by cblaz.

What a disgrace.

Can someone tell me if this engine was ever returned to steam after leaving Horseshoe Curve? If so, where did it run? And how many times did it run?

John

Thanks for giving the official "Laff of the Day" . . . . with your comment accompanying your photos!!

Craig McDowall
mcmrailvideos.com

is this the famous ex-Pennsy K-4? You see what goverment employment hath wrought, you show up every day you get paid, you accomplish nothing you still get paid...

Hello,
Well sombody moved the pallets.....but i would look inside the blue box on the trash bin....gotta be something important in there!
Rusting away,
TheHammer

I'm interested to see what Mr. Rowland's take is on the subject....(Tounge in cheek)

My take is that we've not only beat this dead horse to death but we have exhumed it at least 3 times and beaten it to death again each time.

As has been discussed ad nauseum this failed project is THE textbook case of " a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" in spades!!! The 2 guys in Altoona who "managed" this sad saga knew just enough about steam to think they could call the shots vs. letting proven professionals ( with a successful track record) do the job!!

The net result is that they spent nearly $ 3 million taxpayer dollars over 15 years and ended up with the basket case you see in the photos.

There's plenty of blame to go around for the 2 culprits had lots of co-conspiritors including the former CMO at Steamtown who was "in charge" of the shop end of the project for a number of those 15 years.

Bottom line is this....if you want to restore a steam locomotive to service hire a proven professional and then stay the hell out of the way!!!

IMHO-Ross Rowland

P Wrote:
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> What a disgrace.
>
> Can someone tell me if this engine was ever
> returned to steam after leaving Horseshoe Curve?
> If so, where did it run? And how many times did
> it run?

It ran about 3 different times.
(1) Nittany and Bald Eagle line in April 1987
(2) More runs as crew training on this line
(3) Later ran 10 mph trips out of York, Pa.

I shot it on the first run in 1987, and got about 10 minutes worth of video. I held it several
years thinking this engine might do more....wrong! I recently added it in with a release I made
last call called "Pennsy Steam" There is a brief preview of it at the link below with a shot of 1361 at the end "IN ACTUAL STEAM".
Here is the link as we bid farewell to 1361 yet again!

http://www.gregschollvideo.com/vintage-steam-dvds.html

You may have to scroll down one title to see the preview video. Enjoy!
Greg Scholl

IMHO the engine would bring more enjoyment to the world if she were cut up into pieces and sold as keychains in the gift store. She's not doing anyone any good in the barn rusting away. There's noting worse than finding out you can't do it right AFTER you've done it.

Rob
Phoenix, AZ

Ross, I think you meant we've exhumed it at least three times a year... or maybe even 3x a month.

Part of the allure of Trainorders is the absence of POLITICS. Let's keep it that way, folks...

NS-9308-PRR Wrote:
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> Part of the allure of Trainorders is the absence
> of POLITICS. Let's keep it that way, folks...

Then whatever you do, don't look at the Passenger Trains page.

It's nothing but politics.

This question has probably been asked, but what is the feasibility of fabricating a traditional firebox setup, thus eliminating the troubled belpaire section? Keep the sheet metal for the look, stuff it with insulation, and get the engine back in steam. I doubt that anyone but the the most fervent purists would care that much once the live engine was seen raising fury down the rails.

If federal regulations had changed during the steam days regarding such boilers, or any change in the state of the art, the railroads would have responded in kind without missing a beat, and kept the motive power doing the intended work. History would note, something like this: 1361 originally built with belpaire boiler; refitted with traditional firebox 4-12-45, retired 05-56; placed on static display at Horseshoe Curve, 6-57; restored by friends of 1361 in 1986 for excursion service, yada, yada, yada. In order to save the engine from static display, might this be a way to go?

NS-9308-PRR Wrote:
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> Part of the allure of Trainorders is the absence
> of POLITICS. Let's keep it that way, folks...


Where is the mention of politics in this thread?

g-spotter Wrote:
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> This question has probably been asked, but what is
> the feasibility of fabricating a traditional
> firebox setup, thus eliminating the troubled
> belpaire section?

Apparently, there's no need.

Seems (which has been already noted) that the shop
crew at Strasburg in PA has a fix which would likely
solve PRR #1361's problem.

http://lirr.thermomods.com/index.php?topic=1818.0;wap2

Seems to me it's just a question of renewed motivation
and funds. Considering the amount of time AND MONEY
that's already been put into it I'd like to see the
restoration proceed. At Strasburg, time and funding
permitting.

/Mitch

Mgoldman Wrote:
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> g-spotter Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > This question has probably been asked, but what
> is
> > the feasibility of fabricating a traditional
> > firebox setup, thus eliminating the troubled
> > belpaire section?
>
> Apparently, there's no need.
>
> Seems (which has been already noted) that the shop
>
> crew at Strasburg in PA has a fix which would
> likely
> solve PRR #1361's problem.
>
> http://lirr.thermomods.com/index.php?topic=1818.0;
> wap2
>
> Seems to me it's just a question of renewed
> motivation
> and funds. Considering the amount of time AND
> MONEY
> that's already been put into it I'd like to see
> the
> restoration proceed. At Strasburg, time and
> funding
> permitting.
>
> /Mitch

It's not a problem associated with Belpaire fireboxes, but the design standards PRR used to build their boilers and its non-compliance with current FRA part 230 regs. Hence why the PRR 4-6-0 (G-5?) & 4-6-2 (K-4s) have the same firebox issue. Yes Strasburg can fix it, and so can anyone that does enough research and understands pressure vessel construction/repair (qualified people are important, but Strasburg is not god). If you care for a more detailed and in depth answer, go over to RYPN.org and read the long long rants/discussion about it.

P Wrote:
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> Where is the mention of politics in this thread?

Here it is:

is this the famous ex-Pennsy K-4? You see what goverment employment hath wrought, you show up every day you get paid, you accomplish nothing you still get paid...