Steam & Excursion > ATSF #2921 is now on her display track

Photo #1 (taken from Santa Fe Ave.) shows that ATSF #2921 is now on the display track at the Modesto Amtrak station, and is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her tender. Photo #2 shows Amtrak San Joaquin Train #702 passing the 4-8-4. Photo #3 is a wedge shot of her on her display track. The move from the park to the depot occurred Monday morning between 12:01 AM and 4:30 AM, and came off without a hitch. A big crew is currently working at the park to get the tender loaded aboard the super heavy duty transport vehicle.

---

---

---

Are they going to like make it black again?

Yes, the #2921 will get black paint again. A sign says that the display site will be an active work site through October 2017.

I wonder if she'll get her details back, like the bell, class lamps, number boards, builders plates,boiler jacket, cylinder sheet metal, and a decent respectable looking headlight with a reflector, bulb, and lens ? I can't stand display engines missing parts and shrouding and with nauseating painted white walls, and a broken out headlight. It could probably have break resistant acrylic windows for the cab, number boards, and a formed acrylic headlight lens to fend off some of the destructive idiots out there.

Just my two cents.

C Hanson
Vay, Idaho

I don't know how vandals who cause that kind of damage can be controlled.

Razor wire fence would be welcome addition.

Yep, Razor wire sounds good to me, and a little 220V to make sure they won't be a problem again.

C. Hanson
Vay, ID

hawkinsun Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wonder if she'll get her details back, like the
> bell, class lamps, number boards, builders
> plates,boiler jacket, cylinder sheet metal, and a
> decent respectable looking headlight with a
> reflector, bulb, and lens ? I can't stand
> display engines missing parts and shrouding and
> with nauseating painted white walls, and a broken
> out headlight. It could probably have break
> resistant acrylic windows for the cab, number
> boards, and a formed acrylic headlight lens to
> fend off some of the destructive idiots out
> there.

For many of those items (bell, class lamps, builder plates, ect), they'd be better off making cast resin stand-ins. Vandals are one thing, but there are plenty of dishonest railfans out there who wouldn't think twice about stealing the "jewels" off a display engine.

Let's get some details here.
Who, exactly, will be in charge of the engine?
That is-- putting it back together and replacing the missing parts (Cosmetic Display).
Will it be an organized Central California railroad historical association (with a 501(c)(3) non profit soliciting donations [count me in] or a state bureaucracy (ugh!).
I hope it is not the latter as they'll pull down a nice stipend and not do much of anything...witness the lethargy at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.

bioyans Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> hawkinsun Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I wonder if she'll get her details back, like
> the
> > bell, class lamps, number boards, builders
> > plates,boiler jacket, cylinder sheet metal, and
> a
> > decent respectable looking headlight with a
> > reflector, bulb, and lens ? I can't stand
> > display engines missing parts and shrouding and
> > with nauseating painted white walls, and a
> broken
> > out headlight. It could probably have break
> > resistant acrylic windows for the cab, number
> > boards, and a formed acrylic headlight lens to
> > fend off some of the destructive idiots out
> > there.
>
> For many of those items (bell, class lamps,
> builder plates, ect), they'd be better off making
> cast resin stand-ins. Vandals are one thing, but
> there are plenty of dishonest railfans out there
> who wouldn't think twice about stealing the
> "jewels" off a display engine.

Yes, of course some kind of authentic looking "fake" parts would be the answer....I can remember seeing, and even climbing on and around the steam engine on display at Fairmount Park, Riverside, Calif, as a kid, in the 1960's. Pretty sure it had all of it's glass and original hardware back then, but as years progressed, I was sad to see all that stuff broken or missing every time I passed by it!

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

Thanks again for updates and photos!..BTW, That was pretty fast work?

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

Sure hope they don't fence it off right up close to the engine. Be nice if you could actually take a pic of it, from a little distance.
Thanks for the running updates.