Steam & Excursion > Update on the Steamtown B&M Constitution

Scranton PA - Where trains go to die....

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/monday-update-end-in-sight-for-long-running-locomotive-restoration-1.2430294BY JOSEPH KOHUT, STAFF WRITER / PUBLISHED: JANUARY 7, 2019ARTICLE TOOLSFONT SIZE– +SHARE THIShttps://www.thetimes-tribune.com/images/icons/icon_email.png  https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/images/icons/icon_facebook.png  https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/images/icons/icon_twitter.png  After more than 20 years, “The Constitution” can see the light at the end of the tunnel.Work to restore an 85-year-old steam locomotive, the Boston & Maine Railroad 3713, is nearing its final stretch as is the fundraising to pay for it.“By the end of 2019, we should see the locomotive being put back together again,” said Norm Barrett, a member of the board of directors of the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. “It’ll start looking like a steam engine.”Barrett said that approximately $525,000 is needed to complete restoration of the train. The historical society plans to raise another $350,000 through fundraising while the Steamtown National Historic Site awaits $175,000 in federal grants. He expects completion of the project sometime between 2020 and 2022.Work to restore the steam locomotive began in 1995. Built by Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio, it last rode passenger lines through New England in 1958. The B&M railroad held a contest for students to name its new locomotives. “The Constitution” won.The 3713 was part of F. Nelson Blount’s original Steamtown U.S.A. collection, which came to Scranton in 1982 from Bellow Falls, Vermont.Once restored, Steamtown will use it for excursions.Vee Pauli, chapter president of the historical society, said that the 3713’s completion will be a boon to tourism.“People want steam,” she said. “We’re all waiting for it to be completed. They’re doing it right. They’re doing it piece by piece so that engine can run for years after it’s completed.”Restoration work on the train, which is stored at Steamtown, has slowed because of the federal shutdown. The park is closed until the government is funded again.However, private contractors are handling many of the biggest items that need work — like the cab.Bruce Mowbray, a restoration specialist with the National Park Service, said restoring the 3713 has been a steady process where, as the more gets done, the more it’s revealed that additional work will be necessary.“It’s kind of like Humpty Dumpty but it’s not really broken,” Mowbray said. “It’s more like an old house.”Contact the writer:jkohut@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9144;@jkohutTT on Twitter

"Where trains go to die?"

Weird, I thought you posted an article about a successful and ongoing restoration effort.

nathansixchime Wrote:
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> "Where trains go to die?"
>
You want to see trains die?  Come to Baltimore, Maryland and visit the B&O Mismanaged Railroad Museum, park in the front yard, no charge to park there, then walk around the yard where you are parked and look at all the stuff including the American Freedom Train Locomotive #1 (former Reading 2101) and all the B&O and C&O passenger cars all rusting away and no one caring about any of this historic collection.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

ClubCar Wrote:
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> nathansixchime Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > "Where trains go to die?"
> >
> You want to see trains die?  Come to Baltimore,
> Maryland and visit the B&O Mismanaged Railroad
> Museum, park in the front yard, no charge to park
> there, then walk around the yard where you are
> parked and look at all the stuff including the
> American Freedom Train Locomotive #1 (former
> Reading 2101) and all the B&O and C&O passenger
> cars all rusting away and no one caring about any
> of this historic collection.
> John in White Marsh, Maryland

Or the so-called Snoqualmie Railroad Museum up in Snoqualmie, WA. It looks more like a sad old junkyard to me!

Check out the ASTA yard in Cedar Park, TX, dead SP786 2-8-2 steam locomotive.  Pieces and parts in the grass and weeds according to several of my friends.
Potentially dead diesel 'alligator' locomotive pending funds to rebuild.
Very sad!
Pat
South Austin, TX

patd3985 Wrote:
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> ClubCar Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > nathansixchime Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > "Where trains go to die?"
> > >
> > You want to see trains die?  Come to
> Baltimore,
> > Maryland and visit the B&O Mismanaged Railroad
> > Museum, park in the front yard, no charge to
> park
> > there, then walk around the yard where you are
> > parked and look at all the stuff including the
> > American Freedom Train Locomotive #1 (former
> > Reading 2101) and all the B&O and C&O passenger
> > cars all rusting away and no one caring about
> any
> > of this historic collection.
> > John in White Marsh, Maryland
>
> Or the so-called Snoqualmie Railroad Museum up in
> Snoqualmie, WA. It looks more like a sad old
> junkyard to me!


Snoqualmie looks better then it has in years. I’ve never been overly proud of there “collection” but over the last few years they have built a restoration center and have done some very nice work. I do believe that some of the equipment that is stored past the depot is not actually there’s.

i do wish they would run the FM more but they say it’s to heavy for the track. Don’t know how they managed for years but now it’s a issue.

patd3985 Wrote:
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> ClubCar Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > nathansixchime Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > "Where trains go to die?"
> > >
> > You want to see trains die?  Come to
> Baltimore,
> > Maryland and visit the B&O Mismanaged Railroad
> > Museum, park in the front yard, no charge to
> park
> > there, then walk around the yard where you are
> > parked and look at all the stuff including the
> > American Freedom Train Locomotive #1 (former
> > Reading 2101) and all the B&O and C&O passenger
> > cars all rusting away and no one caring about
> any
> > of this historic collection.
> > John in White Marsh, Maryland

I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. AFT#1 (2101) today.

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Want to see lots of dying steam locomotives? Come west to Merrill Oregon.....