Atlantic Coast Line E3 #501 Scores Rare Runtime

@Logan Allen posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEkJIIH-JAA

Some footage and photos I was able to get of 501 scoring some rare time on the head of the museum train in Spencer. Since NC Dept. of Cultural Resources still has the title to the engine, it requires a waiver to operate

Please explain, i.e. what kind of a "waiver" and from whom?

and thus doesn't get much time running minus moves around the turntable area. With 6+ million miles on the clock, was great to see it out and about.

@Hot Water - Since the museum foundation doesn't outright own the engine, they can't fire it up and run at their leisure like other equipment.  501, ACL 1031 and a few others still fall under NC Dept. of Cultural Resources, so they have to go through proper channels just to run it on museum trains or other events that require moving more than a minimum. It's still considered a state artifact, and is treated as such accordingly. Comparatively,  N&W 620, SOU 2601 and others are handled by the museum, so they can do as they please with operations.

@Logan Allen posted:

@Hot Water - Since the museum foundation doesn't outright own the engine, they can't fire it up and run at their leisure like other equipment.  501, ACL 1031 and a few others still fall under NC Dept. of Cultural Resources, so they have to go through proper channels just to run it on museum trains or other events that require moving more than a minimum. It's still considered a state artifact, and is treated as such accordingly. Comparatively,  N&W 620, SOU 2601 and others are handled by the museum, so they can do as they please with operations.

OK, thanks. I didn't think that any FRA "waiver" would be involved.

Thanks so much for posting this - beautiful engine!

Always nice to see a pre-war E unit.  Even nicer to see it in operation!

Beautiful engine, Thanks for sharing!