Hi,
I posted a note about our new fundraiser on the O27 forum, but thought the "real trains" crew might be interested as well.
Project #3713, the partnership between the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley RHS and the National Parks Service to restore B&M 4-6-2 #3713 to active service at the Steamtown National Historic Site, has launched a Facebook page with the announcement of new O and HO gauge boxcars available as part of this year's fundraising effort.
As work continues to progress the Facebook page and the website at http://www.project3713.com will be a source of updates.
Rob
About #3713
In 1937, a Boston & Maine Railroad public relations campaign tasked New England school children to name 10 of the road’s premier passenger locomotives. One locomotive stood out from the others, #3713 named “The Constitution.” When steam locomotives gave way to streamlined diesel power on the B&M, railroad management worked with avid railroad preservationist F. Nelson Blount to save “The Constitution” from the scrapper’s torch and serve as a lasting artifact of the steam age.
Today, this stunning example of American engineering and construction is a prized part of the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, PA. After more than 50 years in retirement, an ongoing restoration effort is readying her for a return to mainline service at the Steamtown NHS.
From her construction in Ohio, through her service in New England to her preservation under the U.S. National Park Service, “The Constitution” embodies the powerful combination of science and enterprise that defines the historic impact of the railroad industry in the United States.
On May 14th, 2017, our country will celebrate the 230th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States. It is our goal for #3713 to officially return to service on or before that date. From the first blast of her refurbished whistle, #3713 “The Constitution” will provide a tangible link to an indelible piece of US history. She will truly be “America’s Locomotive."
