B&LE 643 video, moving under own power?

I was under the impression that they used compressed air. But I cannot explain the exhaust from the stack.

J

With shipping expenses most likely in the million plus range; why would anyone contemplate purchasing 643 at the owner's requested price?

John McEnerney posted:

I was under the impression that they used compressed air. But I cannot explain the exhaust from the stack.

J

They did use compressed air. The exhaust from the stack was a "special effect."

Lionel pellets or Megasteam fluid? 

Isn't the service shop long gone? This is an older video .

There was a test firing of 643 way back when.  I recall a photo of it in a Trains Magazine, I don't remember the date, though.

Rusty

Farmer_Bill posted:

Lionel pellets or Megasteam fluid? 

that looks alot like the abandoned warehouse it used to be parked under.  It fell down years ago. 

I didn't know about the compressed air test, but it makes sense considering there is no steam at the cylinder cocks or packing.  Also don't hear any steam powered appliances running.  Still a shame to see such a large beast go by the wayside, but I suspect at this point it may be doomed to the scrap pile.  A remnant of a bygone era that simply doesn't translate well into a new purpose like pulling excursion trains.  The price is now actually somewhat reasonable given the size of the equipment, but being on dead rail in McKees Rocks, near a class one that isn't particularly friendly to steam locomotives, isn't doing it any favors.

Anyone have an update?  The July 1 deadline has passed.  

No one in their right mind would pay $350,000 for this hunk of scrap. That may sound like a harsh thing to say, but in its current condition, that’s all it is...500 tons of scrap steel.

Current national average steel scrap price (as of 7/20/19) is about $105 per ton. 500 tons at that price is $52,500.

hullmat991 posted:

With shipping expenses most likely in the million plus range; why would anyone contemplate purchasing 643 at the owner's requested price?

This is inaccurate. Maybe $200,000. The locomotive could POTENTIALLY be moved by rail if a switch was installed, which would require shutting down a very busy CSX main for a day, but this isn’t totally impossible with CSX’s latest help towards Kentucky Steam and the 576 guys... She could also be greatly disassembled and shipped out by truck. She may be worse for wear, but she is one of, if not the only, big Bessemer and Lake Erie steam locos left. The land has been sold according to another forum page. A few parties have been involved and I believe the deadline has been extended. The original was July 1st but some parties are involved. Just know the locomotive most likely won’t be sent to scrap for at least a few weeks... 

Yes, I am expecting it to be scrapped on-site, as the price is way too high, and the time to do anything way too soon.  Owner should have sold to Jerry Jacobson.