Great news!
I am happy that it is finally going to a permanent home.
Nice looking locomotive
Al
Mammoet knows a thing or two about moving locomotives too:
---PCJ
I think this line from AoSRM's web site pretty much describes what will happen to the 643 once it's on the property:
"AoSRM founder, Jerry Jacobson, nicknamed B&LE 643, “The King,“ as it is believed to be one of the largest non-articulated steam locomotives in the world. It had been Jerry’s life-long desire to acquire this historic iron giant to restore and display with the other 21 steam locomotives in his collection."
Notice the word "operation" is nowhere to be found.
Rusty
Some ATSF 2-10-4's could compete for the title?
I just deleted a few posts here that were bound to cause trouble, for a couple of different reasons. It all started with something copied from RYPN and re-posted here. YOU CANNOT DO THAT! Read THIS and you'll understand why.
Subsequent replies to that post were also going to cause trouble.
Someone asked about the headlight. Here it is. I am the owner of it.
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just wondering, will it go back to the locomotive?
Vinny Giovannitti posted:Someone asked about the headlight. Here it is. I am the owner of it.
And just how did you obtain it? Purchased from Mr. Glen Campbell, the owner of the 643?
Rich Melvin posted:Let's give the AoSR staff the opportunity to get it moved first before we worry about overhauls and operation.
Operating this locomotive will present some huge operating problems. This is the largest non-articulated steam locomotive in the east...maybe in the country. It is HEAVY and has very high axle loadings. It was a drag-era locomotive and her running gear is not balanced for operation at high speeds. I have often joked that this engine has likely not been run faster than 30 mph in its life.
It may not be possible to operate this locomotive due to bridge loading numbers and its overall weight. The B&LE (the 643's home road) was a heavily-built, heavy-haul railroad, built to withstand the weight of these monsters pulling heavy ore trains. Other roads where this locomotive could possibly run may not be so robustly designed.
Indeed, as Rich says, it may not be possible to operate this locomotive. Looking at the AoSR site information about the move, for the same reason the 643 can't be moved by rail, it probably will never be made operational.
"Some may question why B&LE 643 will not be moved by rail. The answer, again, is based on the huge locomotive’s extreme weight and rigid wheelbase length, both of which exceed the maximum bridge capacity and minimum curvature existing on the Ohio Central Railroad."
Steamer posted:just wondering, will it go back to the locomotive?
It is my hope. I’ve been in contact with age of steam.
Hot Water posted:Vinny Giovannitti posted:Someone asked about the headlight. Here it is. I am the owner of it.
And just how did you obtain it? Purchased from Mr. Glen Campbell, the owner of the 643?
My dad received it as “collateral” from Glen over 30 years ago or so.
Vinny Giovannitti posted:Hot Water posted:Vinny Giovannitti posted:Someone asked about the headlight. Here it is. I am the owner of it.
And just how did you obtain it? Purchased from Mr. Glen Campbell, the owner of the 643?
My dad received it as “collateral” from Glen over 30 years ago or so.
Was he out of Rhinestone Cowboys? 
That never gets old!!!
"Some may question why B&LE 643 will not be moved by rail. The answer, again, is based on the huge locomotive’s extreme weight and rigid wheelbase length, both of which exceed the maximum bridge capacity and minimum curvature existing on the Ohio Central Railroad."
See, even real railroads have trouble with minimum radius/diameter curves
