NKP #624 to be restored!

Great News hopefully it will be in good enough shape to be restored to operating condition.

Very good news, thanks for the information.

Some key paragraphs from the posting:

"No. 624 is set to receive a full cosmetic restoration and will be considered for restoration to operation pending a thorough inspection. The work to rehabilitate the locomotive is being sponsored by a private donor who offered to manage the project."

"Plans call for the 624's boiler, frame and tender to be separated for travel to its restoration location. The relocation and cosmetic work is estimated to cost $250,000 with a full mechanical restoration costing as much as $1.2 million."

"While a restoration to operation would be wonderful, the 624 will make a compelling attraction in Fort Wayne and be displayed in an evocative, exciting fashion," Lynch said.

"If the 624 is returned to operation, plans do not call for it to operate as consistently in excursion services as the 765."

Rusty

Sounds like it's getting broken down on site into components and getting trucked to the restoration site. Sounds expensive.... seems like I heard this scenario discussed about another land-locked steamer in another thread....

Glad to see it's coming to a good home.

I talked with someone who worked for the Disney RR once who said he took a really good look at this locomotive in the 80s. He said there were all kinds of issues with the cylinders and he thinks cracks in the frame. He also said the firebox was very thin, but I have no idea how he could know that just by looking at it.

Just because something looks like a basket case (or clean and perfect) doesn't make it so with a steam locomotive. That said, I saw this engine several years ago and it was in horrible display shape. Ron Ziel's book, "Twilight of Steam Locomotives," written in the 60s, described her as a basket case of poor conservation, even then.

We'll see what the future holds.

Aren't we all.  Cheers Jim