NKP 757 - She's Heading Home!

Wow.  I'll miss seeing her at Strasburg.  Last time I went, she was inside for "repainting."  Uh-huh.  

Ted S posted:

Wow.  I'll miss seeing her at Strasburg.  Last time I went, she was inside for "repainting."  Uh-huh.  

That was simply a painting of the smokebox, and some other work; nothing major. Her homecoming will be an event they want her dressed up for.

Apparently, she is somewhere between Enola and Altoona as of right now. Last seen in Enola around 3 PM. Two Horsehead GP units pulling her and the 783 caboose. Keep an eye out at the Horseshoe Curve Cam and on the NS PA radios via online scanners and listen for NS H27. Trainman 1225, are you part of the "Caboose Crew"?  

Just looked at the museum grounds via maps.google.  Lots of equipment sitting there.  Sadly, most, if not all of it is sitting out, uncovered.  I'm guessing the 757 will have the same fate.

Steve

NS6770Fan posted:

Apparently, she is somewhere between Enola and Altoona as of right now. Last seen in Enola around 3 PM. Two Horsehead GP units pulling her and the 783 caboose. Keep an eye out at the Horseshoe Curve Cam and on the NS PA radios via online scanners and listen for NS H27. Trainman 1225, are you part of the "Caboose Crew"?  

I wish...

RideTheRails posted:

Just looked at the museum grounds via maps.google.  Lots of equipment sitting there.  Sadly, most, if not all of it is sitting out, uncovered.  I'm guessing the 757 will have the same fate.

Steve

The Mad River Museum keeps most of their equipment in good cosmetic condition. There are a few pieces there in need of some TLC, but at the RRMPA, literally everything sitting outside there is in horrible condition. The MR&NKP certainly keeps their motive power in good condition, and I'm sure having one of the flagship engines of the Nickel Plate in their collection would be top priority.

I don't remember where I heard this, but I remember hearing somewhere that the engine would be placed under a shelter upon restoration; keep in mind I'm not sure if this is true or not, so take it with a grain of salt.

Seems shortsighted to spend so much money restoring an engine without providing at least some kind of shelter to preserve its condition. Hope they plan to do this.

UPDATE - The 757 recently arrived in Enola, PA, which is near Harrisburg. Norfolk Southern recently posted a video on Facebook, Instagram etc. of the engine turning on the Enola turntable: the first time the table had seen a steam locomotive (dead or alive) in 62 years!

Folks have speculated she'll round the Horseshoe Curve, so keep your eyes peeled on the webcam in the coming days!

UPDATE - At 6:05 this morning, the 757 rounded Horseshoe Curve. She’ll take the Youngstown Line to Bellevue.

(Video removed to comply with TOS.)

it all takes time. First Mad River had to get the RRM of Pa to agree to let go of the 757. Then they had to get the RRs to agree to the move. Then they had to raise the $$ for the move. Then they can work on restoring her and providing shelter. Mad River does a good job of taking care of their collection.

UPDATE - The 757 is home.

A shelter is part of the plans, and Mad River has built car barns and shelters for other equipment already. Had to raise six figures money for the move first...