Pennsy Steam Engines

@Bobby Ogage posted:

I am of the opinion that it is better to leave surviving steamers all assembled until a thorough restoration plan and corresponding funding are in place. The saga of the Long Island RR G5 engines and K4 1351 should be lessons learned by well intended historical organizations that have a treasured steam engine, but lack the assets to achieve a restoration.

Considering the large numbers of Pennsy steamers that were in service, it is ironic that there are no running survivors of the G, H and K Classes in operating condition. The two Long Island G5s engines are apart, lack funding and both need new boilers. LIRR No. 39 is all apart at Strassburg, Pa gathering rust and I do not know where LIRR No. 35 is or its status. Pennsy K4s 1351 is a well know bad story, and I do not think there is any plan to restore an H Class 2-8-0.

I think you mean K4s and #1361...

That said, there are LOTS of classes that are unrepresented among running steam locomotives. The most likely reason for that is that the Pennsylvania Railroad eked out every ounce of value from their capital investments, which is likely why they returned a profit for over 100 years straight - something not done before or since!

The two classes that lack any running examples of that I find mind boggling are the L1s Mikado and I1s Decapod. Of which there were 547 and 598 produced respectively. Those two classes alone probably hauled more tonnage than all of their other classes combined!

I generally agree that restoration plans should be fully fleshed out before anyone attempts to alter these items of historical significance. That said, I've been assured that #1361 is now in good hands. Only time will tell the tale.

@Bobby Ogage posted:

I am of the opinion that it is better to leave surviving steamers all assembled until a thorough restoration plan and corresponding funding are in place. The saga of the Long Island RR G5 engines and K4 1351

The K4s in question is #1361, and has been a completely different situation than either of the Long Island G5s engines.

should be lessons learned by well intended historical organizations that have a treasured steam engine, but lack the assets to achieve a restoration.

Considering the large numbers of Pennsy steamers that were in service, it is ironic that there are no running survivors of the G, H and K Classes in operating condition.

Mainly because there really is no main line railroad willing to operate such steam locomotives, in the eastern U.S..

The two Long Island G5s engines are apart, lack funding and both need new boilers. LIRR No. 39 is all apart at Strassburg, Pa gathering rust and I do not know where LIRR No. 35 is or its status. Pennsy K4s 1351

#1361.

is a well know bad story, and I do not think there is any plan to restore an H Class 2-8-0.

Probably not, since it would have no place to operate.

@rplst8 posted:

The two classes that lack any running examples of that I find mind boggling are the L1s Mikado and I1s Decapod. Of which there were 547 and 598 produced respectively. Those two classes alone probably hauled more tonnage than all of their other classes combined!

Without getting off topic too much. There were 600 mohawks on the NYC. I don't think there is a single example of an operating NYC steam locomotive is there?

No hudson even exists, at least a K4 was spared and operational some time ago and hopefully again one day.

It seems whether or not a particular locomotive is returned to operation depends on many variables.

Locomotive condition, location, rails to run on, restoration group, and of course , MONEY.

With the exception of the UP, possibly less emphasis is on a particular locomotive type when it comes to steam restoration.

Getting a bit off topic, I agree that it was a tragedy that the NYC did not save a J Class Hudson or two.

@Bobby Ogage posted:

I am of the opinion that it is better to leave surviving steamers all assembled until a thorough restoration plan and corresponding funding are in place.

The challenge and problem is that you never really know what you're dealing with until you disassemble them.  Even when you think you know what you have to do, surprises can lurk hidden within....and surprises can be expensive.

The other part of the challenge is that often times, to get people to donate money, they want to see progress.  Catch 22.  Every restoration project comes with its own set of challenges--and they mostly all sound good at the beginning.  No one sets out to fail.  Best laid plans and that kind of thing...