Railroad Museum of PA question

There is some talk here stating that 246 and 247 were scrapped:

http://www.rypn.org/forums/vie...mp;hilit=pioneer+III

http://www.railpictures.net/vi...id=575746&nseq=7

My question is, why would anyone in their right mind scrap a piece of PRR history, especially a museum that holds hundreds of other ex prr items. These cars were a point in a timeline , in my opinion, that could have helped future generations understand what is was like in the past! That is like going in and scrapping the last M1b or scrapping “Black Jack” 4935. I understand that they were stripped clean, but they could have at least showed a rough understanding. I hope the same fate will not happen to Septa/Reading 9001 when and if she ever arrives.

NS6770Fan posted:

My question is, why would anyone in their right mind scrap a piece of PRR history, especially a museum that holds hundreds of other ex prr items. These cars were a point in a timeline , in my opinion, that could have helped future generations understand what is was like in the past! That is like going in and scrapping the last M1b or scrapping “Black Jack” 4935. I understand that they were stripped clean, but they could have at least showed a rough understanding. I hope the same fate will not happen to Septa/Reading 9001 when and if she ever arrives.

The link posted implies they were little more than stripped shells. 

They were more than likely unusable for either restoration or parts. 

Given the fiscal condition of the state it seems a wise choice given the fact that other examples of these cars seem to exist and in much better (restorable) condition.

Ok then, looking back I missed that. Sorry! Also does anyone know the current status of Rdg 9001?

NS6770Fan posted:

My question is, why would anyone in their right mind scrap a piece of PRR history, especially a museum that holds hundreds of other ex prr items. These cars were a point in a timeline , in my opinion, that could have helped future generations understand what is was like in the past! That is like going in and scrapping the last M1b or scrapping “Black Jack” 4935. I understand that they were stripped clean, but they could have at least showed a rough understanding. I hope the same fate will not happen to Septa/Reading 9001 when and if she ever arrives.

As someone who has been in the rail preservation industry for the past 20 years, I can tell you one thing.  Buckle up and get ready for more stuff to get scrapped across this country as the realities of too much stuff and not enough people catches up with us.   It is unfortunate, but the number of people who give their time to help preserve this equipment continues to dwindle.  

Preservation is a participation sport! 

Steamtown has the same problem, government run and rusting steam locomotives and equipment. Money is the issue. Government spends money on what will provide the most benefit. Apparently restoring rusting trains is not very high on the fed’s list. Or the NPS’s list. Or Trump’s list. In the case of RRMoPA, Wolf’s list. Steamtown and RRMoPA needs to get more of their stuff indoors but it takes money to build additions on to the display hall. They already did the train shed addition a while back. It would be a crying shame if Steamtown or RRMoPA had to scrap any steam locomotives due to deterioration because the money wasn’t there. When you think of it, the RRMoPA is like a retirement home. It’s where most of the surviving PRR steam locomotives and equipment that were retired over 50 years ago live but essentially everything is mummified, so to speak, nothing operates or moves unless a piece of equipment has to be relocated on the property. At least the Strasburg is across the street with operating steam all the time. Are there no preserved PRR MP-54’s now? I thought Wilmington and Western has one converted into an open sided coach. I’m surprised at all the Reading steel open window coaches that survived, as well as the Blueliners after SEPTA retired them in 1990. There are even some at Knoxville, TN on a steam tourist railroad. NCTM has ex-Reading coaches, too. West Chester and LGSRY have some Blueliners in service. WK&S and New Hope have ex-Reading steel coaches, and RCT&HS has several Blueliners. There are also some in Danbury, CT several of them the lightweight cars that were a part of the FP9 push pull set. And there are a bunch of preserved CNJ coaches, and Lackawanna Boontons as well.

The government run facilities cannot do what privately owned facilities such as IRM can do.  They cannot just put up a pole building to house equipment in.  The building must be handicap accessible with proper lighting, paved flooring, signage, etc.  The amount of rules that the govt. has to abide by are simply astounding.  On the other hand a private operation can erect simple buildings for storage purposes and get away with it.

RRMPA does have plans to construct a roundhouse for the PRR steam locomotive collection, and has been getting rid of some marginal pieces to make room for that structure.  The NKP 757, ore shunter and the 36" gauge Brookville are three items that were deaccessioned to help make room for the roundhouse.  

I have always felt that a smaller collection of well maintained equipment is better than a large collection of rusty junk.  Once the roundhouse is built the RRMPA will be well on its way to getting ahead of the equipment maintenance issues. 

Rick, when will 757 be moved? Also, will it go through Enola and Altoona? We are hoping to make it out to watch her be moved.