Report from the 2024 PRRT&HS Annual Meeting

George, Thanks for posting this and sharing your pictures. Looks like the T1 and the K4s still need lots of work, but any progress is good to see. Hope you enjoyed yourself.

Tom

@PRR8976 posted:

George, Thanks for posting this and sharing your pictures. Looks like the T1 and the K4s still need lots of work, but any progress is good to see. Hope you enjoyed yourself.

Tom

Tom,

I had a fabulous time.  Yes, both locomotives need a lot of work.  Somehow, I think the T1 might be ready first.  I was told the K4s could be ready for steam trials in 3 years if they could raise $800,000 per year.  That's a heck of a big IF. 

George

Thanks for the pictures and the update. Wow! That tender really looks great. I hope I live long enough to see the 1361 back on the rails. (I don't mean that sarcastically-at my age nothing is guaranteed). I am told by my railfan friend that the guys working on it now are doing a great job and most importantly doing it right.

Thanks for the pictures of #1361. How often is work being done on #1361? Looks like she has a LONG way to go for completion.

WOW!  Talk about a kit.

Ed

@Hot Water posted:

Thanks for the pictures of #1361. How often is work being done on #1361? Looks like she has a LONG way to go for completion.

I don’t know the answer to your question.  And yes, they do have a long way to go.

George

I really don't like to bring prototype colors up, but that tender sure looks awful black to me with no hint of a DGLE.

Explanations? Comments?

@NHVRYGray posted:

I really don't like to bring prototype colors up, but that tender sure looks awful black to me with no hint of a DGLE.

Explanations? Comments?

The photos are indoors, so any available lighting would be a factor. Besides, real DGLE tends to "look black" anyway.

Agreed on both counts, just not a teeny hint of any sort.

On PRR locomotives & tenders the bodies/cabs/boilers were painted Dark Green Locomotive Enamel (DGLE), while the underframes, drivers, and trucks were painted black.  When a freshly painted PRR steam or diesel locomotive is photographed in full sunshine the difference becomes apparent.  In the case of Kiesel tenders (like K4s 1361's class 130P75), you can't easily see the underframe as the bottom of the sides are rolled under.  With older design PRR tenders the tender body rode on a separate chassis, and the paint difference is easier to see.  I wonder if the restoration volunteers used black paint on the trucks. 

@G3750 posted:

The Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society held its annual meeting May 9-11 in Altoona, PA.  I have to say that I had a blast learning things about the railroad, seeing some of the new developments around the T1 and the K4s, seeing old friends and making new ones.

Here's the frame and 4 of the 8 drivers of the T1 that is being constructed by the T1 Trust.  This is very cool.

The Railroaders Museum hosted a barbecue and opened the roundhouse to us.  And inside was the K4s in various stages of rebuilding.  

The tender is actually complete and has been given a nice glossy new paint job.

Finally, we managed to get a photo of 3 of the 4 Horsemen of the Panhandle.  Sadly, Bill Neale passed away December 2023.  Pictured here left to right:   Herb Biegel, me, Curt LaRue.

George

Couldn't make the convention but it's good to see forward progress.

Wonder what gets finished first, last or ever -  1361, the T1 or the Kohs Big Boy?