[PRCo] Re: PTM News

[Edward H. Lybarger]

B73 will stay outside until we complete our big visitor center project,
which will free up 10 indoor spaces in the other buildings.  After that, the
plan is to install the West Penn dual-gauge switch from Connellsville behind
carbarn #1 to allow B73 and Pennsylvania Transformer 1311 to come into that
building, which was widened for the purpose during the rehabilitation
project several years back.

We are aware of others who covet this locomotive.  I believe they will
remain disappointed, since we have no plans to dispose of it.  It has
utility at PTM, such as being an auxiliary source of DC trolley power.  We
have used it to bring back cars on the line stranded due to commercial power
outages, and as recently as last weekend it was pressed into service to
provide enough additional capacity to the line to permit several Red Arrow
cars to move simultaneously, including the very thirsty 14. Minnesota
Transportation Museum has a sister piece.  Our commitment to railroad
equipment is very narrow...the object must be relevant to Western
Pennsylvania.  The existing array of boxcars used presently for storage will
eventually disappear.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of
AProchek at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2004 10:52 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: PTM News


Excellent! I wish I could be there to help but I burned pretty much all my
vacation time for this year already.  Are you going to keep Armco Steel B73
outside?  It seems to be doing well out there but I am sure y'all know how
rare it is - any rail museum would give its eye teeth to have it, and I bet
there are some people who are really ticked that its at a trolley museum.
There's a whole website devoted to boxcabs.  Its in there.  One of two left
operating I think.


In a message dated 7/1/2004 7:41:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Edward H.
Lybarger" <trams at adelphia.net> writes:

>The initial stuffing of the new Blimp Hangar occurred today as the Akron,
>better known as MWP locomotive 3000, was lifted from the standard gauge
>siding, placed on a trailer and whisked away to the East Site, where it was
>again levitated onto the dual-gauge track and pushed into place with our
>handy forklift.  We learned that 3000 weighed 107,700 pounds, according to
>the measuring equipment on the crane, and there are some nice photos of it
>hanging in mid-air...though it wasn't there for long.  Those guys are very
>efficient.
>
>Getting 3000 out of the way frees up some very usable space, and insures
>immediate indoor preservation.  All the work done during the 1970s by Bill
>Fronczek to restore it to its MVT appearance has effectively been destroyed
>by continued outdoor storage, and will someday have to be repeated.  This
is
>a lesson that every rail museum needs to take seriously.
>
>Stuffing continues beginning next Wednesday, July 7.  Stay tuned!  When
it's
>all done, our entire collection except for two diesel locomotives (and the
>"fleet" of rusting boxcars, most of which are destined to go away) will be
>under cover.  Removing 3000 first facilitates the remaining moves.
>
>Ed
>
>
>
>