Re: NNG: Article about SOU 4501 Restoration

Jeff Taylor Wrote:
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> Thats good news for the 4501.
>
> Question though. Why doesn't the N&S bring back
> there own locos?


I'd guess there are a couple of very good reasons for this....

1) it's limited financial involvement for NS
2) As of today (or yesterday), NS doesn't have any of "their locos". The 611 and 1218 are sole property of the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, VA. NS doesn't own them anymore, and in the case of 611, never did.
3) The old Birmingham Steam Shop is gone and you couldn't get the 611 or 1218 into the TVRM's shop if you wanted to, so the only way to rebuild them would be doing it somewhere else.

....or in other words, it's a low cost way for NS to see if it's worthwhile to operate steam. It's also the same reason that you are seeing Southern 630 and 4501 instead of the 611 and 1218. This is NS following the BNSF model of using engines of groups that the railroad has trust in to bring steam to places that benefit the railroad. They used Gulf & Ohio's SR 154 last fall, and will be using NKP 765 a bit this summer, plus 630 and (eventually) 4501. NS gets the benefit of a steam program without having to jump full in to the steam repair business.

Rather smart if you ask me...
Kevin