Re: Q&TL #6

It would be wonderful to see #6 return to Hancock, but if so I would hope that a location could be found at the Quincy Mine that would allow for both indoor storage and public viewing.

The perpetual winter in Upper Michigan takes a hard toll on exposed equipment. Two other Q&TL loco's are on display at the mine site and they are in very rough shape as I recall: (2-6-0 #1, w/#2's tender, and 2-8-0 #5, w/ #1's tender).

The Q&TL enginehouse is still standing and would be the most logical home for #6 if it returns to the Q&TL. I spent several summers during my college days at Michigan Tech working as a tour guide at the Quincy Mine, but I don't recall too clearly what shape the roundhouse is in. Its been many years, plus I primarily worked underground in the mine when I was there, rather far from the roundhouse.

Love that place though, it planted the seed for the railfan in me. I did a lot of mountain bike racing then and spent countless hours pedalling along abandonded grades to the numerous mines in the area (and trying to outrun the mosquitos & black flies...don't miss that a bit!!) Some of the grades still had ties in place and a few even had rail. Most lines other than Q&TL were standard guage, but back in the day there was some three-rail track at the Quincy Mine shared by the Q&TL and the Mineral Range RR.