Re: Alder Gulch Shortline

It is great to see this 30" gauge engine back up in steam and racking in the miles.
I have thought for some time that Nelson Blount must have bought it with the intention of regauging it to 2' in order to replicate the 2-6-2 locomotives that ran in Maine but were not saved to the Atwood years. In some ways, I regret that the resources out East were not engaged enough to keep this one out there, say, at Phillips. But their loss is the West's gain.
There are other 2' and 30" gauge Baldwins and Alcos with tenders, overseas, that might be able to come back. Whether or not this happens depends on the priorities and interests of the railfan community and their ability to capture the intrigue of moneyed interests.