Re: C&S 9

I honestly think that she has never looked better! (Well, since I have been alive and that's a half century!) I assume that the #74 tender will temporarily accompany her? We sometimes get so caught up in the idea of restoring a historical locomotive to running condition that we don't really see the incredible value of what has been done! C&S #9 has been preserved properly with the funding available. Yes, it's a static display but it was done right!

The issue of the tender is another matter. We get so concerned with the engine that we tend to put the tender "on the back burner." The #346 at the CRRM has been using #318's tender for years and the #9 "borrowed" the #74's tender for use clear back in 2006! I understand that the #318 is being put back together for a static display as well as the #74! Both will need their respective tenders back. The CRRM has been slowly rebuilding the tender for #346 and is nearly finished. The tender for the #9 is still in Strasburg rusting away by last count. I sure hope that someone has a workable plan that they are getting ready to implement!