Joseph,
The other two preserved C&S Steam Locomotives are 2-8-0's. One is a Baldwin, No. 71, with 15 1/2 x 20 cylinders. This Locomotive belongs to Gilpin County, Colorado and is definitely not a parts donor. The other, No. 60 is a Rhode Island that was built for the Utah & Northern and has 16 x 18 cylinders. The 60 resides in Idaho Springs and even though it was given to Clear Creek County in lieu of Back Taxes, Clear Creek County hasn't allowed it to be operated or restored even though the Loop is in Clear Creek County and Georgetown is the County Seat!
The 9 was built by Cooke and rebuilt by 7th Street Shops on the C&S from the Frame up in about 1904 (I don't have my notes with me as to the exact rebuild date). The Cylinder size on the 9 is 14 1/2 x 18.
The possibilities of the 9 running again are slim to none. I'm sure if you came along with a bottomless checkbook and wanted to have a new cylinder cast, machined, and fitted along with the costs for tramming the locomotive, new hub liners, bearings, new Driver Tires, etc to undo what was done to it by the Colorado Historical Society during its one season of operation that no one would refuse your fine financial donation. Plus you would have to come up with the money for a complete tender rebuild. Remember, the 9 ran with 74's tender. 74's tender is in Golden back behind the 30/74, where it should be.
I have no doubt that The City of Breckenridge, where the 9 is on display would gladly take the money from you and invest it in the locomotive. But to what end? Where would it run? Do you think that Breckenridge would let it go back to the Loop so that it could be trashed again? Doubtful, very doubtful. The State of Colorado hasn't even gotten the 111 operational yet. Hopefully soon on that one.
So, where would you be? You'd have a historic Locomotive, with one box car to pull and a Rotary Plow to push and no track to run it on.
But go ahead and dream big, maybe someday you will do it...
Oh yes, if you wish to discuss the 9, why don't you start a new thread and not piggyback on Linn's No. 20 updates?
Rick Steele
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2014 05:43PM by Rick Steele.
