#9 ended up in Strasburg because the CHS had no clue what to do with the locomotive when the C&TS refused it. The truck driver was able to call Marlin Uhrich and arrainge for temporary storage. The exact fate of #9 in Strasburg is still being discussed, apparently asbestos abatement will begin as soon as the CHS obtains a state permit and then Uhrich Locomotive Works will most likley do an evaluation of the locomotive.
On the plus side of the fiasco that the move of #9 has become, it is now in a good place. Marlin Uhrich and his staff are very competant and will do a good job on #9. They truly care about historic artifacts such as #9 and, if the CHS is willing to listen, will be able to guide the CHS in doing a proper restoration of this unique locomotive. A meeting has been set for next week for the CHS to decide how to proceed with #9. According to the CHS, the tender will be reunited with the locomotive if it is decided to proceed with restoration in Strasburg.
Uhrich Locomotive Works has extensive experience restoring historic railroad equipment, along with building 15" gauge steam locomotives from scratch. They have a complete foundry, machine shop and woodshop. Recent projects include the restoration of D&RGW coach 280, restoring Colorado & Northwestern #30/C&S 74/RGS 74's tender, and the cosmetic restoration of IRCA 2-8-0 #111 (from the Sundown & Southern) for the town of Breckenridge.
As a side note on #9 I don't think there is much, if anything left on her that came from the Cooke factory in 1884. Looking at it today, every part I saw, including the driver centers, has a C&S casting mark (the exception being the previously mentioned cab support with DSP&P marks)
The CHS's duct taping job, while comical and including the taping of such non asbestos containing items as the sand dome, did performits intended mission of sealing in the asbestos. I think it highly unlikley that any asbestos leaked from the locomotive in transit. The driver who hauled #9 is highly qulified and experienced with railroad equipment and he would not have taken it if he felt it would be spewing asbestos down the highway.
Jason Midyette
