Re: Last Great Western Steam OPs *LINK*

The Strasburg Rail Road expressed an interest in #90 in 1965. In a letter dated 2/13/67, the Great Western offered the engine for sale to the SRC. GW documents stated that it had been two years since the engine had been used, but it had received a flue extension that made its flues good until 9/23/67. Since flue extensions were generally good for one year, it appears that they were keeping #90 on serviceable standby through the fall of 1966.
The Loveland newspaper ran a story about the sale on 4/4/67 with photos of #90 fired up for inspection by the SRC. The engine arrived at the Strasburg Rail Road’s interchange on 5/5/67, and made its first run on 5/13/67.