Robert,
As an interested third party, I can confidently state that this proposition is very doubtful. As opposed to the E&P locomotive, and the Grambling's 0-4-0 that road tripped this fall; the 464 is a flat car job, not a trucking job. Figure a tarriff rate of at least $10,000 each way; plus the heavy rigger loading and unloading at teach end for another $10,000 per. $60,000 in transport. Now, the 464 is the Huck's main locomotive; in order to be a good steward of money, the Huck is going to drag out the remaining 50 or so days of the 1472 day boiler inspection on the #2 4-6-0 for boiler wash days and emergency backup use to 464. There is not another back-up steamer at the Huck. Then there would be the cost of damage and liability insurance; the Huck probably would decide that any benefits to letting the locomotive road trip are far outweighed by the risk of damage or loss to one of its prime assets. Remember, that the Huckleberry is owned by a Parks and Recreation Commission, not a museum; and the first thing they would want to know is "What is in it for Genessee County?". Lastly, without its superheater, she is not going to perform on the 4% like she did in the old days.
If anyone wanted to spend the above kind of money and good-will capital on this locomotive it would be better spent in making a deal with the Parks to paint three coaches (DRGW 306,320 and RGS 260) green for some special event weekend at the end of the season and doing Chilli Line special train operations (of course the Parks is going to want the coaches back to yellow and maroon before the next operating season). The recent repaint of #2 to ARR 152 has shown that new things can happen at the Parks.
Steve Zuiderveen
Huck fireman, 1979-81
>>>>Marty -
Will the Huckleberry ever consider allowing the 464 to travel, say down to Chama for a run with the other K-27?
