NS runs into trouble moving locomotives from Roanoke scrapyard

[NW Mailing List]

I forwarded comments about the presence of the track to Bev, and he responded that he had informed Mr. Chapman.

Gordon Hamilton
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: NW Mailing List 
  To: NW Mailing List 
  Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 6:52 PM
  Subject: Re: NS runs into trouble moving locomotives from Roanoke scrapyard 


  Someone should forward the information that the engines are still on rails to Bev Fitzpatrick so it can be passed on up the ladder to Mr. Chapman.

  I thought they were setting on rails.  I couldn't imagine why they would have ever taken them off the rails only to leave them there.  That sounds like a lot of work for nothing, and could have caused them to fall over.

  I would think they could lay down several track panels and connect them to the old siding, and then use a heavy bulldozer or two to drag them out.  If they're gonna roll, a big ol' dozer should be able to break them loose.  If not, it should be able to drag them.  If they won't roll anymore, then flatspotting the tires will not hurt them anyway.  A crane would have to lift them, as well as set them in their final resting place.

  But, wouldn't it be a sight to see those engines rolling down the tracks through Roanoke?  If it could be done, it could be a big publicity boost, and probably worthy of a documentary.

  Just my opinion,
  Ben Blevins


  NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
    They ARE on Rails Definitely, Ken Tanner
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: NW Mailing List 
      To: NW Mailing List 
      Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 10:01 PM
      Subject: Re: NS runs into trouble moving locomotives from Roanoke scrapyard 


      I'm certain they are sitting on rails.  The switch to the siding was removed a while back, I believe just after the flood of 1985 when NS raised the main track a bit.

      Sam Putney

        ----- Original Message ----- 
        From: NW Mailing List 
        To: NW Mailing List 
        Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 8:59 PM
        Subject: Re: NS runs into trouble moving locomotives from Roanoke scrapyard 


        I'm afraid Mr. Chapman has been misinformed about these engines setting directly on the ground. Here's a photo of 1118 directly from the lost engines website. It is setting on rails unless something has changed since this photo. 

        http://lostengines.railfan.net/images/S_1118_rg_005.jpg 

        Here's the 1134, again directly from the lost engines site. I believe I can see a rail between the first and second drive wheels.

        http://lostengines.railfan.net/images/S_1134_jh_001.jpg

        And, here's the 917 showing the pilot wheels, and the rails are again visible.

         http://lostengines.railfan.net/images/S_917_rj_001.jpg

        Perhaps someone in the inner circles could inform the powers that be that these engines are indeed still on rails. I don't know if that will help with the move or not, but it sure can't hurt.

        You never know. If a temporary track was put in place and connected to the track these things are setting on, they may be able to roll, or slide them out to a point where it would be easier to get to them. You never know, they may actually roll. If they did, then maybe they could be craned onto the main track and towed to VMT. But, if they won't roll, they'll have to move on flats. 
        Ben Blevins


        NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote: 
          >From the TRAINS website

          January 18, 2008

          ROANOKE, Va. - Norfolk Southern Railway officials can't figure out how they'd move the surviving pieces of four steam engines and two diesels at a Roanoke scrapyard, the Roanoke Times reported. Preservationists would like to see the locomotives go to the Virginia Museum of Transportation. 

          "We have looked at the feasibility of moving those old locomotives out of there, and I guess the short of it is, we really have not come up with a practical way to do that," said NS spokesman Robin Chapman.

          He said the barriers to moving the equipment include the fact that the locomotives are sitting on the ground, not on rails, and that the railroad doesn't know how much they weigh. Once they're loaded on flatcars, it would be an easy trip across town to the museum.

          The engines at Virginia Scrap Iron & Metal include Norfolk & Western 4-8-0s 1118, 1134, and 1151, and 2-8-0 917, as well as two Chesapeake Western Baldwin diesels. The steam engines have sat there since 1950, and have badly rusted and been picked over. 



          jerry 
          <jmlaboda2 at yahoo.com>

          Passenger Car Photo Indexes  -  UPDATED 9/13/07 WITH 7273 NEW LINKS ADDED!!!
          <http://trainweb.org/passengercars/>

          N-scale Passenger Car User's Guide
          <http://trainweb.org/passengercars/UsersGuide.htm>

          Appreciate Freedom???  Thank a Veteran!!!
          ________________________________________
          NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
          To change your subscription go to
          http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
          Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at
          http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/



------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

        ________________________________________
        NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
        To change your subscription go to
        http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
        Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at
        http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

      ________________________________________
      NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
      To change your subscription go to
      http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
      Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at
      http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/
    ________________________________________
    NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
    To change your subscription go to
    http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
    Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at
    http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/




------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  ________________________________________
  NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
  To change your subscription go to
  http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
  Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at
  http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  No virus found in this incoming message.
  Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
  Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.10/1241 - Release Date: 1/24/2008 9:58 AM
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20080124/95d72338/attachment.html>