The Spirit of Altoona Press Conference | Pennsylvania Railroad K4 1361
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2021
- LEARN MORE: www.railroadcity.org/1361
The Railroaders Memorial Museum’s (RMM) new campaign to restore the historic Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotive K4 1361 has launched at the Museum’s roundhouse complex in Altoona. The museum’s restructured Board of Directors and a new staff of historians were joined at the announcement by officials from FMW Solutions LLC, based out of Soddy-Daisy, TN. The restoration efforts of the iconic locomotive will be overseen by FMW, in conjunction with the RMM and its qualified volunteers. Ultimately, FMW will also assist in strategic planning for the eventual operation of the locomotive-which will serve as a useful educational tool and a valuable economic stimulant, not only for Blair County but for other communities throughout PA.
“FMW Solutions brings a remarkable set of skills and talents to this project,” said Joseph DeFrancesco, Executive Director of the RMM. "Their portfolio and professional approach is exactly what we need for this endeavor and their highly credentialed team has a successful track record that speaks for itself.”
“The legacy of the PRR, the K4, and the industrious identity of Altoona makes this extremely special to us,” said Davidson Ward, President of FMW Solutions. "Our team is prepared to assist RMM turn a new page in this project. Our hope is to make the locomotive a viable ambassador for Altoona and the Commonwealth for years to come.”
Producer: Mark Frederick
Video: Mark Stitzer
Audio: Steve Koehle & Kelly Lynch
Drone Footage Courtesy FMW Solutions
#K4 #1361 #SpiritofAltoona #PRR
We're in.
I will be following. I fell in love with this engine as a small boy growing up in the late 80's. It warms my heart to know that not just the duplex for PRR is being built from scratch, but a piece of actual history is being restored back to working order. May #1361 live on in many more youth to come.
I hope the T1 Duplex burns coal forever once it is completed
Looks to be a very worthwhile project. It was pleasing to hear the acknowledgement of the importance of volunteers in railway preservation projects. This sort of thing helps to protect older skills that are quickly disappearing. Best wishes to everyone involved
Love to see another steam locomotive being resurrected. I'm currently in the process of modifying a Lionel 675 post war locomotive to represent a K4 as much as possible with paint and some added details. All Beit, the 675 is a 2-6-2 is a Prairie type loco the super structure is a reasonable representation. Wish I could send pictures. Thanks to all the volunteers and those that are making it happen. Looking forward to living long enough to see 1361 back in action.
Great video of the press conference in Altoona and very interesting information. I am a member of the Pa. Railroad Technical & Historical Society, Phila. Chapter and the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, and I support this PRR 1361 restoration project. Sheila Dorr
I'll definitely make a trip out there once it's done!!
Would love to see the whole “Altoona at work” movie uploaded!
I recommend buying a DVD from the museum store, it benefits the museum.
Love (K4 1361) What a great looking 105 year old!!! I was around 10 years old when I first saw 1361 a top horse shoe curve, then 1987 when I was a passenger being powered by 1361 K4 Pacific type loco. built back in 1918. It looked brand new at that time, the one thing that comes to mind, was how quit ( not the whistle , that was a great voice and to hear the echo in our Pennsylvania hill sides gives me goose bumps) Please bring her back so I my a passenger again. Wishing I was wealthy so that I could help. I can only afford hope and prays for the rebuild. All this from a female model railroader (American Flyer S scale numbers 310, 312 through 315 was called a K5. But was a models of 4-6-2 Pacific type K4s of the P.R.R. Awaiting up dates & the the day to ride her again. God bless Robin Jo
I really appreciate your support for this project. I’ll donate for you.
I just bought her from Lionel! My dad was Penn Central, Conrail, and CSX. He started off rail gang and worked his way up to engineer. I was born in 85, but when I was 3 or 4 he took me to see 1361 and I remember to this day being in awe at the whistle. I have a picture where I'm sitting on his shoulder with his conrail quality helmet on and my mouth dropped open in awe and 1361 coming up the track infront of me. He passed away in 2009 from cancer, but i want to see her run again! Had to be around 1988 or so.
I'd like to donate some how to help, I don't have alot but I'd want to give something.
Thank you for supporting the restoration!
This engine deserves every chance at running again, it is the embodiment of not just Altoona but the locomotive builders of Pennsylvania. The K4 is Pennsylvania’s locomotive and there isn’t any (as far as I know) PRR steam locomotives in operational order, so it’s only appropriate for a he states official steam locomotive to become the one to come back into operational order. When VMT had 611 restored and named “The Spirit of Roanoke” it suited her very well because the Roanoke shops in Virginia spared no expense with their locomotives, same goes to the Altoona and Juniaya shops in Pennsylvania. To think that a T1 #5550 and a K4 #1361 will return to steam and co-exist with one another like they did nearly a century ago and little boys, girls, father and wives all saw working along side one another and even ride in them. I say let the Spirit Of Altoona live one again and let her 3-Chine whistle bowl through the hills, farm land and roads of Pennsylvania.
Very well said! As soon as I first saw videos of it when I was about 5 or 6 years old, I knew immediately that I wanted to see it run.
There is one PRR steam loco that runs.
Beautiful
Great museum. Didn't know Altoona was trian manufacturing city.
Thank You
Number 1361 and number 5550 are getting steam again.
The last K4's operated on the New York and Long Branch RR on the Jersey Shore Line. Born and raised in Matawan(1947-?) I remember my father going and coming home from his job in Newark, NJ, and it was on the Pennsy K4 that he commuted. Watching the train cross the Trestle into the Matawan Station was always a thrill as my mom and sister waited for him to step out of the coach to join us for the car ride home. In addition to the Pennsy steam the CNJ also ran steam, the G4's with their Feedwater heaters on the smoke box always reminded me of a Dinosaur. Now for a question. WHAT IS THE PROJECTED COMPLETION DATE FOR THE 1361? I sure hope it is before I go home to steam heaven so I am able to see and hear it operate again.
This restoration moves at the pace of donations. The more people donate, the sooner it will return to steam.
How is the K4 project coming along?
The restoration is progressing nicely. Donations are being made to the project. A new firebox is in the process of being made for 1361, since the old firebox needed to be replaced.
@@TranscontinentalRailfan iOS the new Firefox going to be a Bellaire Firefox?
@@robertmohler9131 Correct
At last report, the firebox has been fully funded thanks to an anonymous donation of $200k, and the next phase of the project will be boiler and frame repairs.
@@TranscontinentalRailfan any reports on progress on the 1361?