I don't think that any of the "operating" entities in New England have the estimated $3 million in financial resources to turn this empty shell of a streamlined train into a repowered traveling showcase of modern technology, particularly considering the current economic environment. The will and the talent, maybe, but not the financial resources. And there isn't enough payback from carrying tourists to successfully recover the expense. That is why it sits where it is, in the condition it is in.
Run it with the Winton engine it had, or any other Winton 201A? The first cracked cylinder head, scuffed liner, failed piston, or scored injector plunger puts you out of business and forces you to reverse engineer parts at tremendous expense. Anybody want to bet the cost of a restoration that such a failure will not happen, with an engine that was well known for such failures?
To quote Eugene Kettering on the 201A: "We decided there had been no problems with the dipstick". In other words, everything else in the engine had problems.
So the alternative is static display, to reassemble it with whatever can be found of the Winton and GE parts left in the containers at Lincoln, and put it somewhere that the public can easily access and view it where it will be well cared for, and maybe have a couple hundred year lifespan.
I think the best permanent host, with the resources to make such a display a success, and make it accessible to the largest number of people, is the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. It is after all a Budd product, built in Pennsylvania. Put it at a place that respects and honors the history of the company that built it. And GE was also based in Pennsylvania. Winton on the other hand was an Ohio company, but the state of Ohio couldn't even muster much interest in the Winton-EMC gas electric car at the museum in Worthington, so why even consider them in the placement of this gem.
Keep it in New England? Is there really any chance that somebody can come up with the additional $3 million, or more, to complete the restoration? So far nobody has.
It may be time to let go of the Flying Yankee.
MX
"We Repair No Locomotive Before Its Time"