If you are not a member of the PRRT&HS, and you should be, please note there is a letter of appeal regarding the LIRR G5s, #39, and the potential for restoration of this grand locomotive. On the following page is a short piece by Don Fisher and a revision of the letter below, written by me earlier this year.
I've been the President of "New England Steam Corporation" over the past nine year, only stepping down from that post this past August. I know this restoration is possible and should be aggressively funded. I've been there, and nothing is impossible I urge each of you to help fund this magnificent piece of our Long Island Rail Road heritage, rather than stand by wondering why it hasn't happened.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The face is pure Pennsy and the lines form that same geometric elegance of the conical boiler leading to the characteristic Belpaire firebox. There is something special in the "form follows function" design that ran through the PRR fleet, it's familial beauty, almost genetic in nature.
There remain three Pennsy design G5s locomotives in existence. One is likely to remain a static exhibit, indoors and under cover. Two are ready for reassembly. One is ready to be steamed and operated under the auspices of the most trusted steam railroad in the east.
Long Island Rail Road #39 holds a special place in my heart, as my father engineered its placement at the Carriage House Museum in 1956. Dad is long gone, but in my 71st year, I long to see her, hear her, experience her in operation, as do many other Pennsy fans. Collectively, we have the opportunity to make it happen, side stepping errors of the past, and assuring PRR/LIRR steam runs for decades after we are gone.
We can hope LIRR 35, PRR 1361, and 4483, will steam again one day, but we can have LIRR 39 in steam within our lifetimes if we wish to see it happen - now.
Nobody has asked me to write this letter and I only gain what we all gain together. In replacing our wishes with action, the Railroad Museum of Long Island benefits, the Strasburg Railroad benefits, and everyone who has wandered through the cold collection inside the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania benefits.
I am not asking Pennsylvania Railroad fans to choose between new construction or possible restorations. I am asking Pennsy historians to get behind a certainty. The Strasburg shop will do the complete rebuild (some parts of which are already completed). The Strasburg Railroad hass contracted with the Railroad Museum of Long Island to operate and maintain #39 in regular service for fifty years For me, five decades of the Strasburg operating PRR/LIRR steam is a huge win over those who dropped the fires in 1955!
Please join me in sending a donation with which you are comfortable to “Steam Up LIRR #39” RMLI POB 726 Greenport NY 11944-0726
With appreciation,
Richard Glueck
Winterport, Maine