What ever happened to the B&LE 2-10-4

[Centurylover68]

Maybe my memory was playing tricks on me, but wasn't a Bessemer & Lake Erie (or railroad like that) 2-10-4 was being restored a while ago? It was a while ago. I believe they did a stationary steam test. Maybe I am imagining things. Any info would be appreciated.

[Aa3rt]

You're correct-Bessemer & Lake Erie 2-10-4 #643 survived the scrapper's torch and for years was stored in the B&LE roundhouse in Greenville, PA. A number of years ago, she was moved to the Pittsburgh area with the intent of running her again. I don't know what has happened to the project, but the locomotive is currently in McKees Rocks, PA subject to the elements and vandals.

Check the following link:

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/texas/ble.shtml

Scroll down to the "Photos" section, there are links to six photos of the 643.

[Schuylkill Valley]

This is the current news on BL&E 643.
Up date information, We hope and pray, we'll have a chance in the near future to have 643 operating again. The owner has been in touch with an FRA inspector and a possible place to take her for in door storage and TLC and repairs if needed. He is also looking into a route to operate the 643 and his fleet of passenger and freight equipment. Some where in the Pittsburgh area.
That's all for now.

An Up Date! I was talking with Glenn last night on the phone for 1 1/2 hours and what he's waiting on right now is a bran new set of batteries for the Alco switcher , So if any one out there has any laying around and wants to donate a set, please do so. Glenn is also waiting on a friend of his who work for a short line in Al. Who will be supplying the rust proof Gloss Black paint for the whole loco and the special grafite paint for the smoke box. So when the time comes that he has the work weekend. It be great if we could get a nice turn out of volunteers to do some much needed painting on the 643. The plan as of right now is , if we get batteries we are going to move 643 back and forth a few times to loosen her up. We also are going to grease all fittings and oil where it is needed. That's all for now.

Information from Bessemer and Lake Erie 643, The only B&LE 2-10-4 in existence. http://www.facebook.com/BLE643

Len.

[Aa3rt]

The link I posted 7 years ago has changed-here's the new link. Again, there are links to a number of now dated photos of the 643 at the bottom of the page.

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/texas/?page=ble