LIRRNOVA:
To answer your question, they can restore a big steam locomotive because they have received funding to do it. If you're talking about the B&M engine, funding is being raised through the local NRHS chapter. Work only progresses as funding is available. Same with the K4, funding has come from the State of Pennsylvania. Funding has run short a couple of times, and work has slowed.
I don't mean to discourage you from your interest. I know your main interest is in the rotary. However, there are a couple of problems with what you intended...
If you want Steamtown to do the work to fix the engine up, they won't be likely to give it up. Thus, your dream of seeing the rotary back on Long Island wouldn't happen.
If you want Steamtown to "give the engine back to Long Island," where would you put it? Where would you get the funding for such an endeavor? Once you got it back, what would you do to protect/preserve the engine, preventing it from further decay?
This is where a plan comes in. I would love to see the rotary return to Long Island, but I don't want to see people pay good money for an expensive return to Long Island to watch it rust away here. I can go to Scranton for that, and it's a lot cheaper. Unless there is a plan to move it, restore it, and protect it indoors, it's better off where it is.
Jay
To answer your question, they can restore a big steam locomotive because they have received funding to do it. If you're talking about the B&M engine, funding is being raised through the local NRHS chapter. Work only progresses as funding is available. Same with the K4, funding has come from the State of Pennsylvania. Funding has run short a couple of times, and work has slowed.
I don't mean to discourage you from your interest. I know your main interest is in the rotary. However, there are a couple of problems with what you intended...
If you want Steamtown to do the work to fix the engine up, they won't be likely to give it up. Thus, your dream of seeing the rotary back on Long Island wouldn't happen.
If you want Steamtown to "give the engine back to Long Island," where would you put it? Where would you get the funding for such an endeavor? Once you got it back, what would you do to protect/preserve the engine, preventing it from further decay?
This is where a plan comes in. I would love to see the rotary return to Long Island, but I don't want to see people pay good money for an expensive return to Long Island to watch it rust away here. I can go to Scranton for that, and it's a lot cheaper. Unless there is a plan to move it, restore it, and protect it indoors, it's better off where it is.
Jay
ALL ABORD !!!! project 39