By Railfan & Railroad Staff
Patriot Rail recently donated 37,000 pounds of steam-era parts and supplies worth about $200,000 to the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp., the not-for-profit currently restoring Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 2716. The parts were previously stored at the Butte, Anaconda & Pacific roundhouse in Anaconda, Mont. The effort to move the parts was aided by Next Generation Rail Solutions, PaxRail, Diamond Rail Group, and hundreds of hours of contributed labor from Kentucky Steam’s volunteers.
The donation includes parts, tools, and other supplies including an assortment of brand-new piping and fasteners from the steam era, still stored in their original wooden crates. Also included were two flatbed trucks worth of machinery including four 35-ton whiting locomotive jacks, a lathe large enough to turn 2716’s pistons and rods, and an Allen journal brass boring machine, the last known purpose-built journal brass boring machine in existence.
Parts being loaded at the BA&P shop in Montana.
“The Anaconda facility was simply filled with things you would find in a well-stocked steam-era warehouse from 70 or more years ago,” said Kentucky Steam Chief Mechanical Officer Jason Sobczynski. “Many of these parts are still in their original packaging and will be of immense value to our restoration of C&O 2716 and other historic equipment. The machinery is vintage but has been well-maintained and used sporadically until recently. A historic collection like this is likely never to be found in this type of condition ever again.”
Patriot Rail decided to make the donation as it plans on vacating some of the former BA&P buildings in Anaconda.
“Patriot Rail is proud to support rail preservation projects and partner with the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation,” said David Bevins, vice president of operations for Patriot Rail. “We are grateful for the opportunity to donate these rare tools and equipment that will assist Kentucky Steam with its endeavors as it builds and expands its operations and museum. Kentucky Steam showcases and celebrates our nation’s railroad heritage while providing a unique steam-powered excursion experience located in the heart of the Bluegrass state of Kentucky. Patriot Rail works closely with organizations across its network to conserve and restore these key components of railroad operations for future generations.”
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