Update from the T1 trust

[Jbub]

Looks like the frame is underway and projected to be completed sometime in 2024

[Ed Kapuscinski]

More fantastic progress on America's biggest toy train.

[C855B]

“Toy train” is right.

Excuse my ignorance because I would guess this has already been discussed here ad nauseum, but… where are they going to run this thing? Four out of the five majors are steam-hostile, and they’re smack-dab in the middle of the least-friendly pair.

I’ve been a skeptic of this project from the beginning. But more power to ‘em, I guess. This is some major stick-to-it-ness.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Excuse my ignorance because I would guess this has already been discussed here ad nauseum, but… where are they going to run this thing? Four out of the five majors are steam-hostile, and they’re smack-dab in the middle of the least-friendly pair.

I think the answer to that is "we'll figure it out" with the realization that its completion is still far off in the future, and who knows what the class one ecosystem looks like then. Who knows, maybe Conrail 2.0 will be "open access" like the UK after UP wipes Des Moines off the map with a single man crewed uninspected bomb train.

I wouldn't be surprised if they at least had the commitment from one of the larger shortlines around, but again, who knows if they'll still be free of the G&W Borg by then.

My bigger issue with the whole thing is that it's burning through money that could go to actual preservation, like the I1 up in NY or speeding up the work at the RR Museum of PA. All because some folks want a cool toy.

[Tristan Ashcroft]

I think the answer to that is "we'll figure it out" with the realization that its completion is still far off in the future, and who knows what the class one ecosystem looks like then. Who knows, maybe Conrail 2.0 will be "open access" like the UK after UP wipes Des Moines off the map with a single man crewed uninspected bomb train.

I wouldn't be surprised if they at least had the commitment from one of the larger shortlines around, but again, who knows if they'll still be free of the G&W Borg by then.

My bigger issue with the whole thing is that it's burning through money that could go to actual preservation, like the I1 up in NY or speeding up the work at the RR Museum of PA. All because some folks want a cool toy.

With this project, I try to bite my tongue when the topic comes up - I would prefer to see that much investment in preservation go to a few other projects before this one.  But hey, it's not like they're wasting my money, and if those guys end up pulling the whole thing off 20 years down the road, good for them.
     
I do wholeheartedly believe in replicas at this point instead of "restorations" (translation: replacing all applicable steel, redesigning the boiler, doing modern this and modern that, and scrapping the actual original).  But to wrap this up before I try to shup up and stay out of this conversation for another decade: I wish this whole project were about building a brand new PRR L1.  What a fine machine to trundle around the branch lines of the country with excursions for summers on end for decades (and the occasional winter run, too).  But what can I say, if I want that done right, I guess I should do it myself.

[nickelplate759]

Given how much of it has been replaced, is the USS Constitution an original or a replica?




My take - given that it's still a commisioned ship in the U.S. Navy, it's by definition original even if all the original material has been replaced.


Back to the T1 - I do think building a replica from scratch is pretty crazy, but in a good way.        I note that the fabrication methods differ considerably from the original.

[garethashenden]

Given how much of it has been replaced, is the USS Constitution an original or a replica?

See the Ship of Theseus thought experiment: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus

[John]

Given how much of it has been replaced, is the USS Constitution an original or a replica?




My take - given that it's still a commisioned ship in the U.S. Navy, it's by definition original even if all the original material has been replaced.


Back to the T1 - I do think building a replica from scratch is pretty crazy, but in a good way.        I note that the fabrication methods differ considerably from the original.

wikipedia

The Naval History and Heritage Command Detachment Boston is responsible for planning and performing her maintenance, repair, and restoration, keeping her as close as possible to her 1812 configuration. The detachment estimates that approximately 10–15 percent of the timber in Constitution contains original material installed during her initial construction period in the years 1795–1797.[228] The Navy maintains Constitution Grove at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division near Bloomington, Indiana to ensure a supply of mature white oak.[229]

[Leggy]

Interesting thoughts and I'd like to throw this out there. What's everyone's thoughts on the new build steam locomotives running about the UK? Is this not in the same vein? Seems like it's relevance to preservation is the fact there's no real T1s around and this is a hat tip to the technology that the T1s contained, if a little more modern.

As a non American, this is cool as all get out.

[C855B]

What's everyone's thoughts on the new build steam locomotives running about the UK? Is this not in the same vein?

I'm glad you brought this up. You're talking about the Tornado, among others. There is a completely different culture in the US re. railroads. You only have to look at our love/hate relationship with Amtrak. Most of the public here experiences railroading as their being stuck at a grade crossing for 15-20 minutes while a 2-mile-long intermodal train drags its butt through town, or an also-too-long coal train stops while blocking five or six crossings while they take their time changing crews.

Railroads are not looked-upon fondly here as they are in the UK, they are largely regarded as an anachronism. There is very low public sympathy for large-scale projects like the T-1. Within the fan community, like Ed said, the enormous sums expended on somebody's pet project could find better uses in preserving existing heritage before it rusts away, or is scrapped because some corporate interest deigns it as not contributing to shareholder value and is in the way. Like UP recently did to most of their heritage program.

[Tjack757]

Given how much of it has been replaced, is the USS Constitution an original or a replica?

Good question, considering it was a used as a receiving/barracks ship in Boston circa 1905.

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