Ex-ARR Alco unit heading to Virginia - 1/11/11
Submitted by Don Marenzi
ARR Alco RSD-1 # 1034 owned by the Smithsonian, and long on loan to/displayed at the State RR Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, PA, is being moved to the Army Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis, Virginia.
The locomotive is being shipped on a flatcar. When I was at Strasburg last April, this move was being rumored, but with no time frame. The locomotive was loaded in December 2010, and the move is happening early January 2011.
I know that
the Army Transportation Museum has wanted an Army RSD-1 for quite a while.
Their curator mentioned that when I was there in 1984, they
finally
got one!
Attached is a photo I took on April 27, 2010 of the 1034. It was repainted
as ARR in the early 1980's, but never lettered. It's paint job is showing
the affects
of outdoor display. I'd guess the
ATM will repaint it as USATC. Hopefully, it will be displayed indoors.
The museum has a lot of neat stuff, including a USATC 2-8-0 that is a sister to ARR #551-562.