Monday morning rail news:
— Reconstruction work on the New York subway L Train tunnel between Manhattan and Brooklyn is complete, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday, and regular service will resume today — within the constraints of the current Essential Service Plan limiting Metropolitan Transportation Authority operations because of the COVID-19 virus. Work on the tunnel itself is completed under budget and ahead of schedule, Cuomo said during his daily press briefing. Some work on stations and electrical systems remains and will continue into the fall, Gothamist reports. The project, which began last April, was originally set to lead a 15-month shutdown of the tunnel, but Cuomo intervened with a plan that allowed work to be completed on nights and weekends. [See “New York’s L Train construction project to begin April 26,” Trains News Wire, April 16, 2019].
— The city of Sheridan, Wyo., will pay $179,000 for asbestos remediation for a former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy locomotive on display in downtown. The 05b-class 4-8-4, No. 5631, was donated to the city in 1962, the Sheridan Press reports. It is on display in a small park across from the Historic Sheridan Inn at East 5th Street and Broadway. In approving the contract, council members expressed hope a privately funded restoration of the locomotive might take place one the asbestos hazard was removed.
— Amtrak’s financial hit because of the COVID-19 pandemic will not stop the planned redevelopment of Baltimore’s Penn Station, the Baltimore Business Journal reports. Stephen Gardner, executive vice president, chief operating and commercial officer, described the Baltimore project as one of “a core set of essential projects … that are really critical to our long-term strategy and success.” Amtrak is investing $50 million in improvements as part of an overall investment of $90 million.
I am new here but wanted to say thank you for all the amazing information. Recently attended an estate sale from a gentleman who developed train and car models back in the day. Bought a bunch of patches and buttons that were in mint condition. Been researching and learning so much!! Most interesting has been the black and white Menk the Fink buttons. Yes, buttons…there were two. What an incredible story! Thanks again!
Jensen ended up with the 4963 not the 4960. The 4963 is at the Illinois Railway Museum. The 4960 currently resides and is operating on the Grand Canyon Railway. Its travels between CB&Q and the Grand Canyon Railway are documented nicely at the site noted in G. McFarlane’s post.
I saw the 5632 as a middle and high schooler pull trains through Berwyn Illinois so I often wonder one of the 5632 siblings (like 5631 or 5629 or 5633) could get the same treatment that was afforded the Big Boy.
My apologies! Kudos, not cudos!
A great loss was the unecessary scrapping of O5 Northern sister #5632 by the CB&Q under Menk. This was a notable locomotive class and #5631’s restoration would be worthwhile.
Under budget and ahead of schedule–cudos to the workforce.
Curtis Larson,
Just a simple little search brought me to this nice little informative piece on Richard Jensen and his 4 engines, it seems that there’s plenty of blame to spread around several different people and organizations: https://www.steamlocomotive.com/places/jensen/
Typically, I do not dialogue here, especially with such an esteemed authority as Mr. Keefe, however the debacle of #5632’s demise might be assigned to the well-meaning Dick Jensen, the ultimate blame must be to the Burlington’s Louis Menk, for it was he who curtailed the wildly successful CB&Q fan trip program, rendering the well-preserved steam power redundant. On one last such trip “Menk the Fink” buttons appeared…probably pricey collectors items now. I do not recall how it was that Jensen ended up with #4960 as well. Perhaps someone can comment.
Of course Cuomo takes full credit; it was a team of engineers (Cornell, I believe, not sure) who came up with the accelerated plan. Now they should do exactly the same type of work on the cross-Hudson tubes to stabilize and preserve them until they get their act together and fund and design new ones.
Curtis Larson, you are correct that the scrapping of 5632 was a shame, but it’s wrong to blame CB&Q. The owner of the 4-8-4 was Dick Jensen, not the railroad, and it was under Jensen’s watch that the whole fiasco unfolded.