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Indy Archys: Steamtown National Historic Site in beautiful Scranton Pennsylvania is the place where the National Park Service interprets the role of steam powered locamotives in the US. They've got more operating engines and cars (and money) than most small railroad museums. I used to take the kids and we'd watch them move the engines back and forth just to keep them from sitting too long. Lots of good railroad history in the Lackwanna region. The little town of Honesdale, PA, about a half hour east of Scranton, was the site of the first locomotive used in the US (The Stourbridge Lion), imported from Scotland to haul anthracite to New York. The Lion had an extremely short lifespan, and ended up sitting in a barn and being scrapped for salvage. I think the Smithonian ended up with the boiler and a couple other parts. There's a (non-operating) replica around there someplace. Hope this helps, Dave At 10:16 AM 6/19/01 -0400, Franziska Blome wrote: >Hello to all train buffs among this list. > > Unfortunately, I can't contribute anything to the rail archaeology discussion, but I also have a question re. trains and locomotives: I'm trying to locate three different types of engines for a PBS documentary film on the early history of Chicago (some of you may remember me: I had posted a couple of location queries over the last year, and have received very helpful leads from members of this list). These are the types of trains we're hoping to find in operating condition (ideally all at one place or within the same area): > > 1) An engine that would resemble the "Pioneer" of the time when trains first ran to Chicago in 1848 - I had inquired at the B&O Museum in Baltimore about their 1837 "Lafayette", which seems to be the closest around, but it isn't regularly operated, and we can't afford (tight budget) to have them run it just for us. Any other ideas where we might want to try? > > 2) A Pullman car from the late 1890s with apreserved dining room interior - The "Ely" at the Illinois Railway Museum seems to be the closest match for this, but unfortunately, it is in very fragile and run down condition. Are there any others from the "our" period around that you know of? > > 3) An engine that could stand in for a scene from the 1894 Pullman strike where 3 or 4 federal troops were on the cow catcher, blazing away at strikers - We might be able to film this scene at the Valley Railroad Company in CT, they have a couple of early 1920s engines that are supposedly very similar in appearance to 1890s locomotives. > > Any suggestions or leads are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. > Best, > Franziska >-- >Franziska Blome >Associate Producer, Chicago Project >WGBH / American Experience >phone: 617-300-3635 > ************************************** David Moyer, RPA Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist 700 Clinton Street Building University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52242 (319) 335-5702 [log in to unmask]