(erielack) K-1 in Korea

["Joseph A. Braun" <joebraun_@_optonline.net>]

I receive the Digest form of the List.  The email below that I am responding
to came through independently and any response evidently did not go to the
entire list. So I will repeat myself here with additions not in my initial
responsel to  David Notarius.

I knew at the time that the Erie donated to Korea one or some of its retired
steam locomotives. The Erie publicized this fact. In the 1954 Annual Report
on page 11 there is a photo of a K-1 being hoisted onto a ship with the
caption: "This Erie steam engine, retired from New York-to-Chicago passenger
runs (WRONG!), is being loaded aboard ship at San Francisco on its way to
help in the rehabilitation of Korea -- a gift from the Erie railroad."  The
text on the previous page also brags: "This past year was historic in that
it marked the passing of the steam locomotive from the Erie scene.  Ten
years ago the Erie owned 750 steam locomotives. Today they are all gone and
the job is being done with 371 diesel locomotives.  No steam locomotives
were operated during 1954 but 22 had been held for emergency service;
however, they have since been disposed of, the last eight having been sold
for scrap in October. The Erie is now a completely diesel powered railroad."
[Hey, thanks so much, guys, for not thinking of saving one or two!!) 

I have never read of the fate of the locomotive(s ) sent to Korea and have
always had a thought that one could still exist. Now that would be really
something: to have an extant Erie steam loco turn up in the 21st Century!??
Is it possible??

If #2524 is stored somewhere in Korea, could something be done to bring that
baby home?

Joe Braun 

- -----Original Message-----

From: elhts-members-owner_@_lists.elhts.org [
<mailto:elhts-members-owner_@_lists.elhts.org>
mailto:elhts-members-owner_@_lists.elhts.org] On Behalf Of David Notarius

Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 9:15 PM

To: elhts-members_@_lists.elhts.org

Subject: (ELHTS-Members) Anyone have any aditional info on this loco?

Kathleen J. LaMonte wrote the following to me, which will also be of
interest to Erie fans:

I was stationed at Camp Liberty Bell on the DMZ in 1984,85 and I remember
seeing a locomotive at the visitors center at Freedom Bridge which crosses
the Imjim River. If my memory serves me correctly it was a 4-6-2 with a
Vanderbilt tender.

This would be the Erie Railroad K-1 class Pacific mentioned earlier. It is
#2524, one of a batch of 41 built by Rogers in 1905 and 1906. They were
rebuilt with superheaters, outside piston valves, and Baker valve gear
between 1912 and 1917. This is the only surviving Erie K-1 class Pacific
known to still exist. A recent visitor to Freedom Bridge (see above) did not
find the Pacific, but was told the engine is probably stored, not scrapped;
since "all things American are treasured by South Koreans." Any further
information on this engine is eagerly awaited by Erie fans everywhere....



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