With original blueprints and modeling software, the Railroaders Memorial Museum K4 restoration specialist, FMW Solutions, is able to redesign and reconstruct the firebox as well as other critical mechanical aspects.

KEY MILESTONES

In June 2021, the museum officially relaunched the restoration of K4 1361.

In 2022, the PRRT&HS launched a $100,000 match campaign for the project in 2022.

In 2023, a major fundraising milestone was achieved in securing funds to purchase the new firebox sheets.

ESTIMATED PROJECT BUDGET

As of 2024, the projected the remaining cost to return 1361 back to operational condition is roughly $2.4 million. FMW Solutions has taken a conservative approach, developing the following cost estimates with appropriate milestones. The completion for 1361 is completely funding dependent.

*As of 2023 nearly $600,000 has be raised or pledged since the project was launched in 2021.

All donations are tax- deductible as the museum is a 501c3 non-profit corporation.

HISTORY

The Pennsylvania Railroad was the gold standard of American industry. Its famed passenger service provided the ultimate travel comfort. From 1914 until 1956, the many passenger trains of the PRR were hauled by an iconic steam locomotive: the K4s Class engine—a masterwork of technology, engineering, and innovation. This class was the first scientifically designed engine, developed by the famous Altoona Test Department. These mammoth engines propelled a growing nation through two world wars, the Great Depression, and a booming post-war America. Today, only two survive. The Spirit of Altoona is one of them.

K4s 1361 was built in the Juniata Shops, where it was placed in service on May 18, 1918, during the final spring of the First World War. For more than thirty- five years the engine hauled trains of the iconic PRR passenger fleet over the main line, first between New York and Pittsburgh and later, after the eastern lines

When the locomotive was finally retired in 1956, K4s 1361 had rolled up 2,469,000 miles—the mileage equivalent of ten round-trips to the moon. Its countless trips included frequent passage across the Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark, where it was dedicated as a monument to the Golden Age of Steam in 1957.

By 1985, after decades of exposure to the elements, great deterioration and considerable rusting had occurred. Through the efforts of Conrail and many others, the locomotive was removed from the mountain, to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the Railroaders Memorial Museum. Initially, the K4s was only meant to receive cosmetic restoration. However, strong public interest spurred the ambition to return it to running condition. On April 12, 1987, K4s 1361 set out under steam on its first restored run. In 1988, one of the locomotive’s axles, which propelled the driver wheels, developed thermal stress. The K4s languished in idleness as public enthusiasm waned, until now

NEW ERA

In 2012, The Spirit of Altoona was reconsolidated in the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse at the Railroaders Memorial Museum. Through dedicated volunteers, consisting of employees from Norfolk Southern’s Locomotive Shop, the project was kept alive. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated change at the museum. Former Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman, who had previously launched the 21st Century Steam Program, became Board Chairman. As a result, other supporters, such as rail preservationist Bennett Levin, joined the organization. The combined vision and expertise of this newly constructed team allowed for a dramatic re-evaluation of the project.

In 2019, the Railroaders Memorial Museum recruited FMW Solutions to perform an inspection of K4s 1361, including a review of all previous restoration efforts. This railroad contractor and consulting firm brings mechanical engineering expertise and professional project management to the table. FMW Solutions is also an accomplished rail preservation resource, with knowledge in long-term maintenance and operations.

A six-month series of engineering calculations, non-destructive tests (NDT), radiographic examinations (X-Ray), and visual inspections resulted in the development of a detailed report. These tests identified welding defects that did not meet modern standards and were thus fully extracted. Further tests and repairs met the requirements of the American Welding Specifications (AWS), the National Board Inspection Code (NBIC), and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). This thorough study was submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and a detailed plan was approved in early 2021, which permitted this long-awaited project to proceed.

In September 2021, two major milestones were reached. First, the weld defects in the steam dome flush patch were repaired. Secondly, the firebox and rear flue sheet were removed, both of which had posed serious concerns. Upon initial inspection by FMW, the firebox failed to comply with the minimum factor of safety (FoS) rating of four. This requirement calls for any locomotive boiler to withstand four times the Maximum Authorized Working Pressure (MAWP). In addition, the rear flue sheet had been excessively warped and thus did not abide by the requirements provided by the NBIC and the ASME. Both were subsequently removed for future reconstruction.

OUR VISION

The Railroaders Memorial Museum will strive to present educational and heritage programs to learners of all ages through innovative outreach. The Spirit of Altoona will be the centerpiece of these engaging efforts. Additional rolling stock, such as baggage and post office cars, will supplement the locomotive by serving as exhibit space and passenger seating. These vibrant vignettes will foster immersive experiences for any visitor, pulling students and tourists into a rich 1950s ambiance. This method of interpretation through the implementation of historic railcars is a formula that has been used with great success at other heritage sites across the United States. Above all else, the rendering of such a vintage environment, along with STEAM education initiatives, will offer passengers a window into the nation’s compelling steam powered past.

Educational Opportunity

STEAM—which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math—is an integrated learning system that utilizes play and other informal activities designed to encourage and stimulate problem-solving abilities. Elements of the new learning experience at the Railroaders Memorial Museum will include hands-on learning opportunities and education camps aimed at K-12 students. Great technological change happened in railroading during the 1940s when steam engines were replaced by sleek diesel-electric locomotives. There is much that young people can learn from this transition and how it affects transportation today. A core element of this initiative will be a guidebook for railway-themed K-12 STEAM outreach activities. It will contain descriptions of educational interests designed to introduce students to the railroad transportation mode through the lens of STEAM concepts. While the railroad industry is the leader in long-haul freight transportation in the United States, recruiting students to leadership roles in the industry is challenging. With many railroad employees approaching retirement age, the need to raise student awareness of railway industry career opportunities has never been greater. The activities in the proposed guidebook will be available for download so any educator can have access. These hands-on activities will provide students with knowledge through experiential learning that also increases their awareness of railway transportation technology and vocational pursuits.

Future Operations

The Spirit of Altoona will travel throughout the mid-Atlantic via regional short-lines and other tourist railroads. Building connections and partnerships with other tourist rail lines will provide multiple routes throughout the Commonwealth and beyond. Revenue will be generated through ticket sales, merchandise sales, and corporate sponsorships. Average ticket prices will vary depending upon trip duration, train length, and the frequency of excursions. Each train journey will be able to accommodate possibly up to 500 passengers. Consistent ticket sales could therefore be as high as $30,000 per excursion trip. Utilizing these scheduled excursions, K4s 1361 will offer immersive and memorable experiences for paying customers through living history programs and much more.

Historically appareled hosts within each passenger car will serve as docents highlighting the travel life and culture of post-World War II America. This level of interaction will engender meaningful encounters and conversations between trained interpreters and passengers. Living history activities could include narrated scenery tours, theatrical events by costumed performers, and other seasonal tours coinciding with holidays such as Halloween and Christmas. A small retail space in the form of a recreated Pennsylvania Railroad commissary could sell vintage style playing cards, newspapers, magazines, and snacks. Additional props such as baggage carts, freight crates, luggage, signposts, and automobiles will further enhance the period aesthetic. Upon restoration completion, a more detailed lesson plan, complementing the museum’s curriculum, will be developed and implemented.

Live steam demonstrations will attract local visitors from Blair County and the surrounding areas. These demonstrations will include actual movement of the locomotive through the roundhouse complex by using the operating turntable and engine bays. These exhibitions will also consist of structured programs conveying the manners in which the rail heritage of the past pertains to contemporary rail operations in America. Live sessions will present the museum opportunities to gain additional revenue for maintenance support through special program admission prices. These programs will occur approximately once per quarter to coincide with events.

When not in active use for excursion tours, The Spirit of Altoona will be secured indoors at the museum’s Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse. These interludes of comparative inactivity will serve as ideal opportunities for static displays. A primary element of this will be wayside markers that chronicle the decades-long journey of the locomotive. These panels will include information and visuals on the construction, career, decline, and rebirth of the iconic train. Supplementing these will be lively audio recreating the sounds and voices of K4s 1361 in action.

US$123,700.00