Altoona Railway Museum Club: PRR K-4s #1361 Restoration

"PRR K4s #1361 was donated by the PRR to the City of Altoona on June 8, 1957. The railroad agreed to place the locomotive on display at the Horseshoe Curve to enhance the Curve park. At the same time the railroad began what would be a 30+ year lease where the Curve park was leased to the City. The City of Altoona agreed to maintain and operate the Park.

	Collection of Chris Behe. Photographer Unknown.		"This is the K-4 at Horseshoe Curve circa 1977 (estimated) when the Horseshoe Curve Chapter was assisting the City of Altoona in maintaining [cosmetically], the K-4. In those days, as a public service to the city, the Chapter furnished manpower and the city furnished paint. We chipped, wire-brushed and painted the locomotive, and maintained the spotlights around the locomotive. Many a Saturday night we were up there late and this is one of those occasions." David Seidel Photograph
	(Photo by Sheldon L. Burns. From Postcard.) Date Unknown. Chris Behe collection.		Altoona News Agency Postcard.of Memorial K4 Steam locomotive donated to the City of Altoona by the PRR at Horseshoe Curve ceremonies, June 8, 1957. Chris Behe collection.

In 1985, with assistance and guidance from Altoona State Representative Rick Geist, the locomotive underwent an assessment f or possible return to service. When the assessment revealed it was feasible for a return to service, the Museum approached the City of Altoona. The City agreed to turn over title to the locomotive to the Museum. Conrail agreed to facilitate the removal of the K4 from the Curve. In September of that same year the locomotive was towed off the Curve and into a shop in the Juniata complex.

During the 1970's (1977?), Horseshoe Curve Chapter NRHS, as a community oriented project, began to maintain K-4 No. 1361 for the City of Altoona at Horseshoe Curve Park. This effort involved sanding, wire brushing, and touch up cosmetic paint work on this locomotive as well as maintaining and replacing all of the spotlights around the locomotive, which was floodlit at night.

	(Photo by Sheldon L. Burns. From Postcard.) Date Unknown. Chris Behe collection.		Altoona News Agency Postcard of Memorial K4 Steam locomotive donated to the City of Altoona by the PRR at Horseshoe Curve ceremonies, June 8, 1957. Chris Behe collection.
	Painting the fencing.		Paul Westbrook and Tim Reese.
	July 1977 when Horseshoe Curve Chapter NRHS engaged in a community service program to maintain K-4 # 1361 at Horseshoe Curve. Left to right: Ed Hunt, Gary Beefelt (deceased), Roy C. Hunt (deceased), unknown, and Larry McKee. Photo by David Seidel		Paul Burrows in the Engineer's Seat.

September 1985

	PRR K-4s #1361 at Horseshoe Curve prior to its being removed by Conrail. 9/30/85		Here the K-4 is in the process of being moved onto the main line. However, a problem with the temporary track caused a derailment. Crews are in the process of repairing the track. 9/30/1985
	PRR K-4s #1361 at "Slope". 9/30/1985		PRR GP-9 #7048 at "Slope" on 9/30/1985. Awaiting placement at Horseshoe Curve.
	PRR K-4s #1361 on the turntable, Juniata Shops, Altoona, PA. Unknown photographer. 9/30/1985		PRR K-4s #1361 at a Ceremony at the Railroaders Memorial Museum. 1985

Using a mix of paid and volunteer labor the locomotive was returned to service in April 1987. During that year and the year that followed, a number of excursions were operated on non-Conrail short-lines in the region.

1986

	Left to right: Dave Musser, Bellwood, Pa., (deceased), Bob Hepler, Williamsport, Pa. and Wayne Laepple. Photo by David Seidel winter 1986-87		Photo of volunteer Denver Thompson working on the 1986 restoration project for ex-PRR steam locomotive-class K4s # 1361 at Altoona Car Shop, Conrail. Photo by David Seidel
	Photo of project worker Dick Yager of Milwaukee, WI, during 1986/87 restoration of ex-PRR steam locomotive # 1361, Class K-4s. Mr. Yager was an associate of Doyle McCormick in the restoration of steam locomotives. Photograph by David Seidel		"Junior" Gottshall (James Gottshall Jr) of Catawissa, Pa., working on journal boxes for K4 # 1361 tender at Conrail's Altoona Car Shop during 1986. Photo by David Seidel
	Photo of Paul Ferry, Latrobe, Pa., working on backhead of K4 # 1361 at Altoona Car Shop (Conrail) during 1986 restoration. Photo by David Seidel		Altoona Car Shop, K-4 Project R to L: Wayne Laepple, Linwood Hill, Leroy Duffy. Photo by David Seidel.
	Photo of Les Shaefer working on the auxiliary tender to accompany K4 # 1361. Photo by David Seidel.....winter 1986-87		Mr. Lloyd Murray, former PRR steam machinist, Altoona, confers with Doyle McCormick during the 1986 restoration of steam locomotive class K-4s # 1361. Two workers at right are unidentified. Photo by David Seidel winter 1986-87
	Photo of Wayne T. "Tim" Reese (now deceased) and Denny Walls, volunteers on the K4-restoration project from Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS. Photo by David Seidel		Photo of volunteer Anthony "Tony" Febbo, welding a patch on smokebox door of ex-PRR steam locomotive No. 1361 during the 1986/87 restoration. Photo by David Seidel
	Photo of Doyle McCormick and C. J. Moore (now deceased) working on K4 # 1361 during the 1986/87 restoration at Altoona (Conrail) Car Shop. Doyle McCormick, of Portand, OR was the project expert directing the restoration. Photo by David Seidel.		Left to Right: Frank Colley (deceased), Mike Quinn, Pete Pontius, Wayne T (Tim) Reese (deceased) winter 1986-87
	Photo of Jeff Pontius working at tool bench during 1986/87 restoration of K4 # 1361 at Altoona Car Shop (Conrail). Photo by David Seidel		1986 Dave Musser (deceased), works on K4 # 1361 project at Conrail's Altoona Car Shop facility. Photo by David Seidel
	1986 K4 restoration project. Denver Thompson assists in parts preparation at Conrail's Altoona Car Shop. Photo by David Seidel		Doyle McCormick at work on restoration of ex-PRR K4 steam locomotive # 1361. Work at Conrail's Altoona Car Shop. Note placement of new boiler insulation material. Photo by David Seidel
	1986 project for K4 # 1361 restoration at Conrail's Altoona Car Shop. Jim Gottshall Jr. operates the overhead 25 ton crane. Photo by David Seidel		1986 K4 Locomotive # 1361 restoration at Conrail's Altoona Car Shop. Project Director Roy Price examines the stoker screw for the locomotive. Photo by David Seidel
	1986 restoration of ex-PRR class K-4s steam locomotive # 1361. Mike Quinn assists on truck assembly work at Conrail's Altoona Car Shop. Photo by David Seidel		1986: Wayne Laepple works on trailing truck of ex-PRR class K-4s steam locomotive # 1361 at Conrail's Altoona Car Shop. Photo by David Seidel
	1986: Dave Musser (deceased), and Pete Pontius work on K4 truck assembly at Altoona Car Shop (Conrail). Photo by David Seidel		1986 Doyle McCormick and Ronald L. Ray Sr cutting sheet metal for K4 jacket at Conrail's Altoona Car Shop. Photo by David Seidel
	1986 restoration project of K4 # 1361 at Conrail's Altoona Car Shop. Pete Pontius and Ron Ray Sr scribe and cut sheet metal jacketing. Photo by David Seidel

1987

	1986. Volunteer Bill Temple works at the drill press on the K4 # 1361 project in Conrail's Altoona Car Shop. Photo by David Seidel		Feb 1987. Dave Seidel using needle gun to remove paint from intended auxiliary tender. Conrail Altoona Car Shop. Photo by Denver Thompson
	March 18, 1987. With the help of Conrail's Pettibone Crane, K4 # 1361 is lifted from cribbing in Conrail's Altoona Car Shop so the main driving wheels to be rolled under the chassis/frame. Photo by David Seidel		3-18-1987. Conrail Pettibone Crane lift crew. K4 was lifted on cribbing today for placement of main driving wheels underneath. Photo by David Seidel
	1987. John Turkeli of Farmingdale, NY, guides K4 pony truck to shop track at Conrail Altoona Car Shop. Photo by David Seidel		March 1987. Restoration of K4 # 1361 nearing completion. Shop crews (volunteers) move driving wheels under the locomotive which has been raised by Conrail Mobile Crane employees. Photo by David Seidel
	1986. Bob Girard, Sunbury, PA works on K4 # 1361 at Conrail Altoona Car Shop. Photo by David Seidel		Photo of James Gottshall Jr. working on underbody of coach owned by Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS, Spring 1987, to assist the Chapter in preparing its equipment for the inaugural run of ex-PRR steam locomotive No. 1361, class K-4s. Both units were in the Altoona Car Shop of Conrail at the same time. Photo by David Seidel
	Photo of John Turkeli of Farmingdale, LI, NY., working on K4-1361 March 1987 as the project was nearing completion. Photo by David Seidel		March 1987. Interior of Conrail Altoona Car Shop where most of the K-4 restoration work was completed. With the K4 moved outside for tests, work progressed on coach rehabilitation by Horseshoe Curve Chapter NRHS. Sand blasting and repainting were necessary prior to the inaugural run of the K4 on 4-12-1987. Photo by David Seidel
	Photo of Elbert "Red" Leighty trying out the engineers seat in the nearly ready K-4 # 1361 at Altoona Car Shop (Conrail). Mr. Leighty, a volunteer on the 1986/87 restoration project, died in 1997. Standing at the rear of the locomotive cab (front) is Joe Musser. Photo by David Seidel

December 18, 1987.

The K-4 restoration/operating crew had the opportunity to go to Harrisburg for a signing of House Bill 1211, which was "An Act selecting, designating and adopting official steam and electric locomotives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania".

Standing: Ed Hinkle, Pete Pontius, William Withuhn, Elbert "Red" Leighty, Denver Thompson, Roy Price, Ray Goodman, Rodney Wike, David Seidel, Joe Musser, Jeff Pontius, Ed Wilt, Bill Decker, George Thompson. Absent from photo: Wayne T. (Tim) Reese. John Turkeli, Wayne (Time) Reese, Gary Price, and Dave Musse

Seated: Representative Johnson, Governor Robert P. Casey, Representative Rick Geist.

1987: "The K-4 Lives Again"

			Final adjustments following the K-4's first restoration. Conrail's Juniata Miscellaneous Shop #1, Altoona, PA. 4/1987
	Palm Sunday, April 12, 1987. K4 # 1361 leaves Conrail Altoona Car Shop on the Inaugural shakedown run to Bellefonte. After coupling to train, proceeded east to Tyrone (light) and to the former PRR Bald Eagle Branch. All restoration participant crew were afforded the opportunity to board at Vail about one mile north of Tyrone, for the trip to Bellefonte. Only operating crew were aboard between Altoona and Tyrone on the Conrail Main Line. Photo by David Seidel		Photo by David Seidel
	Photo by David Seidel		June 21, 1987, K4 # 1361 eastbound on the Conrail Main at Fostoria, east of Bellwood, Pa., enroute to Tyrone (Vail) to head another excursion train to Bellefonte on the Nittany and Bald Eagle RR (former PRR Bald Eagle Branch). Approximate speed of locomotive at this location 60+ mph, and barking smartly. Photo by David Seidel
	6-21-1987. K4 # 1361 has just left the Conrail Mainline at Tyrone, Pa and is heading north on the former PRR Bald Eagle Branch. Passengers will board at Vail approximately 2 miles north. This location is along the north side of the Tyrone passenger station site. Photographer David Seidel is standing on opposite span which formed a WYE at this location for trains entering or leaving the Bald Eagle Branch at the Main Line Junction.		7-87 K4 1361 arriving Tyrone Pa, headed northbound on the former PRR Bald Eagle Branch. Scene is along Washington Avenue where RR runs down center of street from Station area toward the Westvaco paper mill. On this occasion, as light rain was falling and created traction difficulties for the K-4 during the next several town blocks. Photo by David Seidel
	4-12-1987 K4 # 1361 approaches Bellefonte, PA on the inaugural run. Doyle McCormicks SP tool car, the "Yes Dear" adds color to the consist on a dreary, rainy day although to all volunteers riding the shakedown operation, the sun was shining brightly. Photo by David Seidel		Photo of a summer excursion by ex-PRR steam locomotive No. 1361, a class K-4s, northbound on the Nittany & Bald Eagle RR approximately one mile north of Vail, Snyder Twp., Blair County, PA. Photo by David Seidel
	4-12-1987. K4 # 1361 arrives at Bellefonte, PA with consist, which includes coaches of Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS and Conrail Office Car # 10. Included was Doyle McCormicks tool car from the SP Daylight train, the "Yes Dear". Photo by David Seidel		June 21, 1987. The K4 crew poses at Bellefonte, Pa., after a successful run. Crew, left to right: William Withuhn, Engineer; Wayne (Tim) Reese (deceased), Dave Musser (deceased), Pete Pontius, Paul Ferry, Harry MacIntosh (front), Jack Hatch (rear/not visible), Tony Febbo, Leroy Duffy (front), Denver Thompson (rear), Joe Musser; Roy Price K-4 Project Supt; Ed Wilt (Light Shirt)-President Keystone Restoration & Preservation (KR&P), present day K4 crew organization; Les Shaffer, and Jeff Pontius. Photo by David Seidel
	K4 # 1361 and tool car, Nov 2, 1987 eastbound at 8th St, Altoona. Enroute from ARMM grounds to Altoona Car Shop for winter storage ending the 1987 season. Photo by David Seidel.		Audio-Visual Designs Postcard. Inaugural Run of the K-4 on 4-12-87, eastbound through Bald Eagle, PA. Photo by Carl H. Sturner.
	Mary Jane's Railroad Specialties Postcard. May 17, 1987 on display with Horseshoe Curve Chapter coach at the Railroaders Memorial Museum. Photo by Joe Glath.		"K-4 Meets Broadway in Altoona" June 16, 1987. Altoona Mirror. David Seidel Collection.
	"K-4 Joins Bellefonte for trip back in time." Part 1 Monday, June 22, 1987. Altoona Mirror. David Seidel Collection.		"K-4 Joins Bellefonte for trip back in time." Part 2 Monday, June 22, 1987. Altoona Mirror. David Seidel Collection.

In 1988, while operating a "ferry" move en route back from York, PA, the locomotive suffered a catastrophic failure of a main bearing and drive axle. This resulted in restricted operation of the locomotive on a local basis. In the Fall of 1988 the locomotive was returned to the Conrail Juniata shop for further assessment.

The assessment coincided with a renewed interest in regulating operation of historic steam locomotives on the part of Federal Railroad Administration officials. That interest triggered several years of debate on how the locomotive should be restored to meet the changing regulations. Intensive inspection and testing of the locomotive followed.

By 1992, Museum officials knew that further restoration would be costly - at a minimum $450,000. Fund-raising was undertaken and a major grant was awarded from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation Commission. Armed with the funding, Museum officials began to look for how best to accomplish the work while building credibility.

In 1994 the Museum signed a contract with the University of Scranton and the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton for restoration of the locomotive. The University would provide project management and the Park would provide shop space, equipment and some labor.

In the Spring of 1995 the locomotive was loaded onto several high-capacity flat cars and moved to Scranton where restoration began later that year. A number of dedicated volunteers and two paid staff began working full-time on the restoration. The price had escalated to just under $700,000. "(by Peter Barton, former-Executive Director, Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum, Inc)

PRR K-4s #1361 is owned by the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum. The Museum is a business partner with the Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS.
Reporting on the restoration of PRR k-4 #1361 is done under agreement with Museum Officials.

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