Nice photo. The camelback is a unique looking locomotive and I hope she gets restored so folks can see her run. From what I've read about them in the past, the crews weren't too wild about riding next to a hot boiler and riding above the rods on the wheels (should one break loose, it would flail around ripping into the cab). Communication was also difficult between the engineer and the fireman since the crew sat on opposite sides of the boiler.
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Jeff - for reasons you stated, the design and operation was banned from use towards the end of the steam era. From what I understand, there is interest in restoration to operation (once again) at the Strasburg Rail Road, though #1187 is too light to pull any excursions, at least not the full length of the line. Still, it would be a unique operating display and perfect for the railroad's smaller freight moves with NS.
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