penn-museum-e6STRASBURG, Pa. — The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is raising money to restore its Pennsylvania Railroad E6 Atlantic in a special matching funds campaign with the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society. The society has agreed to match up to $50,000, funds raised for No. 460, known as the Lindbergh Engine, now through March 15, 2010.

Although the non-profit Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania organization has already raised nearly $50,000, the restoration is estimated to cost around $310,000.

Built in 1914 at the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Juniata, Pa., Shops, No. 460 is also the sole survivor of the fleet of 83 4-4-2s in its class. The engine powered distinguished trains such as the Broadway Limited, and spent most of World War II working on the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Atlantic Division before retirement in 1955.

Its most notable run took place June 11, 1927, the day U.S. President Calvin Coolidge made aviator Charles A. Lindbergh a colonel during a presidential medal of honor ceremony, following Lindbergh’s non-stop solo flight from Long Island to Paris. Several newsreel companies filmed the ceremony on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. One newsreel company put its film on an airplane for New York to be processed and rushed to theaters. The International News Reel Co. sent its footage on a train with No. 460 on the point, complete with a special B60 baggage car outfitted with a darkroom.

While the film was being processed on board the train, No. 460 covered the 216 miles to Manhattan Transfer in an amazing 174 minutes. At one point, while crossing New Jersey, its speed exceeded 115 mph. Although the airplane landed before the train arrived, the International News Reel Co.’s film was ready for theaters when it reached New York. Ever since, No. 460 has been known as the Lindbergh Engine.

Restoration will include lead paint removal, repair of rust damage to the cab and tender, and installation of piping, jacketing and running gear.

Work starts in November and is estimated to take 6,500 man-hours, and volunteers are needed. Donation may be made on line on the museum’s Web site at www.rrmuseumpa.org. Contributions also may be forwarded to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania’s advancement office, P.O. Box 125, Strasburg, PA 17579.

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