Lakemont Train

Lakemont Park runs a Chance C.P. Huntington, just like a few thousand other places do. But sitting on a side track in the station is another, older, train.

I'm pretty sure the coaches are NAD and I don't know about the engine - it looks like a steam locomotive. When I was at the park a few years ago, this train was in pretty rough shape. I recently got another look at it and the locomotive and one of the coaches was beautifully rebuilt and restored. Does anybody know the story behind this?

It's NAD with the engine in the tender just like one of Lesourdvilles engines and Camdens

We talked with one of the engineers for the train at Lakemont this summer. They are SLOWLY restoring the original train with the help of some local railroading enthusiasts. They already have one of the cars completely restored and plan on finishing the other cars over the next few years. The engine is also currently being restored. Hopefully, soon, the old train will be able to be put back into operation again!

Thanks. I wonder if they'll be applying the Pennsy decoration to the restored cars. The old cars look nice painted that way and it is especially appropriate since they're in Altoona. The newly restored car didn't have it though.

Nice to hear that Lakemont is restoring their old train. That will be a treat when it's done.

Does the technology still exist to restore that old train? Oops..wait, wrong topic. Never mind ;)

Sounds like an odd business decision to me. I mean, what's the point? ;)

Yeah, It makes no buisness sence to me to restore something that hasn't been made in 40 years.

Why would they wanna do that?

It's certainly disrespectful to all the operating trains out there. *** Edited 10/14/2005 2:02:24 AM UTC by millrace***

Restoring that train must be a "pet project" of the owner. It will make absolutely no sense from a business standpoint. You all have so much to learn about the amusement industry.

Oh no! Not another clone topic!

Strange and toolish drooling over a kiddie ride if you ask me.

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millrace said:
It's certainly disrepectful to all the operating trains out there.

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THANKS! :)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T.... ;)

^"Toolish". I like that! :-D

-Tina

Thanks gator. It was also disreSpectful to my profession! ;)

I can't take credit for it, Tina. Check the first post on pg 3 of the "Knoebels is working on a classic" thread. Actually, half the posts in here come from that thread as well. Yes, we're jacking somebody. :)

I've counted spillovers from that thread into at least 3 other threads already..

If you need a laugh, read page 8 of that thread.. I was literally ROFL!

dannerman, I just hope you're laughing "with" us and not "at" us.

There's a nice pic of the train in the Lakemont Park book. If I recall, the Pennsy had something to do with it. Not surprising if you consider that the PRR was THE employer in Altoona. The legacy of "The Company" is still strong in Blair County some 37 years after it's disapperance into Penn Central. Sentimental project? Perhaps, but what's wrong with that? If the Knoblels just looked at the bottom line, the "Grove" wouldn't be what it is today. *** Edited 10/14/2005 9:58:25 PM UTC by Dutchman***

It makes economic sense if you can market it so that the increased income provides an acceptable rate of return on the investment. If you get local railroad enthusiasts to the do the the work, then the cost is probably low, making it possible that it could make economic sense. And then of course, there's the fun factor.