Large Scale Central

Is this the real American Flyer?

General Discussion
#1

Is a steam locomotive an art form? Jeff Koons thinks so and has proposed building this full-scale replica of a 1924 Baldwin to dangle above what used to be the elevated tracks (now a garden and stuff) in The Big Apple. Patrons there are interested (LA apparently isn’t, having just shelled out millions of dollars for a 320-ton boulder). I’m guessing this baby will be fiberglass or something like that. It’s supposed to spin it’s wheels and puff smoke.

Here’s a link (I think) to a Huffpost showing an artist’s rendering of the loco.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/27/jeff-koons-train-sculpture-high-line-new-york_n_1382436.html?ref=new-york

#2

NO he’s got it TOTALLY WRONG! It shouldnt be a crane but an enormous hand and arm reaching down from between the buildings holding the train up.

#3

It is NOT a “Train”…it’s just a LOCOMOTIVE…

#4

+1 to Victor!

#5

“It is NOT a “Train”…it’s just a LOCOMOTIVE…”

And it’s missing it’s tender behind! :lol:

Have fun,
David Meashey

P. S. I would never have handled my American Flyers like that. The smoke fluid would have run back out the stack!

#6

I agree with Victor. Make it Pop Art like with reality emulating fantasy. Turn the loco 90 degrees and hold it with a hand and arm extending out from behind a building 30 or so feet above the bridge. No that I’d drive to NYC to see :slight_smile:

#7

I say +2 to Victor… no, counting Jon, that’s +3 now. :smiley:

#8

Uh yeah, interesting concept…

(http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-rolleyes008.gif)

So $25 million for a mock up of a precariously dangling 2900 series Santa Fe locomotive (sans tender). Couldn’t they just purchase a real one and move it to the park, displaying it in a lot nicer looking pose? Six 2900’s still exisit and some are well cared for while others are languishing. I wish a donor would give $25 million to the existing real locomotives. Guess I just don’t get “art”. Oh and couldn’t be “American Flyer”. They never made a 2900 Santa Fe 4-8-4. I don’t think Lionel ever did either. Bachmann makes a crude version in HO scale. Sort of an odd locomotive to pick for New York. A NYC Hudson seems a better choice. Then it could be “real Lionel”

#9

This’d be amusing for someone to add to their layout. Or maybe a giant crane with an artist hanging from it.

#10

$25 friggin million is absurd :open_mouth:
At that price, the artist must be pocketing $24 million or so.
Victor’s idea is far superior…and it was free :wink:
Ralph

#11

Wouldn’t a Lionel Blue Comet loco be more correct as Lionel used to be headquatered in NYC…Typical modern artist tho… looking for the rich to fund it!!!

#12

Think of it as the ultimate “Hand of God” switcher in action. for $25 M how much you wanna bet i could get the hand to move up and down while holding it while the wheels are turning and steam is a puffing. :lol:

The thing is that Hollywood has been making fiberglass steam engines for years and I can tell you for a fact they didnt need $25M to do them, can you imagin if it cost that much to make a fiberglass replica (whose wheels turned also) of the Hooterville Cannonball? I think that series would be over awefully fast! What about the engine they built for Hell On Wheels? Some methinks the actual costs of this installation is closer to $5M, with $20M going to a retirement account in the Camen Islands and some creative Max Byalistock accounting to ensure the installation appears to loses money and to outside eyes to have gone bust. :open_mouth:

#13

Hey, LACMA just paid ??? million for a 320-ton boulder, so what’s 25 mil for a loco? BTW, make that a +4 for Victorio.

#14
Dave Funk said:
Wouldn't a Lionel Blue Comet loco be more correct as Lionel used to be headquatered in NYC...Typical modern artist tho... looking for the rich to fund it!!!
but they were made in NJ (Newark, Irvington and Hillside.) NY always gets the credit.
#15
Dave Funk said:
Wouldn't a Lionel Blue Comet loco be more correct as Lionel used to be headquatered in NYC...Typical modern artist tho... looking for the rich to fund it!!!
double post
#16
Michael Moradzadeh said:
... Or maybe a giant crane with an artist hanging from it.
Politicians are more decorative.
#17

Ya know, on The Sopranos, in an edisode called “The Blue Comet,” Bobby Bacala was in the train store admiring a Blue Comet when he got popped.

#18
Joe Rusz said:
Ya know, on The Sopranos, in an edisode called "The Blue Comet," Bobby Bacala was in the train store admiring a Blue Comet when he got popped.
He was a RR guy. A train store in Mt lakes NJ made the layout in the garage. We will take credit for everything but Jersey shore (everyone in the show is a New Yorker)
#19

The statue of Liberty cost $530,300 to build.