The Bessie 7 have been saved! We first reported on these engines
in the February issue of GEM, the seven 1,000 HP 1927
Cooper-Bessemer engines found in Ottawa, Kan., by reader Tim
Christoff of Basehor, Kan.
That report probably prompted more phone calls and e-mails than
any other piece of news we’ve had come through the office, and
engine enthusiasts around the country have been waiting with bated
breath to learn what’s to become of these giant relics of our
industrial past. Well, the waiting’s over.
It’s been eight months since Tim first laid eyes on the
Bessie 7, and their fate has gone up and down during that time.
Initially, it appeared they were almost certainly headed for the
scrap heap. A reprieve appeared to have been granted by early
spring, only to be thrown into question a few weeks later. Well,
this time it’s official, the folks at Williams Pipeline are
going to allow the engines to be saved instead of scrapped, and Tim
couldn’t be happier.
Tim isn’t saying just yet who’s getting the engines or
how they’ll be moved, but he has informed us that two of them
are still available Anyone interested should contact Tim at (913)
724-2640, or via e-mail at: Aermotor@aol.com
As ever, I look forward to your comments and questions about
Gas Engine Magazine. Contact me anytime at (785) 274-4379,
1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609-1265, or via email at:
rbackus@ogdenpubs.com.
