As a member of the Pennsylvania RR Technical and Historical Society, I've seen frequent reports on this project (which is separate from the PRRT&HS). I would say this is part of a small movement that might be called "T1 revisionism", that believes the T1 was not the failure most accounts say it was. In other words, the poppet valves were great, the loco wasn't slippery, and presumably E7s were an unnecessary replacement. By making a new one, they will somehow be able to demonstrate this, but as one comment above suggests, it's not clear exactly how. The loco may have been capable of extended speeds well over 100 mph, but the question becomes where they can demonstrate this -- the NEC? Amtrak Michigan lines? To me it's a mildly interesting but entirely moot point, since the PRR, in concert with a unanimous rail industry, thought T1s and any other steam should be replaced absolutely as quickly as new diesels could be purchased. Yeah, you can donate to what you please, but most people will find a better use for the money.