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I got a kick out of this news story...

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Wish that had happened on my last visit!
Awesome!

Andrew
Just great...!!!! Thumbsup
That is cool!
Did you notice. Four out of the six comments were from America.
This justifies building this locomotive, now maybe the government will give these guys more on their next project.
Maybe we can get them to come over here and get a new K4 built. It would be cheaper.
A really great article, and I hope they keep her steamed and ready for the next rescue.
Charlie
Charlie B Wrote:get a new K4 built. It would be cheaper.
Than the continuing restoration of the 1361 Icon_lol I have heard, from knowledgeable sources, that building a new one would be faster and easier than the approach being taken on the 1361.

Nah, I think an NYC hudson or a PRR T-1 would be the project. The K-4s were 50% larger than the A-1s, which traditionally meant a 50% increase in construction cost. A J-3a would be 75% larger than an A-1...and hence 75% more. Of course the economics are a bit different today...but the same rule loosely holds as the quantity of material goes up.

My pick would be a new 3' gauge Mason Bogie. They were remarkable locomotives, and the last was cut up during a scrap drive in 1943.
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They were the first locomotives in the US with Walschaerts Valve Gear. The lead truck pivoted and had massive fireboxes capable of generating an excess of steam 50 years before conventional designs could do so. They were VERY expensive locomotives in their day.
H-m-m-m.....makes me wonder if NS would be willing to pull one of their old steam engines out of the Museum of Transportation, the next big snowstorm we get?? (possibly this weekend) I hear old 1218 can be "brought to life" almost any time, and with some effort, J series #611 could be fired up in a matter of "a few hours."
sgtcarl1 Wrote:H-m-m-m.....makes me wonder if NS would be willing to pull one of their old steam engines out of the Museum of Transportation, the next big snowstorm we get?? (possibly this weekend) I hear old 1218 can be "brought to life" almost any time, and with some effort, J series #611 could be fired up in a matter of "a few hours."

Both require major work. The rules have changed since they were parked...dramatically changing the game. Both would need to be completely stripped and have extensive ultrasound testing performed. Still, if the CEO has the right political connections...he could get an exemption from the FRA rules and possibly due just what you've said! Most steam locomotives on display could be just fired up, but it just isn't safe and many things wouldn't work right.
Michael, by your comments, am I to assume you've been to our museum? Big Grin I guess it's just mostly wishful thinking, but I know other people who have the same idea. And our out-going governor wouldn't even think of considering it. However, our new governor might consider just such a thing! Big Grin If memory serves me correctly, they did get a fire going in J-#611, within the past year or so. Some kind of
celebration, or some such. She may have been converted to oil, but, again, my memory may be off. Eek
Carl, I have been to the museum, but my opinion is based on knowledge of mainline steam. The NS steam program ended in 1994. The following year, there was a non-catastrophic boiler explosion with pacific #1278 on the Gettysburg Railroad. New FRA rules were enacted (effectively, new Federal laws) which changed the legal requirements for firing up/running a locomotive. Under the old system, you just had to get the inspector into the boiler...you then had 7 years of time, with annual extensions thereafter. But, the new rules put a hard cap on boiler time...and these rules have made the 611 illegal for around 5-13 years (the new rules started in late 1996, a grace periods varied dependent upon the local inspectors...C&O 2716 was shut down in late 1996 with only two weekends of service on her boiler while the EBT ran #14 into 2004).

The new rules are here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=9490051c7c73a3d61060db2c6c334b3c&rgn=div5&view=text&node=49:4.1.1.1.24&idno=49#49:4.1.1.1.24.2.61.7">http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/te ... .24.2.61.7</a><!-- m -->

The new cap is either 1472 days (approx 4 years) of operation, or 15 years from the last non-destructive testing/stripping of the boiler. It is a major task, NKP 765 looked something like this while being prepared for the testing:
[Image: MVC-026S.jpg]

Many locomotives were sidelined as a result of the new rules. The only mainline locomotives (larger than 4-6-2s and 2-8-2s) which I know to currently be compliant are NKP 765, GTW 6325 UP 844 & 3985, AT&SF 3751, SP&S 700, and SP 4449. Due to running gear issues on the 6325 and major overhauls (or possibly retirement) for 261 & 1225, the 765 is currently the only big show east of Cheyenne.

An oil conversion is not as big of a deal as many people think, but it isn't the sort of thing you do without immediate plans to run and (for mainline steam) without causing big news. The basics are to build a tank with heating elements and a pump in the tender, replace the grates, add new piping, and replace the stoker with sprayer. Rumors are always swirling about the 611...and they have been rolling her frequently to protect the bearings...always generating wishful thinking. A year or so ago, she was rolled across the street for a ride on the turntable in honor of some anniversary...generating many unfounded rumors. They have kept her in the mothball fleet, but performed no work to prepare her to operate. Until we hear that Scott Lindsay is escorting her back to the Birmingham shops, they'll continue to just be rumors.

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Back to the original story, the British steam enthusiasts are really something. Granted, their mainline steam is much smaller than ours, but they have so much more of it in service.
Michael: thanks for the info!! I really appreciate it!! Next time you're down this way, give me a holler, and we can have a few cups of coffee, or southern sweet tea!!!
Carl, I don't get down there often...but I'll take you up on that if I can. Likewise, if you are in Cincinnati, drop me an email.
I read about this a few days ago and thought it was ultra-cool -- can't trust these modern electrics!

I've been following the story of the Tornado ever since I first learned about it a couple years ago. I'm so impressed that they were able to build a brand new steam engine -- and a few others are in the works as well.

Cheers,
Rob
There is a working Challenger 4-8-8-4 in the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. It was brought out last year for a run to the State Fair in Pueblo for the staff of the Denver Post, who used to traditionally attend the Fair by chartered train in the old days. It was one h*** of a show - absolutely nothing beats a Challenger pounding past at full bore, doing what it is designed to do best - hauling a load. It was like watching a symphony made up of steam, metal and moving parts, and the sound of that whistle is a lasting memory.

Ironically, trains require helpers to cross Monument Pass at over 7,000 feet, but with a full passenger train in tow, the Challenger never missed a beat through the entire 2,000 foot climb up from Denver. Special note to railroaders and geographers: Denver, the often-touted "Mile High City", is the low point on the Front Range. Water runs back to the north from Monument Pass. Here in my part of the state, we refer to Denverites as "flatlanders". 8-)