Steam triumphs

[nkp_174]

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:


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.