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Locomotive restorations started but abandoned?
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19940
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Author:  Dave [ Sun Feb 26, 2006 8:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Not Limited to Locos

Bob Kutella wrote:
WHY DO WE FIRST HAVE THE ALMOST UNRESISTABLE URGE TO TAKE THINGS APART?
Bob Kutella


Recently wondering why I seem to work a lot for irrational people - perhaps it is because it is not a rational career choice for me to have made, since many people want things restored without rational economic justification? I wish there were more well planned restorations done for defined business purposes, rather than for emotional reasons, but we takes 'em as we gets 'em.

Also, no matter how much poking and prodding you do to an assembled hulk, until the job is well into the reconstruction phase and individual parts are being repaired to be reinstalled, the real scope of work isn't definable.

Priorities, standards and practices change as different people with different experience and skills sets enter and depart from projects. Of the many right ways to do a job, and the many practical compromises we choose to make or not, which is the guy in the shop going to choose today, that will differ from those of the guy working tomorrow?

I think it is inherent in the nature of the work itself - and probably in the traditional job structure models we have been using.

dave

Author:  Stephen Hussar [ Sun Feb 26, 2006 9:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Not Limited to Locos

Bob Kutella wrote:
WHY DO WE FIRST HAVE THE ALMOST UNRESISTABLE URGE TO TAKE THINGS APART?
Bob Kutella

(This may have been intented as a rhetorical question, but it opens the door to a different on/off topic subject which could have it's own thread)

Doesn't our overly litigious society demand it? Yes it has become an inexorable part of restoration, but it's the only way to know an item's true condition. And since most of these things will be operated in very close proximity to the public, the disassembly and evaluation are done in the name of safety, no?

By the way Dave, the number one thing most often uttered by the irrational people I work for is, "can you do it two different ways and let us decide which one we like better?" ;-)

Author:  Les Beckman [ Sun Feb 26, 2006 7:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rare restoration - started but abandoned?

Getting back to the original subject; Locomotive restorations started but abandoned. An outfit called the Ft. Madison, Farmington & Western in Iowa has a rather rare 0-4-0 TENDER locomotive. Originally built for the Indiana Northern Railway in South Bend, Indiana, number 4 eventually went to a gravel pit in Missouri before ending up in private hands. One of the few 0-4-0 tender engines still in existance, the FtMF&W had supposedly started the restoration of this little gem, but that was some time ago. They HAVE restored a gas-electric to operation, so perhaps there is hope for the little Baldwin. Anyone have any current info?

Les

Author:  steaminfo [ Sun Feb 26, 2006 8:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rare restoration - started but abandoned?

Les Beckman wrote:
Getting back to the original subject; Locomotive restorations started but abandoned. An outfit called the Ft. Madison, Farmington & Western in Iowa has a rather rare 0-4-0 TENDER locomotive.
Les


Well, the photo at the following URL is what it looked like in 1999:

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=1747

The website for the company that owns it no longer has any information about the railroad itself on it...at http://www.minermfgco.com

Author:  ge44tonner [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Rare restoration - started but abandoned?

There is some additional information about the 'Ft. Madison, Farmington and Western' available at the Miner Manufacturing website. Try this link:
http://www.minermfgco.com/minerville/
Photos of restored and operating equipment include an 8-ton Vulcan gas-mechanical, a 25-ton Plymouth, an Edwards ex-CBQ gas-mechanical car, and an operable steam Ohio locomotive crane. The 0-4-0 is mentioned as a restoration project, but no photos. They held an open house in September 2005 and are planning another in September 2006.

The company 'Miner Manufacturing' seems to be an active contractor in rolling stock restoration, and the website shows photos of a rail-up reconstruction of a trolley car and restoration of five ex-Toronto PCC cars.
Dan Rohrback

Author:  Richard Glueck [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Locomotive restorations started but abandoned?

Gentlemen and women: I want to thank each and everyone who has participated in this topic. Not only have the contributions been enlightening, but everyone was courteous and offered insight and opinions without pointing fingers or dumping blame on others. This is the way we should handle every topic thread on RYPN!
Nobody blamed-
Nobody flamed-
No fingers pointed-
No accusations-
Positive information exchanged-

How great is this?

Dick

Author:  Les Beckman [ Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Locomotive restorations started but abandoned?

Sorry, I just thought of another one. Didn't a group down south somewhere start the restoration of a SP 2-10-2 with the idea of restoring it to service? Haven't heard anything about it for a long time. Maybe they never even got started.

Les

Author:  survivingworldsteam [ Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Locomotive restorations started but abandoned?

Les Beckman wrote:
Sorry, I just thought of another one. Didn't a group down south somewhere start the restoration of a SP 2-10-2 with the idea of restoring it to service? Haven't heard anything about it for a long time. Maybe they never even got started.

Les


You're thinking of SP (T&NO) 2-10-2 #982; once on display in Hermann Park in Houston. TRPA was formed to restore this locomotive to operational condition; but the group's actual work consisted of stabilizing and basically cosmetically restoring it.

It was moved last year to a display in front of former Union Station, now part of Minutemaid Park in downtown Houston (another good adaptive reuse plan).

It's sister engine #975 was on display in a park in Beaumont; it was towed on it's own wheels to the IRM several years ago.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project

Author:  Bob Kutella [ Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Locomotive restorations started but abandoned?

And the one from Beaumont - a lot to say about that move. Lots of road trips to prepare the loco for movement, and a whole litany of excuses from the hauling railroads. One we had trouble dealing with was the upswing in traffic and resulting loco shortages at some points on the system.

A very unique answer was sorted out when one of the diesels in our collection went out on loan, performed some train service and was at least partly involved in actually hauling the steamer back to our site.

Bob Kutella

Author:  chooch982 [ Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Locomotive restorations started but abandoned?

Yes,

A good analysis of the engine and some stabilization/restoration work was done on SP 982. Even after the Houston Jaycees did the abatement, the boiler shell turned out to be in better condition than SP 786 in Austin was before her original restoration.

The City of Houston turned over its part ownership to the JC's, who now have 982 sitting on city owned land near the Houston baseball stadium downtown. No roof or cover over it. It was primed with "Rust Bullit" and a good coat of black paint.

I supervised the moved, so be assured it was done right. With any luck, it could still be restored to run.

Greg Radler
Texas Railroad Preservation Association

Author:  Flagg [ Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another saddletank

Our Flagg Coal Co. engine is no longer No.2. When we completed the restoration and filed the paperwork with the FRA we numbered the engine #75. It is kept at The Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, MI. This year plans are in the works to take the engine to several different locations for weekend events. As for our other engine we have, a Vulcan 0-6-0T, it is in the shop about 80% restored. A year from now we hope to have the engine done and running somewhere. We are doing the work on the engine ourselves and at our own expence so progress isn't as fast as we would like it to be. Making a living gets in the way of having fun!

John & Barney

Author:  Les Beckman [ Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another saddletank

John & Barney:

Glad to hear you guys are still working on the Lehigh Valley Coal VULCAN 0-6-0T. You guys do great work!

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

Author:  Steam [ Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Not Limited to Locos

What is the status of ex-Boston & Maine 4-4-0 #494 at White River Jct., Vermont?

I know that a cosmetic restoration is under way, and has been for some years. I also know that the engine is now finally under a canopy near the railroad depot.

The group puts out a monthly newsletter, but for many issues there has not been a word about any progress on the project. It has pretty much been a one or two man job, with extremely limited, almost hand-to-mouth, financing right from day one. Without constant publicity, how do they expect people to know about the work, or get more money raised?

While commending all those involved, what is the prognosis?

Author:  Stephen Hussar [ Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Not Limited to Locos

Richard,

This is what the display looked like in late 2004. Everything looks terrific, and I remember thinking the 494 almost looks like she could be steamed up at any time. It appeared that they might still working on the interior of the cab. I agree it would be nice to hear from someone directly involved in the restoration, to hear the status of the project.
Image

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