In an attempt to restart productive conversation...What are the differences (and similarities) between current US and Canadian boiler regs. and is there any reciprocity across the border? Clearly when steam was the power of choice for railroads, locomotives which were inspected in Canada didn’t have to stop at the boarder to be re-inspected before operating in the US. As steam becomes unique, and the laws move further apart the boarder could become a barrier.

I know of a locomotive in my region (its not my news to tell, this is why I am being vauge) that is reciving a new Canadian made boiler from Boilersmith in Ontario. From what I am told, dealing with the regs are a non-issue with its constuction and should be okayed for US operation without any problem. It is being build according to US regs, just like Japanese and English cars built for US sale had steering wheels on the left side. The proper people are involved and this is no secret to the inpectors.www.boilersmith.comI'll post an update when I see it run again.Ray

Regulations very slightly from province to province here in Canada, but there are also federal regulations that have to be followed if the locomotive is going across country or if the host railroad insists on it.There are two differences that come to mind between the Canada and U.S. regulations...First, there is still only one water glass required in Canada as opposed to two in the States. This is one of the reasons it took a couple of years for 2816 to return to the U.S. after its rebuild...One site glass. It has two now.Here in Ontario (not sure about the rest of the country) the ultrasound must be done every 4 square inches on boiler. Correct me if I'm wrong, isn't it every 12 square inches in the United States?

A big difference between U.S. and Canadian practice is that in Canada it is possible to have a provinical boiler inspection, and then to run on the general railroad network in the province. In the U.S. that is not the practice: anyone running a steam loco on the general railroad network (by that I mean not an isolated museum operation) has to comply with the national CFR standards.At least I think that is correct. Please correct me if I am wrong.Chris.