I'm just reposting this verbatim from TrainOrders.com. I have no interest or participation, and know nothing about it:

"I've been contacted by the Art Department for a new TV show. They need to rent parts for a prop steam locomotive they are building (late 19th Century.) Items needed are:

Headlight - Box or Acetylene
Bell
Whistle - brass
Lubricator,
Water glass
Btake valves
various valves and fittings
Anything else that would go on or in a locomotive

Contact me off line if you have or know of such items. Will need photos to show them.
stangarner@earthlink.net "

A few words to the wise....

I know two people that rent some of thier collections to Hollywood, etc. You need to be REALLY careful dealing with these TV and movie types who are usually not history buffs and are used to doing what it takes to get the job done. Get everything you want written in a contract with them, or you could end up getting back damaged items and having no way to get them replaced or reimbursed for damages.

Having worked in the entertainment industry for 15+ years now, I would say that anyone handing over parts or artifacts should get payment for them up front, so that the production company owns them outright. Suffice to say they would be in worse shape when returned if one was to rent. The story of the rented Model-T Ford that was pushed off the Arroyo Seco bridge in Pasadena without the owners consent is a good example. You may get some insurance money but you are sure not to get anything back in good condition, if at all.

Seems to me if they can build a prop steam locomotive, they certainly should be able to build some prop accessories.
Mark D.

Exactly. Why bother to get real sight glasses, lubricators, etc. ? Why not just dummy them up in wood? Who is going to notice on some TV image?

I agree with this 100%. I know for a fact that the car that got “shot up” at the beginning of “The Rocketeer” was damaged without the knowledge of the owner and returned in its damaged state. As a military vehicle collector, I have heard lots of horror stories about vehicles rented out to movie and TV companies and returned heavily damaged. I have talked several people out of renting or loaning equipment to movie companies, much to their relief later when they saw what happened to the stuff that did get used.
These days, movie companies will often but large items, use them to their own ends, and often allow the previous owner to buy them back (usually at a far lower rate), to avoid the legal hassles with damaged rental goods. Most movie production companies only rent things that will only be “seen” and not used, such as furniture, stuff like that.
Personally, I never loan ANYTHING to anyone that I ever want to see again. This goes for movies, museums, community displays, etc. I’ve seen damaged or stolen stuff in all those cases.

I once worked for a scaffold and shoring rental firm in Los Angeles near Culver City. We rented scaffold equipment to movie production companies on several occasions during my 6-1/2 years with the firm.

We had several rules.
1) each film is an independent operation even if the office is located at a major motion picture studio -- therefore they have not credit rating.
2) payment in advance, no exceptions
3) charge several times the going construction company rate
4) add in the cost of removing the scaffold with the first payment
5) see rule #1

I recall one time, when a set foreman can into our office and had horror stories about the non-concern that he had seen on location shoots.