Going back through some of my old issues of L&RP magazine brought me to the story of Colorado & Southern 2-8-0 #71. This narrow gage steamer was restored to operating condition inside a plastic tent! Topping that would be difficult, but it has been done with engines like PM 2-8-4 #1225 and an 0-6-0 in a city park out west. Sorry, but I forget the details on the 0-6-0 off the top of my head.
Doing work of this nature must be tough to say the least, but to do it outside in the heat, or rain, cold, buggy, etc. is extraordinary and inspiring.
My question is who knows of other steam restorations that have been or are being done in tents or out in the open?

.

SP 3420 has never had an overhead shelter. All of the inital work was done outside and the locomotive only spent two days in a building at Phelps Dodge to get it close to a couple of furnaces. All of the time I have seen the 2926 in Abq it has been outside. The work to get GCR 18 ready for the September 17, 1989 run was done outside. The Austin Steam Train Assoc. with the SP 786 has worked a lot of years outside. The number of groups that work outside is impressive.

Sincerely,
Robby Peartree

Hi all

How about NKP # 765,,I believe,,she was restored in 1979,,out in the

open,,air,,with little or no protection..and if you want too add MEC #501

at North Conway,, New Hampshire which is ongoing,,next too the

roundhouse,Pat..

New Hope Valley 17.

dave

Mount Rainier Scenic, Hillcrest Climax #10 was done entirely out in the open at a log yard in Tacoma in about 1979-80. I have photos of most of the operation. All winter they were drenched and cold, but got her done, 1st class. We were all a lot younger then!

Steve

Steve,

Do you mean the Kinzua three truck Heisler? I was down for the first day of operation, they had a lot of problems with the thick bunker oil that was left in the tank, lots of black smoke.

Richard Wilkens

I can think of a couple...

WK&S has always done their equipment (steam and car) restorations outdoors. Only recently have they actually had a building with tracks inside it available to do restoration work.

CNJ 113 (0-6-0) is being rebuilt outdoors in Minersville Pa.

While it did always have indoor storage, the W&W might as well be considered as having an outdoor restoration area until their new one track building was built 2002(?). That old shop, while protecting you from what was falling from the sky, did little else to help in the way of climate control. Hot and Humid in the summer damp as all heck in the rain and bitterly, freezing, bone chilling cold is an understatement when it came to winter work in the shop. An attempt to keep the work area was made by dropping tarps from the ceiling and heating with propane heaters the area you were working in, but it wasn't that sucessful. Lighting was another issue.

Everyone,

One of the prettiest pacifics and oldest (Rogers 1905) was restored out side on a siding near Louisville KY over a 13 year period.

I remember taking one of the 1st trips behind her. I drove from Lexington to Louisville to ride the train back to Lexington then back to Louisville and then drove back home to Lexington. This was all in the same day.

I know now why this trip did not impress my MRS. She has had enough ever since.

The engine is L&N 152 now at New Haven KY at the Kentucky Railroad Museum.

Take care,

JD Johnson, Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian

Hi All

I have one more for you,,exCPR # 2839 was rebuild outside,,at Bath,Pa

in 1972 & 73,,Pat,,

Kingston, NY the former LS&I now CMRR 23 and a Davenport O-4-O
are being done outdoors.

Choice C - "All of the above". Climax #10 and Heisler #91 were both done out in the open. I recall standing in Elbe one time with a railfan asking "Can I get a tour of your enginehouse?" as he stood next to the Heisler parked over a hand dug "inspection pit" (small hole between the rails, lined with timbers) "Sure thing, you're standing in it right now..."

Magma Arizona 5 was rebuilt in Galveston in the 80's outside,as was SP 745.

All of the early work at IRM was done outdoors including getting several engines operational including Shay 5, Frisco 1630, Tuskeegee 101, and an 0-6-0 (Lehigh?).

But I would question whether or not this would qualify as 'rebuilt' or 'restored' in the same sense that we see locomotive work being done today, in many locations across the ocuntry. Far more extensive jobs are being attempted (and completed) than were ever envisioned 30 years ago.

Bob Kutella

Bob,

Was the Climax restored at the log yard in Tacoma?

Richard