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| Steam Again Harmful? Another Perspective https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2263 |
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| Author: | Mike Pearle [ Thu Nov 15, 2001 2:54 am ] |
| Post subject: | Steam Again Harmful? Another Perspective |
In a lower post this question was asked, from the perspective of the efficacy of having a seemingly endless list of disassembled engines that one could think of. I'd like to expand the discussion a bit. First from the perspective of an engine like DL&W 565 @ steamtown-which in my opinion should be restored as a Flagship loco (if I could only put my $$ where my pen is) but which may be impossible due to the loss of parts which occured when the engine had an aborted restoration/conversion to oil. How many other dissamblies are accompanied by inadequate cataloging and custody of parts? That would be an (sad) interesting list to compile. Secondly and more importantly, from perspective of modern environmental knowledge/regulation. Lets face it-Old Steamers aren't Sierra Club poster material. If you think the ambition rich, cash poor organizations are causing damage because of leaving engines around dissasembled, think of what happens when some disintegrating display engine will be visited by a small inquisitive child and who will grab a handful of "snow" (friable asbestos) and ingest or inhale it. How many times you've heard of amateur asbestos abatement projects, done perhaps by the "it'll be fine as long as we wet it down" method. How many groups have heard of laws like RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) or CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Compensation and Liability Act)- aka "superfund"? (RCRA imposes strict recordkeeping responsibilities for hazmat, from cradle to grave-and requires proper disposal to be evidenced by a waste manifest) let lone comply with them. If I could waive a magic wand, that's the first consciousness I'd imbue in would be restoration teams. I wish I could get the lead and asbestos of every engine on the continent, properly- so we can debate the curatorial stuff without burdened consciences, legal or financial liability to deal with... Its late, I'm ranting... |
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| Author: | Dave [ Thu Nov 15, 2001 8:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam Again Harmful? Another Perspective |
Mike, you make a good point but it is more relevant to the flawed environmental abatement system now in place that requires unreasonable and ill concieved expensive solutions to problems which are perhaps not as detrimental as the solutions. How often have we heard about schools with very low levels of ambient asbestos until abatement has been done, after which they are much higher? The lead paint thing is much easier - don't feed it to kids. Don't let your kid eat it. Sometimes better to leave well enough alone or encapsulate. If it can't reach you it can't hurt you. Dave irondave@bellsouth.net |
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| Author: | Ted Miles [ Thu Nov 15, 2001 1:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam Again Harmful? Another Perspective |
This is a good point! A steam engine does not have to be running to be of historical and educational value. There is a room full of steam engines in places like the RR Museum of Pennsylvania or the CA State RR Museum, that are static. Asbestos was a big issue a few years ago, now lead is looking to be even bigger. And everything around a railroad is covered in lead paint, not just pasts of the steam engines as was the boiler insulation. Yes, I am glad to have seen UP#449 in steam, but I am also glad that there are a lot of other UP steamers scattered around. TM ted_miles@NPS.gov |
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| Author: | Ted Miles [ Thu Nov 15, 2001 1:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam Again Harmful? Another Perspective |
> This is a good point! A steam engine does > not have to be running to be of historical > and educational value. There is a room full > of steam engines in places like the RR > Museum of Pennsylvania or the CA State RR > Museum, that are static. > Asbestos was a big issue a few years ago, > now lead is looking to be even bigger. And > everything around a railroad is covered in > lead paint, not just pasts of the steam > engines as was the boiler insulation. > Yes, I am glad to have seen SP#4449 or UP844 in steam, but I am also glad that there are a lot of > other SP and UP steamers scattered around. TM Sorry about the typo! ted_miles@NPS.gov |
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