I am new to this forum, but I'd like to introduce myself, I currently have just finished my Junior year studying mechanical engineering at Rutgers University. I'm from Massachusetts originally but this summer starting in another week and a half I will be living in New Brunswick, New Jersey and (and will have a car, unlike during the school year) working for a company that owns many power plants and hopefully starting to break into the power industry. I have one year left of school, I'm studying mechanical engineering, and figure as one who has loved steam locomotives all his life that the power industry is one of the last remaining holdouts on commercial steam and hope to make a living in the industry maintaining steam power plants.

At the same time always having had steam locomotives in my heart I'd really love to start learning the ropes of locomotive restoration work. While in high school I built myself a 1/8th scale coal burning, steam locomotive and have learned to be a pretty decent machinist. Growing up back home in Massachusetts while I have a nice garage machine shop which I love working in, we are kind of in a full sized steam locomotive dessert. So now that I will be in NJ for the summer thou I am rather excited about having so many locomotives near by. I grew up going to a rather active live steam club, where I could go on the weekends lend a hand and learn a lot.

Thus I was wondering if anyone knew anything about about steam locomotives currently under restoration in the NJ/PA area as a whole, hopefully with in a 1.5-2hr max radius from New Brunswick, NJ. In looking on line, I have found tidbits of stuff related to steam locomotive restoration. I've read some roomers that the Blue Mountain and Northern is restoring a Pacific, I know that New Hope and Ivy Land has a 4-8-4 that they are currently restoring, but that got sidetracked as they figure out what to do about revamping the line for increased demands of that locomotive as well as the possibilities of a new shop. Then I know that there were two steam railroads in NJ that had steam locomotives but don't know if any are currently under restoration. I think both the Black River and Western, as well as the narrow gage railroad museum. I even saw that they may be trying to revive 614.

I was wondering if anyone here would have any advise on which group would be best to go to, who may be welcoming to a very eager volunteer who is looking to learn and grow. I'm looking for a place where I could go and lend an eager hand a few weekends a month, work hard, and learn a lot. I have a young back don't mind crawling in and out of tight places, can do a decent job at machining, have a great respect for working around heavy machinery. Does anyone know which would be the best place in the area for a young guy like me to go volunteer over the summer and learn a bit or two also? It seems like there is a lot of steam down here.

Thanks,

Adam

Adam,

First of all, welcome to the forum. There are others here who can direct you to restorations within your specified area. I just want to say that you are the answer to the prayers of many of us. Lots of us Baby Boomer's who love trains have expended multi megabytes of space on this board lamenting about the lack of interest in trains among those born after 1980 or so. I've met other young train enthusiasts of your generation. I'm delighted to see you on this board, and I have no doubt someone will be in touch with you shortly.

Kevin

Adam,

There is a great opportunity for you at the Black River & Western RR in Ringoes. There steam engine # 60 a 2-8-0 is under restoration and the guys are currently installing the boiler tubes. There are a great bunch of guys with great knowledge and experience. They work on the old girl every Saturday and would love to have your help and pass along there knowledge, just come on down.

I also have my own collection of junk at Ringoes also,
check out www.prrllc.com

Tonight I laid down the primer coat on the ore jenny and plan on top coating tomorrow.

Send me a PM and I'll send you my # for more details.

Scott Kwiatkowski

BTW, I have been with the local power company for 20 years and use to hang out in New Brunswick ask anyone if they remember Greasy Tonys!

Adam,

New Hope & Ivyland are good people. One of them is a friend of mine, about our age, who just become a full-fledged firemen. They may be looking for new hires or trainees. One of the regular RyPN posters has a son who's had great success there. Perhaps he'll be able to chime in.

Strausburg is about 2 and a half hour drive and from what Mr. Kelly Anderson and Mr. Linn Moedinger have posted, they've got some new recruits and young guys in the shop department.

Rochelle Park, New Jersey north of Newark is home to the New York, Susquenhanna & Western Historical and Technical Society and and their locomotive. A note from their CMO on the steam section of their website sounds very promising and proactive http://www.877trainride.com/steam.htm

Also, the New Jersey Live Steamers. More good folks offering a unique way to learn in Basking Ridge. Is this the live steam outfit you mention growing up with?

Many of the places you'll encounter, whether they realize it or not, will need young guys that can not only work, but will be in it for the long haul.

Don't be too shy about visiting places further away, either. I've found some of the best friendships and skills can be found in going that that extra mile.

Kelly Lynch
www.765.org

Hi Kevin,

First off thanks for the encouragement. As far as young people getting interested in Steam locomotives, I think it is a tough call. For me I love the things. When I was 13 yrs old I wanted to start saving for a live steam locomotive and dad told me no! Said that I couldn't waste $5000-10000 on a "toy" but if I wanted to build one and spend that money on tools go a head. So I got a clapped out 13" leblond lathe. It came out of a factory that made cotton gins and may have been ran by Eli Whitney himself it was so old, and I started teaching myself how to machine.

I didn't understand at the time the wisdom in my dad's words, but the education I got out of that project really will last a life time. More so I discovered my real talents, decided on a career path, and had a blast. Along the way I met a guy named Joe Michaels. A real old time engineer he has done the FRA paper work on many locomotives in the northeast. At the time I wanted to be a machinist, but working in many shops convinced me engineering was a better path for me, I bought all my tools so cheap as a result of every shop in the area closing to China. Then tagging along Joe and listening to his stories made the decision to become a mechanical engineer so much easier. Hopefully I'll get to start working towards my PE license which will come in real handy one day for restoration work too. I'd love to learn my way around boilers and welding too.

Here's my shop by the way;

Here's the safeties popping off on my engine's first run;



As for the lack of young people interested in steam restoration, I think the reason is the lack of steam to inspire. Being in engineering school I see a lot of kids who like heavy fast machinery that makes a lot of noise, smoke and fire! The perfect match for steam locomotives. They see the big picture of the Big Boy on my wall in steam and ask me about it, but have never seen a steam locomotive before! How can you recruit new guys into a hobby when they are unfamiliar with such engines. Growing up in Massachusetts the nearest full size locomotive running was 2.5hrs away.

The second gripe I have is even when you go to a museum to see a steam locomotive I would compare it to like seeing a caged cheetah in a zoo, who eats nothing but prepared steaks with vitamin pills placed inside from the zoo keeper twice a day, vs seeing a cheetah on the safari hunting down it's pray running at 75mph! Even I get bored often riding on the locomotives at tourist railroads, where I can walk faster then their top speed. I think there need to be more main line excursions, 4-8-4's pounding around the curves at 75mph on occasion, going thru many cities in the country, but that takes money, and insurance sucks. I guess it is a tough cycle, you need tons of steam engines to inspire people to get involved and money to run them, yet with out many steam engines it is tough to reach out to guys who otherwise would be turned on by them.

Adam

Adam, Allow me to add my welcome to both this forum and to the ranks of NJ area steam fanatics!! The advice above is sound and I'm sure you''ll find a warm welcome at any of the 3 outfits. I'm a very part timer on the New Hope&Ivyland and can attest to the good works they do and the healthy ongoing volunteer program they very professionally run. Go to ....www.newhoperailroad.com for more info.
As to mainline steam-now you're talking!! When you get a spare million or two please pm me and we'll discuss it further! Have I got an engine for you!!!
Best of good luck-safety first and always!!
Ross Rowland

Adam, congratulations. You've found THE best place on the web for this sort of stuff...

Your live steamer looks terrific!



PS - in order to make your image appear I edited out all of the characters that come after the "jpg" in the url you posted, and put the [img] tags around it.

Hey Scott! I know where there are a couple sets of roller bearing trucks for you N5 caboose so you can get out on the mainline.

Later!
Mr. Ed

I am disappointed no one really mentioned Pine Creek (NJMT). They are still working, slowly I guess, on their mogul. Some new blood might be of help. A lot of good people (lots) have started out at Pine Creek and moved onto bigger and better things. If nothing else, its a good place to get your feet wet.

And I'm always looking for a little help on my Porter which I have in south Jersey. It may be a bit far for you, but feel free to stop in. Just send me a PM for the details.

J.R. May

Adam, please send me a PM and I will give your our phone numbers and email address. My son would like to get in contact with you. He just finished his freshman year at Rowan University and is majoring in mechanical engineering. We are involved with the New Jersey Live Steamers and my son works for the NH&I whenever he is not away at college. Also please contact Scott as he is a good friend of mine. There are plenty of opportunities in this area and we are always looking for get more young people involved. I am very impressed with your live steam locomotive. It looks like the photo was at the Washaukum? Live Steam club in MA. I have been there once or twice over the years. We look forward to hearing from you. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, but Kelly Lynch as laid out the groundwork!