Gadzooks!

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 800&nseq=2

I've seen park engines look worse, at least she is still valued.

Joshua

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! ;-)

I wonder what they do when the kids fall into the smokebox??? ;)

Parking a steam locomotive in an children's sandbox usually results in sand accumulating everywhere, which rusts out the cab floor, cab sides, and attacks the firebox wrapper sheet at the cab floor level. Sand holds moisture and accelerates corrosion of springs, journals, etc. Usually the locomotive looks bad after 50 years of outdoor display.

The caretakers of S.P. 1235 at Monterey's "Dennis The Menace Park" have given this locomotive an extraordinary level of care for a sandbox engine. Sand is regularly swept out of the cab etc, and the locomotive is repainted as needed. It appears that the boiler jacket and lagging, which will hold moisture and become corrosion sources (and contain "Vitamin A") have been removed to protect the boiler. This engine is in significantly better condition than most park engines, and should outlast us all.

- Doug Debs

Then one day little johnny will fall off and his parents will sue for 35 million dollars in damages. The engine will be cut up and stuffed into a container bound for a china steel mill.

Enjoy it while you can..

Long before I'd do so on something that would actually move again, I, like many, grew up climbing on this P.O.S. Although it might not look purdy, I can't remember when that black dip job wasn't kept up and looking fresh. Given our times of stringent playground safety codes, ambulance-chasing lawyers and a location in one of the worst, most corrosive environments imaginable for a steam locomotive (less than 1/2 mile in from the bay), I'm amazed -- and glad -- it's still there for a new generation of kids to explore.

If only the 1294, cut up some 30+ years ago after being consumed by the San Francisco fog, was so lucky...

You mean this one.


Roger