Here is a recent shot of #1355, a fantastic cosmetic restoration done on a steamer with a Belpair boiler. I bet it cost a lot less than $350,000.

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPictur ... id=1801516

Gotta ask. How did the boiler construction, design, specifications, etc of GN compare to the PRR. If GN 1355 were to be brought back to life, would it have the same issues as PRR 1361?

And I really do not want to revisit the 1361 overhaul, I'd just like to compare notes on PRR and GN practices with similar firebox/boiler design.

Tom

There has been a lot of grief over the Lindbergh Atlantic restoration, but a recent news item quoted the labor hours at 6300 labor hours. That works out to about $55 an hour, without allowing for materials, tools, and insurance. After allowing for taxes and benefits, I am guessing the wage is $20/hour. That seems about right to me.

The labor hour figure represents about 3 full time employees for a year. Is that appropriate for the task list?

It costs $90 for a man to visit my house with a big air compressor to blow out the sprinkler lines for the winter. It takes about 45 minutes.

Tom -

As I recall, the original plans of the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association (SHRA) was to restore the 4-6-2 to active service. Later they secured the old Milwaukee Road roundhouse there in Sioux City as a home for the restoration. Somewhere along the line, the goal changed to just a cosmetic restoration. I don't know whether the reason was because of some mechanical problem with the 1355 or whether the cost to restore her was just unreachable for the group. Maybe someone from SHRA can give us the lowdown.

Les

Hopefully she'll be stored under cover. Doesn't the loco look great, posed on the turntable? All she really needs is a plume of pressurized steam coming from the generator. Wonderful restoration.