There are many of us steam enthusiasts who enjoy TRAINS Magazine's annual survery of operating steam locomotives in the U. S. A. and Canada--undoubtedly the best source of information on which locomotives can be expected to be in steam during a given year without contacting each operator yourself individually.

I'm wondering if there are others out there who would be interested in seeing TRAINS publish a list of projects that could be considered "active steam restorations"? There are a number of projects out there--that for one reason or another--well, it's just about impossible to obtain accurate information about them. Would the credibility of a phone call or email from Jim Wrinn or Jeff Terry be enough to get some organizations to respond?

Frederick G. Bailey

I guess I would ask for clarification on the definition of an "Active steam locomotive restoration." Most would agree that any such project involves period[s]/phase[s] of planning, research, negotiation[s] amongst individuals/organizations concerned, fund-raising, logistics, and the actual restoration work itself.

Include these items, and I'll come up with at least one suggestion..

Dear Fred,
I see Jeff Terry writing his Lineside Legacy in Railfan and Railroad not TRAINS.

But that being said a couple of things come to mind.

Most of the time steam locomotive restoration is a volunteer operation and there are only four Saturdays in a month (more or less) So it takes a lot of years to take a park display locomotive and bring it back to life. most of them have sat around usually without shelter for 60 years now.

I am a member of the WW&F Museum in Maine that is restoring the WW&F #9 a two foot gauge Forney (Portland Co, 1891) that worked for four of the five Maine Two Footers. She has a new steel boiler with a lot of hand made details; so much so that you will be hard pressed to tell it is a modern boiler by the time the lagging is in place.

The Museum's web site has a discussion section which you can go to to see and read the latest on the project.

At the other end of things; the Mid Continent Railway Museum has a standard gauge 4-6-0 that is a active project being covered by their web site. In fact the whole web site is a fountain of information on what is hapoening at the museum.

Ted Miles

PS the Railtown,1897 has just completed a Rogers locomotive from about 1895. She has been in about 100 movie and TV programs. Take a look at them also.
TM

Ted Miles, that steam locomotive that just debuted after a major rebuild on
July 4 weekend 2010 is the very famous Sierra Railway number 3.
This is THE "MOVIE STAR" locomotive that has appeared in a
good many Movie and TV shows over the past 70 years or so.
For reference, the "Sierra Railway 3" steam locomotive was built in 1891:
More information about Railtown 1897 and the Sierra Railway 3 can be found at these sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railtown_1 ... toric_Park

http://www.railtown1897.org/doc.asp?id=408

http://bttf.wikia.com/wiki/Locomotive_131

A very ACTIVE blog about the CURRENT happenings at the
Jamestown Railtown 1897 and SIerra Railway 3 can be seen here:
http://railtown1897.wordpress.com/

A MAP of the railroad that this tourist operation uses can be seen here.
This is from the website of the seperate dinner train operation:
http://www.sierrarailroad.com/dinnertra ... temap.html

I hope you find these web links to be very informative !
---- Daniel

Here is good a video on the Sierra Railway #3's history. Enjoy!
Mike

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSnQvnTtPl8

I'll second that; there's a big difference between throwing on a few coats of paint, making a few minor repairs, and calling it good (which, at best, would be more of a stabilization effort rather than restoration) and a true restoration effort as hi-plains refers to. Also, do you have a specific type of restoration in mind (either a cosmetic restoration which returns the locomotive to its as-built or in-service appearance and prevents or limits further deterioration, or a full restoration which allows the locomotive to be returned to full operating condition) or not?

Keep in mind, too, that (rumors aside) it's likely the lack of information or publicity of any sort regarding some restoration efforts may simply be due to a lack of activity, or the person(s)/group(s) involved may be in the midst of planning and/or negotiations amongst all who are involved/affected in any way and may not want adverse publicity or rumors to have a negative impact on said efforts; if the latter is the case (and it probably is, depending on the circumstances), then you won't get any information until that phase of the project is completed.