In Fort Wayne, some of our youngest volunteers have adopted 0-6-0 switcher no. 1 (one of the two remaining Wabash steam engines) as their project, taking ownership over a long delayed stabilization effort that has regenerated enthusiasm from other members.

Our thinking is to have a meeting in the near future to discuss the stabilization and restoration work and whether it will mean a cosmetic or full restoration to service.

For now, a handful of younger volunteers, under supervision from our mechanical crew,
are just beginning to scratch the surface.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz1rXsQ_ ... MYGpJ5JUoA

I cannot think of a better way to pass the mechanical skills and the love of steam to another generation! A restoration to steam is always the best outcome, however a cosmetic restoration is always a good outcome.
Good job!
Alan

Kelly -

We have a Malcolm McCarter photo of the 0-6-0 when it was still Wabash #534 hanging on the wall of our depot in North Judson. I wish your young crew well in their efforts to restore the locomotive, whether cosmetically or to eventual operation. Also good to see our old friend Bill Byers in a couple of the photos. Bill can teach these guys a lot and can spearhead their efforts.

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum)

Bravo for all involved. Most of us got our start working on steam in very much the same way. We followed older guys around and started with scrapping paint/wire brushing and moved on little by little. "Kid hand me that pipe wrench", "kid come here and hold this bar while I heat this up". "Kid take this apart and put all the nuts and bolts in this can".

I know the world we live in has changed and am reminded about this every time suggest something that works. But this type of involvement is where we get our future members and guys to fix and run trains. Not sure about the legalities needed to protect organizations, but to say no to anybody who is under 18 working on equipment with adult supervision is very counter productive in the long run. You hear of examples where younger members can get involved so it must be feasible? Wow, what a concept, get them interested when they are young! There is so much to gain from a program like this. Not to mention it can give a younger adult something tangible to hold on to in a world that seems to spinning out of control as well as an outlet for there "bizarre" interests that nobody else their age understands. Cheers, John.

PS there are rewards for the adults working with a young people too, not just an extra set of hands.

I got to see WAB 534 last fall during the FWRHS Open House 2012.

Wabash 534 (Restoration Tour), 09-29-2012
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Chxk2IYoY

Enjoy! ^_^

I would take the full restoration path to potential operation, it gives the engine complete workover, if you run into a cog that says ARGH! then cosmetic.
There may have been more impossible jobs done out there in restoration land brought to steam...

Opportunities are rare for under 18 members to get in on the ground floor. Roundhouses, yards, and towers which many of us had access to growing up, or an indulgent relative or railroad employee, are few and far between. I knew how to change out a traction motor before I knew how to change the oil in my first car. Fresh blood is not a threat...treat it for what it is....a blessing.

Kudos for the young guys finding an abandoned project and making it their own.

Operating? first, you NEED to have it operating for a valid busines reason. Then worry about its being the right one to restore.

dave

Very well-made video by the Fort Wayne RRHS. Did anyone notice how the video transitioned from a photo of the
three volunteers to an old photo of the three railroad employees? That was nicely done.

Even a utilitarian yard locomotive is a beautiful machine (example below of UP 4466).

I envy those young guys in Fort Wayne.



UP 4466 by El Cobrador, on Flickr