.

Walk a mile in my shoes........this kind of stuff is common in the commercial world. I get glazed eyes and confused looks when I write stuff up.........

That's impressive neglect!

Actually, yes, it should be saved, or at least documented. Might help to demonstrate that those "Standard" guys were not the hot stuff they thought they were.

Howard P.

Not necessary. There are plenty of people doing equally bad work today, so examples are not endangered.

dave

True, but this is part of the history of this specific locomotive. It is a good illustration of the general attitude of the railroads at the end of steam. Document the piece and put it back on the unit (if there isn't any thought of restoring it).

Saying the locomotive recieved "crappy maintenance" incorrectly suggests that the locomotive received any maintenance at all.

you better check the rest of the associated piping too and have some kind of long toilet auger ready, or replacing some piping, and be ready to... FLUSH!!!!

What do the water column and water glass valves look like?

A blowdown valve may be on the dirty side of the steam engine doings taking in scale while using to blowdown the firebox. Lack of water treatment surely accellerated this.