Dave:
Your outline is outstanding and includes guidance that I wish NJMT had several years ago before starting our restoration of Porter #46, a 1914 Mogul from Panama. I have only minor items that might be a useful addition to your list/report.

I would tend to look at some history of the locomotive as part of the survey process. I mention this only because of what we found on the #46 which ran in a third world country and was accompanied by many similar locomotives. Two issues come out of this. First is that care and maintenance were probably minimal in the jungle. Judging by what we found, we can't imagine what they lubricated the axle journals with. The left slide valve is a different valve from the right side. None of the axle boxes are the same with one being completely different. The pony truck uses two different journal boxes as well. It was a slap it together mentality. We tend to assume that with a fleet of similar locomotives, that cannibalization of spare parts from dead engines was the norm in desperate efforts to keep other engines operational. On the other hand, we have documented evidence of professional overhaul work being done on our Irish 4-4-0 and data from Lima covering the ordering of spare parts for our Shay by its various owners.

I suspect that the lower portion of the front flue sheet will give some good insight on overall boiler barrel condition in a situation in which the boiler is still lagged and jacketed. The front lower sheet is generally reachable and can probably be UT tested. If thin enough to require replacement, count on belly welding as well. Same holds true around the firebox wash out plugs. That area of the sheets are reachable and can be tested as well.

Even if an engine is well cared for but not run in decades, condensate will attack the belly of the boiler and the crown sheet. The #46 has been dry for decades, but the reality is quite different. Condensate attacked the belly severely. The same is true of our Irish 4-4-0. We took very good care of the boiler, but still experienced a moonscape on the belly.

I guess based on this, I would summarize it as follows:

1) Investigate the history of the engine. Did the owners have a repair facility? Are they in a location or in a business that would normally take care of their equipment? Any documentation/signs that the engine was professionally over hauled during its revenue life time? Did it operate with many similar engines at the same location?

2) Focus on accessible areas of a lagged/jacketed boiler in an effort to assess overall condition to include the lower front flue sheet and around firebox area wash outs.

J.R.

http://www.njmt.org
jrmay@njmt.org

Thank you - can't believe I forgot the paper trail!

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net