Thought this would be a good place to have a list compiled with input from those in the loop.

Specifically, which engines in the collection are scheduled for what type of work in the asbestos removal program, or for that matter, any upcoming scheduled restoration work.

As most of us are aware, the larger park engines are or have had their asbestos removed and in some cases, new sheet metal is being fabricated as needed as well as the replacement of long unattached parts (rods and such).

So - which engines are only getting asbestos removal, and which might we expect to see get new sheet metal and appliance /rod reassembly, and which, if any, will remain as is.

I noticed many of the smaller engines and tank engines in line for such treatment and was wondering about the NKP #44 and the CP Jubilee in particular.

/Mitch

This sign is in the turntable plaza of Steamtown, and another is in the parking lot for any visitors who desire to read and attempt to comprehend which locomotives and passenger cars need asbestos abatement.

And a close-up. If this is still difficult to read, the locomotives undergoing work are
Rahway Valley 2-8-0 no. 15, Groveton Paper 2-4-2T no. 7, also known as Berlin Mills 7, Reading 4-8-4 no. 2124, Grand Trunk Western 4-8-2 no. 6039, Illinois Central 2-8-0 no. 790, Nickel Plate 2-8-4 no. 759, DL&W 2-6-0 no. 565, Bullard Machine Co. 0-4-0T no. 2,
New Haven Trap Rock 0-4-0T no. 43, EJ Lavino 0-6-0T no. 3, also known as Poland Springs water 3. Since the sign went up, savings in the project allowed for asbestos removal of Lowville & Beaver River 2-8-0 no.1923 and Public Service Gas 0-6-0F no. 6816.
That makes 12 locomotives undergoing work. I'm sure Gary Bensman or one of his staff can explain better than me the exact procedures going on.

OK - so how were those engines selected - or more to the point, why are the NKP
4-6-0 #44 and the Canadian Pacific Jubilee 4-4-4 #2929 omitted from the list? And there are others, I recall.

Perhaps the asbestos has already been removed?

It would've been nice to see those two specific engines get some cosmetic attention which I understand was part of the program after asbestos was removed, ie; new sheet metal as needed and reattachment of missing rods and /or drivers.

A sidebar question - will all engines be returning to their previous locations in the yard?

/Mitch

Mitch,

Reapplying any sort of lagging to a steam locomotive that is being used as a static display is a FATAL Mistake and I sure hope that is not being done here. All it does is trap water which corrodes the boiler shell, and rots the jacket.

Why is that the case?

In the past, the asbestos would retain the moisture and consequently speed the rusting process. The project at Steamtown will see the asbestos fibers /fabric removed and replaced with water resistant (water proof?) foam that will be used to help support the jacketing (as I understood). If the boiler and lagging are weather proofed and drainage holes are provided (as they are on automotive doors and such), there should not be an issue, or no more an issue then that of a plain exposed boiler and we can finally have accurate representative examples of such engines as they appeared while in use.

/Mitch

I am aware of several instances where park engines have gone through an asbestos abatement only to fiberglass insulation applied afterwards. 6218 is one such engine.

With 6213 on the other hand, the boiler was lined with cedar strips and foam blocks (around the firebox) to support the jacket.

Styrofoam strip spacers are used to keep the jacket away from the boiler and provide airspace. Before the jacketing is applied, the actual boiler shells are being rust converted then painted with high quality paint to prevent further deterioration of the boiler sheets.



Bruce

Just so the discussion isn't by-passing Mitch's terms, the asbestos is the lagging. I think he is using the term lagging for the jacketing. So replacing the jacketing is important, and the foam lagging acts as a spacer to keep the jacketing, which is a very thin sheet of metal, from sagging due to lack of support underneath.
No. 759 is nearly complete with her new jacketing being applied. She will look good as new when she leaves the shop.

As far as any steamers left off the list, the answer comes down to money. It always does. The priority locomotives are the ones on public display in places like the parking lot and turntable area. The K4 has no asbestos, nor do the operating steamers or the two getting restored. This leaves NKP 44, CP2929, CN3377, CN47, N&StL 210, MEC 519, Meadow River Lumber 1 and Brooks Scanlon 1 out of the picture for now. Another year, another budget could change all of this.

Tim, Meadows River Lumber has it's jacket and lagging removed. When we were planning on restoring her, cosmetic only and its my next engine if the NPS let's us, one of the managers up at Steamtown believes there may be some asbestos on the stack only. So that can be removed in the paint bay. But she is down the road for me and the crew. But who knows we get more folks up there maybe we can do two engines at a time. At least #1 has most of the parts attached still :)! Minus the cab, which I maybe able to get the blueprints to, it's wood. Who knows.

Having no real insight into the selection process, I believe Tim's statement sums up what was originally selected and why. As for the two late add-on's, the fireless engine and the LBR 1923, I think that comes down to triage more than anything else. These two were not "containing" the lagging very well if you catch my drift.

I think they made the right call, though my personal preference for the late "add-ons" would have been the Brooks-Scanlon prairie and the MEC 2-8-0.

Dave Crosby

Whoops - thanks for the correction, Tim. Since corrected.



That was what I was getting at - seems odd that some of the perhaps lesser significant and impressive engines would make the list while such significant engines would be left off the list, specifically two American examples of larger steam engines that had been used in mainline running (NKP 44 and MEC 519).

/Mitch

Fans of the Brooks-Scanlon Prairie are going to love her near twin on the WK&S. Very handsome machines.

Rob

6039 is all done except for lettering. She is in the roundhouse right next to NKP 759. Got to see them the last work day. 2 big engines next to each other in the house. What a sight!