The funny part about that power plant map is that I personally know of four of those plants downwind from Steamtown being converted to gas as I type, and I'm not even a specialist in power/energy production.

What's your excuse going to be when "acid rain" is "done away with" and the paint STILL peels? Oh, wait, by then we won't have any more harsh, vicious Northeastern winters. "Global warming" and all that.......

</snarky sarcasm>

I think it took over 300 gallons of paint to coat 4012, and I am sure it was not cheap. I did see them power washing and masking but I do not recall any primer being applied, it may have been put on only certain spots or maybe I missed it. I did see them spraying the top coat and do not remember seeing primer but I could be wrong.

I will also add that thanks to Kip Hagen and his work to secure funding for the asbestos abatement and subsequent painting (which I understand took quite a while to get lined up, it may have been stimulus funds that came through but the proposal was out there way before), the collection is in the best shape it has been for many, many years. I am personally thrilled to see 6039 indoors.

And, it should be noted that not only will the asbestos removal help to curb damage to the boilers and jacketing, but it also paves the way for volunteer groups to work around and maintain these pieces without the health risk.

As a commercial painting contractor, there are products that can be installed over metal with a fairly long life. We just completed a painting project for a large theme park in Florida (name not permitted). The paint used was just over $100 per gallon. However, they expect at least 10 years of life out of it. And remember, the idea here is to keep the ride looking nice and never have to shut it down for repainting.

I did several large manufacturing / warehouse facilities in Pennsylvania last year. Here's the problem. PA has some very strict VOC limits on paint. They are trying to be "green". OK, but it has a trade off. Everything used in PA generally is a water based product (as opposed to oil based). What happens when you put water on steel?????

"What's your excuse going to be when "acid rain" is "done away with" and the paint STILL peels?"

Proximity to the Susquehanna Nuclear Facility (Berwick) and Three Mile Island (Middletown). They contribute a few millisieverts to ambient radiation already enhanced by deep mining.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

People tend to forget that what you save in paint costs, you lose in having to repaint. As the authorities clamp down more and more against folks painting their trucks/dumpsters/cabooses/etc. in their garages and forcing them to use paint booths, this should become the norm--buy the toxic catalyst $250 paint and see to it that you aren't doing it again in three years.

Incidentally, the stuff has been readily linked to bladder cancer and other maladies, so get as much protective equipment--masks, breathing apparatus, etc.--as you can, and then get a loan and get even more/better.

Takes about 50 gals of Imron 2.1HG (333 Black) when using paint pots, standard high-pressure guns, and big nozzles to "get it done" so it is all nice and "wet" and the overlap blends in - that will get you all around and in the running gear and cab 2 coats, and 3 on the big flats and curved surfaces to really push the gloss. About 10 gallons of other colors will do the rest. This number includes tender but not bunker - use POR 15 with Metalprep for that. Where you can't reach to sand, a tack coat of "Jam-It" will soften the paint and is better than nothing. With high solids primers and epoxy primers as applicable, still less than 100 gallons. For painting stenciling, I might try scruffing the stenciled lettering spaces with 600 grit next time - if there is one. Takes a lot of hours to sand a peeling 4000 down, John Rimmasch of Wasatch Railroad Contractors may provide comments on that. If you are going over Imron 333/2.1HG, wash and paint is acceptable as per the application instructions, but if it is topcoated with another product, sanding and test patches are required. More often than not, there is dirt and rust trapped in blisters multiple layers of paint down. A 4000 Class is really impressive outside with no building or cover in the way, and probably is the method that provides the most hedons practical to this Class. My experiences from working on the 4023 with Wasatch Railroad Contractors. MJ