Oye! I had forgotten how rough around the edges she was before the repaint-guess I wasn't paying much attention at Railfest 2008. The new paint job definitely makes a difference though. The same goes for the other repaint jobs at the park!

An old and failing paint job does not have much to do with the overall condition of the locomotive. The locomotive only LOOKS like it is in horrible shape. Obviously the jacketing and the cab have deteriorated, but the serious mechanical parts are hardly affected by surface corrosion. As long as the lagging under the jacketing has been removed to eliminate moisture retention, the boiler shell falls into the "hardly affected" category, too.

Until a detailed survey is done, all commentary is simply speculation.

When this engine went to Bellows Falls, did the pistons and piston rods come with it or were they scrapped when they were taken out. I heard many years ago that she came from the west with the pistons and piston rods removed but never did hear about what they did with them.
My uncle lived in Waverly New York and told me about going down to see the engine when it was in the Sayre Yards of the LV going east. I think the local museum there even had a clipping from the newspaper with a story and picture of her by the station.

Hi
Engine 4012 did come with her pistons and piston rods , when she was at the old Steamtown , the parts were sitting in the tender coal compartment . Pat

The comment "rough around the edges" was simply referring to her cosmetic appearance at the time, and not her mechanical condition. I do not believe the lagging has been removed from underneath the boiler's jacket, but am not 100% sure. No one can deny that she DID look rough at the time. Very little speculation on my part-she makes a beautiful display piece, and just needs a little work-like a lot of display pieces. I commend the wonderful work that has been done on her and the other pieces in the collection-it makes a world of difference visually.

Getting it repainted will put a stop to all the "its in bad shape" arguements when Mr. Average looks at it...

I recall a pic in one of the RR mags of it on its way to Steamtown.

I think I see its rods in the pics...nope, not scrapped..

765 got its jacket replaced, it was rusting, boiler exterior got de-rusted with nail hammers....I wielded many a time killing rust on it. nope, surface rust just can't kill a boiler after 13 years.
Interior boiler sandblasted, sanddomes, steam covers sand blasted, etc, the whole shebang.

The very first picture was taken after she had been power washed by the contractor, prior to being repainted.
Mike Tillger

Thanks for the report on the rods Pat.
Surface rust can't kill a boiler but wastage sure can. Without knowing what lies under the jacket, the exposed surfaces that have no moisture retaining issues are not a good guide as to the overall condition.
The boys at Ontario Rail thought that TH&B 103 was a good candidate for restoration but once they got under the jacket, they found the acid rain caused by the local heavy industry at the time did a number on the UT readings.