Actually, the "end" may be near. Why do you ask?

Well, RR, ADMIV and RMcD all agreed on something!

So with upcoming job losses, cuts to the park service and Amtrak, the possible shut down of certain services and other unforeseen spending cuts, if Baldwin 26 ever gets completed, what would be its start up procedure ?
(Nice tie in to the original question EH!)

Wood, starting with tinder, with appropriate accelerant.I can't imagine there's be any problem finding busted chalks and wood scraps.

Following and commenting on politics has become a favorite pastime of mine, and I must say that as political discussions go, this one has been the most thoughtful, rational and least emotional of any that I have read.

I first became interested in politics years ago when I began to realize that a part of preserving historical artifacts "forever" necessarily involves making sure that our nation continues to survive and thrive. The complex arrangements that we as a society have built up to protect ourselves and by extension our history means little if our entire civilized society descends into chaos.

Ross's realism is spot on. We are in for some big changes, and I wonder if our country will be able to survive them. This cannot go on forever.

'Ross's realism is spot on."

He seems to have imbibed a little Friedman, Hayek, Tullock and Buchanan. Fine vintages.

Buchanan just passed away a few weeks ago, and when asked to describe his "public choice" school of economics; he quipped "politics without romance".

His eulogy, from the WSJ from last month.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324081704578231512588210792.html

What's interesting is all of the longevity of economists. An awful lot of nonagenarians. Last year, Nobel winner Ronald Coase contributed to a WSJ opinion piece and did a podcast on "econtalk" at the age of 102.

I could trim ~3 percent from my multi-million program budget without impacting staff or contractors by cutting around the edges. They didn't ask. Rumors are about 25% of my agency's staff will be getting "the letter."

Bob

I agree with Superheater and John Risley and others....

I am a Modelmaker in the Division of Engineering and Weapons at the US Naval Academy. We were told about a month ago that we were safe because a 22 day furlough would disrupt operations too much because we support the Engineering Department all the way down to the Midshipman level. Shutting us down for essentially a month would kill the accreditation since we are considered a college.

In the last week or so; we've been told that we would be getting furloughed 1 day a week for the next 22 weeks. That will hurt alot of people.

I for one, am not too worried about it. I could use the days off to get caught up with the model locomotive work I do for various customers at home. Paywise it wouldn't hurt so much, either. My wife doesn't agree with me, but she knows how much I have to do in my home shop.... Plus, the fact that I wouldn't have to drive the almost 60 miles each way one day a week.

The President and the lapdog media are trying to scare everybody....Maxine Waters said 170 million people would be unemployed....I'd like to see that since there are only 134 million people working according to the Federal beareau of labor statistics....Even with the illegal aliens, the numbers don't add up.

There are 46 job training programs....Do we REALLY need 46? Wouldn't just 1 or 2 be enough? There are so many duplicate programs that can be cut. Cut the seminars, cut travel....Hell, it costs $183,000 an hour to fly Air Force 1. Does the president REALLY need to take that when he goes to play golf with Tiger Woods? There are plenty of smaller, more fuel efficient aircraft in the fleet for trips like that.

Andy Pullen

At this point I would like to suggest that the discussion is somewhat far afield and would be grateful if you gentlemen would take it closer to preservation and further from politics?
I realize there's a connection, and would welcome the idea that you could pursue this discussion in a somewhat less structured forum, namely the railfanning one?

How's that for non-heavy handed moderation?

Thanks Doug for your restrained and thoughtful moderation.

It's certainly disappointing to all of us to witness the childish behavior of all of our so called "leadership" in Washington. Really VERY scary when you remember that the REAL day of financial reconing is right around the corner and one can only imagine the scare tactics that will entail when actual REDUCTIONS in spending go into effect.

Lord help us, tiny Tim.

I have written a letter to the Secretary of the Interior suggesting that the NPS take a serious look at out sourceing the operation of the SNHS into the private sector at an estimated net savings of $ 1.5-2.0 Million dollars annually and will share their response when ( and if) I get one.

Interesting times.

Ross Rowland

The dirty little secret you didn't hear most places is that it wasn't Tiger that he didn't want to be photographed with, it was the two Texas oilmen who made up the other half of the foursome...

Doug, either do your job at this point or get off the pot. You let this ramble (not "Iron Horse") far too long.

I am very pleased so far with the restoration updates that have been provided thus far with the updates which I have received via this forum about 26. The last information I heard was that the rolling frame was assembled and it would be towed around to check clearances and such. Can anyone associated with the project comment on how that has progressed so far?
Also I have noted over the years that there are many different ways that restorations are approached when it comes to reassembling the locomotive. In this case it was chosen to assemble a rolling frame first and then install the boiler and related equipment. Can anyone working on the project elaborate and explain why this course of action was chosen rather than other assembly methods?

Thank you,
Steve Piwowarski

Steven and fellow RYPN readers,
While I do work for Steamtown NPS, my comments, are my own and do not represent the policy of the park.

The rolling chassis has been completed with the addition of all spring rigging components, an issue was found with the shoe and wedge to driving box fit as both the drawing for the outside radius on the shoe and wedge faces was the same as the inside radius on the driving box on the 2 prints, in reality the radius on the shoes and wedges should have been a 32nd larger and this work was performed and everything fits as Baldwin intended.

In the process of searching for some other information, a discovery of the true colors that Baldwin used on this locomotive was discovered, and the rolling chassis is currently in the paint booth receiving a coat of Baldwin Olive Green paint.

As to the assembly order of the locomotive, it was far easier assembling the drivers and spring rigging without the boiler on the frame, with the boiler on the frame all the spring rigging would have to be assembled without the use of the overhead crane as the boiler blocks access to those locations, also the additional weight of the boiler combined with the frame would have exceeded the rigging components we currently have in the shop for our 30 ton overhead crane and I believe would have even exceeded the capacity of the crane itself.

The tubes still need to have a light reroll after being welded to the rear tube sheet and then the boiler will be mated with the frame and all the fasteners applied. The next step will be to machine the 2 newly cast steam delivery pipes to the tee and the cylinders and start fitting up the remanchined slide valves and valve motion.

Rather long video of rewheeling on youtube, best watched in fast forward mode.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDDt_-xOPN4

Mike Tillger

While I have nothing to do with this project, I suspect that 26's narrow firebox, sitting between the rear drivers, may have influenced the descision. Much easier to access lower portions of the wrapper sheet and mud ring areas, and probably easier to perform any of the firebox work, with the boiler on the shop floor. And, easier to access all the spring rigging and brake rigging in the frame.

Common practice in the UK, but "boiler off the frame" is rare in the US for larger standard-gage engines, it seems to me.

Howard P.

The boiler was removed from the frame to facilitate the firebox repairs as Howard pointed out. It would have been necessary even if the firebox had not needed to be renewed in whole, as the frame pedestal toes had worn to such an extent to allow the pedestal faces to no longer be parallel to each other and the top frame rail was now bent down at the rear closing up the pedestal jaws. I suspect she ran around with the binder bolts loose for some time. The frame was straightened and the toes were rebuilt, along with new pedestal binders and now agrees with the print with in 1/32".