Contract Steam overhaul shops

atsfm177 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2015 7:31 pm

The recent posts about Scott Lindsay, Wasatch and the regular posts from Strasburg I was thinking, how many shops are there that can take on contract work to overhaul and/or restore steam locomotives?

I'm not talking about the many museums that have quite capable shops and volunteers to work on their own equipment, but places that are there mainly to take in this kind of work or have excess capacity to work on equipment for others.

Say I just won the Lotto (I haven't, so don't anyone start offering to take my money :-) ) and I decided I wanted to restore any number of park or underfunded museum locomotives, who could I go to for bids?

Greg

Mark Jordan · **Joined:** Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:21 am **Posts:** 490

Strasburg
Wasatch-John Rimmasch
Steam Operations Corp-Scott Lindsey
Steam Services?-Robert Franzen
Historic Machinery Services-Bob Yuill
Backshop Enterprises-Bernie Watts (mainly appliances/components)
Tweetsie Railroad
Tennessee Valley RR Museum (mainly turning wheels/axles)
Jonas Stutzman - (Boilers)

whodom · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2015 9:12 pm

There's a pretty comprehensive list of steam repair businesses on my website here:

http://www.trainweb.org/tusp/r_links.html

This includes repair shops, component suppliers, inspection services, etc.

hamster · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2015 11:49 pm

We can't forget Gary Bensman at Diversified Rail Services

David Johnston · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2015 11:56 pm

What about the little shop in Strasburg, Colorado? Is it still there?

Lincoln Penn · **Joined:** Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:40 pm **Posts:** 841

David Johnston wrote:

What about the little shop in Strasburg, Colorado? Is it still there?

It is, but I recently heard it's ASME credentials and stamps were revoked.

John E. Rimmasch · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 8:35 pm **Posts:** 374

The little shop in Strasburg Colorado is Urich Locomotive works, Marlin Urich. Don't forget about Bernie Watts, who rebuilds air compressors, lubricators and the such. Stathi P. is a side contractor who is working at the Northwest Museum. Chris Allen in the Bay area of San Francisco does a lot of work for the WP Museum in Portola, CA. Steve Butler who works for Iowa Pacific (Texas State Railroad) does some side work and contract work. Hillcrest Shops in California, mostly known for 15 inch gauge stuff, has done some great work for that Amusement park that owns a mouse. They have been doing some bigger stuff. Nevada Northern has done some side work, Grand Canyon does side work, D&SNG in Durango does side work, I think Heber Valley under Mike M. has done some side work. Dan Pluta at the WM has done side work. Don't forget Valley Railroad, David Conrad who does a lot of side work. Vapor Locomotive, Matt Janssen, Dave Griner who runs his own engineering firm in AZ. I know am forgetting some....I am sorry. These just all came to mind.

Hope that adds to the list.

Kindly,

JohnE.

LVRR2095 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2015 4:26 pm

Boothbay Railway Village is an ASME "S" shop and has built a brand new boiler for the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Rwy. Museum's Portland Co. Forney.

philip.marshall · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2015 5:04 pm

I believe Boothbay has also done contract work for the Maine Narrow Gauge RR Museum and the Edaville RR. They've become the go-to place for 2ft gauge steam in New England.

steamchaser · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 4:45 pm **Posts:** 16

I believe Boothbay also helps Conway Scenic with #7470