For those interested here is a short tour video of whats left of the Tombstone Junction amusement park where K&T #14 spent most of her life as #77:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ_cn-unr6Y

At the 5:20 mark are a couple of photos of the boiler (still on a flatcar) and the separated frame in the condition they were in a couple of weeks ago at the beginning of April.

Mr. Austin,

What is your ultimate goal with these photos? It seems you have a motive, but are trying to fulfill it through a masked attempt at defacing the company/outfit(s) involved. Please correct me if I am wrong.

DC

What is there to comment about? Why the veiled attempt at creating division within an already tiny industry? Every day all I see are attempts to pit one group of people against another. Gays vs. christians, left vs right, black vs white, man vs female. I don't want to have to be subjected to the same thing here in the hobby that I love. Boilermaker vs. boilermaker. Get over it. Realize that not everyone does things exactly to your personal liking and move on.

"What is your ultimate goal with these photos?"

"What is there to comment about?"

I worked on steam some years ago and saw things that were very questionable. A locomotive that I refused to work on was condemned by a boiler inspector and has never had another fire in it since.

I remember Gettysburg, maybe someone should have spoken up sooner about that operation.

I see some thing in the photos that I would question, straight plate in a curved area, small welded on belly patch, spacing of staybolts.

I may not be up to date on the current boiler codes, but people have the right to ask questions.

What about the public that is carried on the trains that this locomotive will pull?

What about those standing around it, if something happens?

Safety has to be foremost in this business of it will die from lawsuits.

Is the "flat" an optical illusion? If it is flat, why does the joint at the curved tube sheet look ok?

Belly patch. Location of a discontinued blow down mount?

Those questions could be handled in a better way than by making confrontational posts to a public forum, in my opinion.

One must be careful of distortion in photos, especially those taken in close quarters with wide lenses, and that are not too clear to begin with. It does appear as if the side sheet was once not aligned, then was aligned in the photos. The plate at the top of the side going into the crown is definitely somewhat curved at the tube sheet, but looks as if it was straight towards the center. There's no mistaking the not flush fillet welded installation of the plate on the belly, but we don't know if that is reinforcing a flush patch behind it or what the whole story might be. So, we're certainly not able to pass judgement on anything based on hazy images which may not depict real conditions accurately and incomplete information, assuming it is our job to do so in the first place.

Curiosity about techniques and practices is another thing, however....and I like the idea of sharing among us to make us all smarter. I'm certainly interested in the whole story from that perspective.

dave

Are those rivets in the belly patch? Looks like 4 of them.

I see rivets in the patch too.

Also, I don't think the first two photos, about the misalignment, are the same location. As I examine them, I don't see how the second photo could be the first, even with material replacement.

Again, hazy photo, but the "rivets" look more like plug welds to me. In either case, it suggests something else behind the patch.

dave

This is an obvious attempt to continue the feud between Matt Austin and John Rimmasch. Matt knows John's company did the work and he wants to discredit him. There is an ax to grind and you are seeing egos at their finest.

Sadly what everyone is witnessing here is what the industry is really like, nice to one another face to face and knives to the back as they walk away. This is a whole new level in my book.

It is sad, but this goes on everyday especially between the different generations. The older guys are having a real hard time passing the torch lately. I am not sure why, there are few that want to help teach the younger guys, but a quick to point out their mistakes. Just look over on Trainorders to see it in nearly every post.

People wonder why there are less younger guys getting involved in the industry.

Stepping off soap box now.

-T

On the contrary. There are a number of people that have been in this vocation for decades who have shown they are more than willing to help the newbies. And they do when they can. But in general, they do not suffer fools.

Face it, there are some newbies who reject the notion that they don't already know it all and don't need any advice or mentoring from the old farts.

Yes, there are some enormous egos. There are also a lot of people who do not seek
the limelight, have the experience and background and who are humble enough to stay in the background and help quietly.

Videos of K&T #14 in happier times at the Tombstone Junction amusement park as
"Old #77."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUAf01-8EIw
TJRR #77 pulling up the heavy grade into the park, lots of stack talk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf7aSTn1aFo
A ride around the loop and train robbery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwk37CunuwE
Pulling away from the park station blowing her Southern PS-4 whistle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKnodv3sj4o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcwTLDNEjb8
Cab Ride all the way around the loop (two parts)