What are the thoughts on this and how it might effect the fueture of steam programs.

Steam programs in general, or the future of UP's steam program specifically?

The response to what the UP steam program is doing under the leadership of Ed Dickens seems to range from puzzlement/head shaking to downright disbelief and anger from other professionals in the industry. I don't see any other steam operations emulating what's going on there. If anything, at this point it seems to be a cautionary tale about what NOT to do with a successfully operating steam program. The fact that the current steam program management seems to have burned a lot of bridges within the steam preservation and operation community may also serve to limit the likelihood of others following UP's example. Time will tell I suppose.

It's going to take longer now.

The decision has been made to replace all pipe (water, steam, air and sand), all pipe fittings, all valves, all hoses, all copper lines, all electrical conduit, all electrical fixtures and switches, all headlights, train indicators, cab lights, running board lights, bells, bell brackets whistles and running boards on both 844 and 4014.

Rather than drop it all in the dumpster, stick it in a container and send it to the Cliffside 110 project in NC. We'd also welcome any pedigreed 2" tubes with decent life left on them. I'm sure what might not suit their heavy and intensive service needs would be more than adequate for us.......... and UP can take the write off!

dave

Replace the whistles?

How about the number plates? I bet they are pretty worn out now.

Done. New plates were made some time ago.

Note that most of the above work is intended to be for cosmetic reasons. Anything that is brass or bronze will have the paint removed and be polished. This will apply to things like injectors, check valves, lubricator check valves, copper steam lines to the lubricators and copper lube lines out of the lubricators, cab window frames, washout plugs, etc.

All handrails and grab irons will be replaced, too.

Anyone want to bet which corporate suit get s the highlighted stuff? You know that stuff, for darned sure, isn't going into a dumpster!