<P>In case anyone has any interest:<p>I did a quick run through Strasburg the other day and saw the following....<p>90 and 475 on train duty. 31 simmering in the enginehouse. 89 in the backshop, it was hard to tell from where I was, but she appears to be getting some firebox work(cab off etc). 972 is still in the rear of backshop where she's been for the last few years. Thomas did not appear to be present, I would guess his is off earning money elsewhere, I could not see into the paintshop so it is possible the 0-6-0T is hiding there.... <p>Also of note is a turntable bridge sitting in the yard. Anyone know what the plans are?<p>Have a great weekend!<p>Alan <br>




AlanL759@aol.com

I'm a part-time employee at Strasburg RR and can fill you in on a few of the details you alluded to in your message.<p>First, 89 has been out of service since late last spring. The boiler shop is completely replacing the crownsheet of the locomotive with all new materials...some very major work; a Fall 2000 return to service is likely. 972 has been relegated to a "rainy day" project--about three years ago SRC crews formed the hip sheet for the fabrication of a Belpaire-style firebox. The heat was so intense that it actually melted the welding masks of the mechanics forming the sheet! With all of the contract work activity in the shop, 972 is on the back burner right now. The intent of the railroad is to replicate a PRR-style engine along the lines of a G5 ten-wheeler. Work is progressing on the V&T "Lyon" replica project, with the drivers, cylinders and cylinder saddle casting completed. Next to be constructed is the boiler. The "Thomas" 0-6-0T is indeed off the property and en route to the Illinois Railway Museum in Union to put in a special appearance. The Illinois Central RR 85' turntable is currently in many pieces and arrived about three weeks ago; future plans for it are unclear to this writer. The "Gobbler's Knob" B&M wooden passenger coach emerged from the car shop last week after a thorough rebuild. 90 and 475 are the main motive power these days, with 31 kept on standby as the back-up engine. Diesel 44-tonner 33 received a rebuilt traction motor recently too. Other "contract" projects on historic equipment are in the works so stay tuned.<p>Strasburg RR is one of the best shops in the country (if not the best) doing this calibre of work. The workmanship is of the highest quality and the staff is well skilled and knowledgable. CEO/CMO Linn Moedinger truly runs a class act! <br>



Kurtrbell@hotmail.com

To elaberate on Kurt's desription of #89. She is also getting a new roof sheet, the top 1 foot of the door sheet and rear tube sheet,new front tube sheet braces and backhead braces, new dry pipe, and a tube job along with her 1472 day inspection. <br>



Muss405@yahoo.com

I visited the Strasburg Christmas week a few years ago. The last week of operation for the year. As in the summer the trains ran on time, the cars were clean, the staff knowledgeable and the puns pretty bad in the comentary. But then it is a tourist railroad!<br>I rode behind the 90 which is I believe the only <br>2-10-0 operating in the country.<p>I am really glad to hear that they are thinking turntable, its sad to think how many tourists thaink all steam trains run backwards<br>Ted Miles<br>



ted_miles@NPS.gov

Ted,<p>The Ninety isn't alone, the Illinois Railway Museum has a "Russian" Decapod (2-10-0), former Frisco 1630, that (I believe currently still) is operable.<p>Strasburg does have the only operable 4-8-0 (475) in the country and had the only operable 4-4-2 when PRR 7002 was in service.<p>Regards,<br>Jim Robinson<br>

I'm a little surprised that #89 needs such heavy repairs. I can recall wen it went back in service that they said it was basically "like new" to be good for a decade of service... or has it been that long?<br>



nwa1976@p___enn.com

Yes it has been that long! We had been watching the stress corrosion on her crown sheet for some time and when she came due for flues we decided to replace the front 3 feet. When we cut out the crown bolts in this section we could see the rest of the sheet much better and it would need replacement in a few years anyway. We then deceided to replace the whole thing at one time. Upon removing all the bolts, we discovered a broken backhead brace which upon calculating all the braces we found insufficient support being given by several other of the braces. After cutting all of the bolts out of the roof sheet, we discovered the bolt holes were already 1 1/8 inch in diameter which is our maximum staybolt hole diameter. It was actually less expensive to replace the entire roof sheet than to weld up all of the stayboly holes and redrill them (even though the roof sheet calculated out fine). This is a classic case of opening up Pandora's box. In other words, the more you take apart, the more you find. The same held true with the front tube sheet braces in that upon removal of the flues, we could get to the very front of the sheet and examine the braces at the T irons very closely. We found another broken brace in this location and several of the other ones were showing signs of age. (Imagine that!) The dry pipe would have been okay for a few more years but since the engine was disassembled to this point, we decided to replace it at this time also. <br>

It is too bad that Strasburg chooses to rebuild<br>former CPR 972 as an immitation of a PRR engine<br>with a Belpaire firebox. That an organization of<br>the stature of the Strasburg RR would engage in<br>such a practice does nothing to enhance its<br>reputation. Accurate restoration should be a<br>primary objective regardless of any desire to<br>"create" a lost locomotive.<p> <br>



oldtimetrains@rrmail.com

I don't think its a lost loco. Strasburg has a G5 and the two Long Islanders are G5 copies I believe. Its great to see the PRR steamers preserved and under cover but it would be nice to see some of them run and not just for a while like 1223 and pseudo 7002.....<br>



jblay@mail.odyssey.net

The LIRR G-5's are genuine articles, not copies. The PRR G-5 should be restored completely and operated. The destruction of a historical CPR ten-wheeler design to create something that might resemble a Pennsy Belpaire boiler (and not very closely) seems a heresy in locomotive preservation. <br>



aurora7@juno.com

But you need to remember they aren't in the preservation business. They use their steam engines like other lines use diesels. What they are doing to the 972 to them is the same as if a shortline rebuilt a geep into some unique dash variation. Strasburg has to keep their engines running just like every other railroad has to.<br>



davelecount@juno.com