Texas State posted a photo on facebook of #316 and #500 (ATSF #1316) in the shop reassembled with the caption "While these engines may not feel a fire in the near future, they will be a big part of our 2020 season. More to come next week"

I'm guessing they will be on display? While it would be better to see them operating, at least they are getting some attention and will be accessible to visitors.

If I had known #316's rebirth would be so so short lived I would have made it a priority to see her under steam.

For 316, it seems that something with the boiler raised some eyebrows. Here's the quote from Greg Udolph, General Manager of the TSRR (in response to a comment on the Facebook post):

"Dillon, the new boiler built for it was not manufactured correctly. The crew started to see things that concerned them. They removed it from service and did a full inspection of the interior of the boiler. The inspection turned up heavy deterioration in a very short amount of time requiring the engine being pulled from service."

Anybody know what they found?

Reading between the lines, it sounds like heavy deterioration.

Anybody know if they're being reassembled with the new or old boilers?

Does this mean the TSRR is going diesel only except for 1 steamer? They have quite a nice collection of steam. Maybe they can auction off a few and invest the funds in the railroad?

Still have #28 & #30 correct?

The way I heard it, 316 got a new firebox, with the inner sheets made from 1/2" material. They should have been 3/8", the thicker plates were too stiff, so that they cracked rather than being able to adjust during the heat cycles.

VIVA TSRR !!!!

The 30 is receiving its annual as I write this. #28 is down for a running gear rebuild to hopefully solve the issue with the right front driver wheel wearing to a very sharp flange. Other than that, it is is in pretty good shape as well.