Engine 494 is well on the way to a new boiler jacket, this one of paintable galvanize to replace the 1939 steel one now rusted out. In 1939, the B&M shopmen sought to recreate the look of the original Russia iron, but by that time no more was available and memories were dim. Apparently there was some argument about the way to paint a faux finish, but it was accomplished in a "committee" atmosphere. The 1939 effort is now under many layers of paint and is lost. We want to recreate a credible faux Russia iron. We have only b&w photos which are not the best for our purposes. Are there any samples of the real thing out there? Has anyone done this? Thanks.

wrj494@aol.com

In his book, American Locomotives: An Engineering History, 1830-1880, on page 521, Jack White recommends a hint to restorers concerning a passable substitute for authentic Russia iron: "...an automotive finish that closely resembles Russia iron is Dulux Enamel Charcoal Metallic No. 4980-DX." Hope this helps.

> Engine 494 is well on the way to a new
> boiler jacket, this one of paintable
> galvanize to replace the 1939 steel one now
> rusted out. In 1939, the B&M shopmen
> sought to recreate the look of the original
> Russia iron, but by that time no more was
> available and memories were dim. Apparently
> there was some argument about the way to
> paint a faux finish, but it was accomplished
> in a "committee" atmosphere. The
> 1939 effort is now under many layers of
> paint and is lost. We want to recreate a
> credible faux Russia iron. We have only
> b&w photos which are not the best for
> our purposes. Are there any samples of the
> real thing out there? Has anyone done this?
> Thanks.


http://rrmuseumpa.org

Chris DeWitt at Nevada State RR Museum is an expert in the hardest and most historically correct ways to do any obsolete process including metal finishing. Might give him a call.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

The Eureka & Palisades #4 "EUREKA" owned by Dan Markoff has a simulated Russian Iron boiler jacket.

As I recall, he found that a gun blueing gave him a decent match. Dan often frequents the narrow gauge discussion forum; you might post a message for him there.

As stated in one of the other posts, Chris De Witt at Nevada State RR Museum in Carson City may have this information. Chris and the other folks at Carson City have helped Dan from time to time.

The old process of making "russian iron" involved beating iron that was in a solution of some kind. The hammering involved youths wading in the solution will beating the material. I heard that this was one of the first labor practices stopped by the Bolsheviks .

Narrow Gauge Railroad Discussion Forum
bnorden@gateway.net

I saw this item (1890 Birdsall Portable Steam Engine) on ebay, if it is as-advertised, then it may have the last REAL untouched russia iron cylinder cover left anyplace.... http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dl ... 1441850597
Perhaps if you contact the seller, he might be willing to get you a clear picture of the cylinder in the sun and shade, before it goes to a new home and dissappears for another 50 years.
Just a thought

Birdsall farm engine on ebay

I've had this a while now, so I don't recall if I put it together piecemeal from the original thread, or if I got it as a whole document. It is information compiled by Kyle Wyatt (ex-Nevada State, where Chris DeWitt works), and describes the process of making Russia Iron.

JAC

Russia Iron

I found the following and thought they might be useful

http://members.fortunecity.com/gknowles ... boiler.htm

and

http://mmrrc.dementia.org/usswood.htm

pkurilecz@yahoo.com

There are surviving samples of authentic Russia iron at the California State Railroad Museum, the Nevada State Railroad Museum, and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, to name some that I know of.

The Smithsonian Institution, the California State railroad Museum and the Nevada State Railroad Museum used the automotive paint mentioned in an earlier post to represent Russia iron in their 1970s and 1980s restorations of locomotives. This was only a crude approximentation of what real Russia iron looked like.

In 1991 Chris DeWitt at the Nevada State Railroad Museum developed a chemical hot bluing of sheet metal that was much closer to the real Russia iron look. While the look is better, it can be a little fragile, especially in an area where brass polish is used (the polish removes the bluing). None the less, it has held up on several operating locomotives, including Virginia & Truckee 4-4-0 #22 "Inyo" at the Nevada State Railroad Museum, and Dan Markoff's Eureka & Palisade #4 "Eureka". I'm not sure how it would survive an outdoor display over a long period of time, but with care it does well indoors and has survived the rigors of snow and rain on the "Eureka".

Kyle K. Williams Wyatt
Curator of Railroad Operations
California State Railroad Museum

> Engine 494 is well on the way to a new
> boiler jacket, this one of paintable
> galvanize to replace the 1939 steel one now
> rusted out. In 1939, the B&M shopmen
> sought to recreate the look of the original
> Russia iron, but by that time no more was
> available and memories were dim. Apparently
> there was some argument about the way to
> paint a faux finish, but it was accomplished
> in a "committee" atmosphere. The
> 1939 effort is now under many layers of
> paint and is lost. We want to recreate a
> credible faux Russia iron. We have only
> b&w photos which are not the best for
> our purposes. Are there any samples of the
> real thing out there? Has anyone done this?
> Thanks.


kylewyatt@aol.com

> I saw this item (1890 Birdsall Portable
> Steam Engine) on ebay, if it is
> as-advertised, then it may have the last
> REAL untouched russia iron cylinder cover

Probably not! This engine was deaccessed by the Edison Foundation (Henry Ford Museum) and the previous managers of that museum were known for over restoring objects, which is one reason they have disposed of a number of pieces in recent years.

a231pacific@aol.com

In reference to Kyle Wyatt's note, the DS&S live steam locomotive on exhibit in the lobby of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania has authentic period Russia iron jacketing. Also, a Cumberland Valley Railroad locomotive nameplate from the "Judge Watts" is adorned in Russia iron and can be found in the same collection. Sections of Russia iron were discovered on the V&T "Tahoe" during its 1970s restoration at the Strasburg RR; some of this information was documented and is in the Museum's files.

IMHO, Kyle Wyatt, Chris DeWitt, Kevin Bunker, Jack White and Jim Wilke are the best folks to consult in regard to topics surrounding early American steam locomotive technology and decorative ornamentation.

> There are surviving samples of authentic
> Russia iron at the California State Railroad
> Museum, the Nevada State Railroad Museum,
> and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, to
> name some that I know of.

> The Smithsonian Institution, the California
> State railroad Museum and the Nevada State
> Railroad Museum used the automotive paint
> mentioned in an earlier post to represent
> Russia iron in their 1970s and 1980s
> restorations of locomotives. This was only a
> crude approximentation of what real Russia
> iron looked like.

> In 1991 Chris DeWitt at the Nevada State
> Railroad Museum developed a chemical hot
> bluing of sheet metal that was much closer
> to the real Russia iron look. While the look
> is better, it can be a little fragile,
> especially in an area where brass polish is
> used (the polish removes the bluing). None
> the less, it has held up on several
> operating locomotives, including Virginia
> & Truckee 4-4-0 #22 "Inyo" at
> the Nevada State Railroad Museum, and Dan
> Markoff's Eureka & Palisade #4
> "Eureka". I'm not sure how it
> would survive an outdoor display over a long
> period of time, but with care it does well
> indoors and has survived the rigors of snow
> and rain on the "Eureka".

> Kyle K. Williams Wyatt
> Curator of Railroad Operations
> California State Railroad Museum


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