Can anyone provide info on how to get a steam locomotive boiler ultrasound tested? Who does this on the East Coast, and what would I be looking at for a general cost range?
Thanks!

locomotivemonkey@hotmail.com

> Can anyone provide info on how to get a
> steam locomotive boiler ultrasound tested?
> Who does this on the East Coast, and what
> would I be looking at for a general cost
> range?
> Thanks!

Look in the yellow pages under ultrasonic testing (in big cities like Boston, NY, Philly, etc) or look for a commercial boiler manufacturer and see if they can recommend someone. Also look for listings under test laboratories. Another place to look is http://www.thomasregister.com (you'll have to sign up for a free account) under "Testers: ultrasonic". Looked there quickly, and mixed in with many listings for equipment manufacturers were a few for what could be testing companies. If you have access to a set of the printed volumes, they probably have more detailed information. Expect to pay $80+ per hour portal to portal (from their shop to your place and back to their shop). I've done it, and I highly recommend it. Look closely at pitted areas and high stress regions where cracks are most likely to occur.

> Buy your own ultrasound and do it yourself. If you are going to work on an engine it is a very useful tool to have. If it is close at hand (the ultrasound) you can check many more spots than if they have to be done all at the same time. We found ours by doing a search on the web. Can't remember the name of the company without looking it up. The cost was $200 for a used one. It is big compared to a new one but it works fine. The cost included calibration and certification. A new one will cost from $1000 to $1500 but they are about the size of a pocket calculator which makes them handy to use.

John

johncgra@locl.net

I am in the do it yourself camp. I used to work in a large chemical plant and used them all of the time. They are easy to use and you can avoid paying the $50-$150 per hour rate of hiring someone to do the work for you. I am in the East and if I can help more I will. Email me off list if you would like to talk more about this.

Tom Gears
Wilmington, DE

tgears1@home.com

Having your own UT device is certainly a great way to go, however, if you are looking to do the work for a form 4, you still need to find an engineer qualified to do the drawings of the boiler, et al.
RBrinton

http://members.home.net/svry/
ronbrin@eoni.com

A qualified engineer is not needed to do drawings of the boiler. First if you are lucky you have the originals or copies. If not then you have to generate your own drawings. This isn't that big of a task and anyone with 1st year drafting can do it. The UT can be done by the locomotive owners if they are qualified/trained on the instrument. The math calculations can also be done by the locomotive owner(s) if they are proficient and can show the FRA that they are capable. The FRA would however like to see an engineer involved in the calculations and may stipulate that this should happen even to the point of giving the nod to a particular engineer.

Robert@trainorders.com