Re: RGS #20 - A Classic Well Worth Restoring!!

I think there is value in saving as much original material as possible. Sometimes it is cheaper, sometimes it is more costly. Obviously, safety is the prime consideration and very few compromises can be made in that department. By the same token, we are not building a high pressure nuclear reactor either. The second consideration is how the locomotive will be used. This is where great debates can be had between the "save" crowd and the "new" crowd. Lighter service means saving more parts, but then you must adhere to the operating plan.

While #20 was in pretty rough shape, she also is a witness to the skill of the people who kept her running with virtually no resources. While many repairs and original pieces were pretty ugly, they got the job done and being the only testament we have, this alone makes a strong case for keeping what we can.