Re: what would be the cooles engine to see at the D&S?

mikerowe Wrote:
=======================================================
> Soon, Dirk, soon.
>
> However there is little hope for the #74 ever
> running again. Besides needing extensive running
> gear work, she has a lap-seam boiler, with gusset
> plates. The problem with gusseted lap seam
> boilers, as I understgand it, is that the FRA
> requires that you pull the tubes every year so
> that you can inspect the seams for cracks. Never
> mind that you can't see any cracks because they
> would be hiding under the gusset plates. Anyway,
> I can't think of any museum or operating tourist
> railroad that would be willing to put up with the
> cost and hassle of pulling the rubes every year.
> Oh, and the inside door sheet of the firebox is a
> mass of welds.
>
> I'm afraid trying to restore the #30/74 would be
> another money pit like the #20 has been. The RGS
> beat everything to death!
>
> Mike

Actually, it is unreinforced lap seems that must be inspected every year. Lap seams with gusset plates are treated the same as butt seams by the FRA. If I recall, #315 is running with a reinforced lap seam boiler. Door sheets are easy (relatively speaking) to replace. I sure won't argue with you about overall condition of RGS equipment.

“230.30 Lap-joint seam boilers.
Every boiler having lap-joint longitudinal seams without reinforcing plates shall have sufficient lagging, jacketing, flues, and tubes removed at every annual inspection so that an inspection of the entire joint, inside and out, can be made, taking special care to detect grooving or cracks at the edges of the seams.”