Re: Operating Vs. Static Locomotives

I am definitely in the restore it to operation camp. I have watched a std. ga. unprotected Heisler slowly deteriate since I was a kid and first climbed on it, which is a span of over 40 years. During these many years the valve handles have all disappeared, some valve bonnets and stems are now even missing. The end cover has been stolen off the dynamo, the entire top section is now gone off the H6 brake valve, the wooden pilot has fallen to pieces and virtually anything not welded down that didn't take a lot of force to remove has been stolen. At some point the jacket was removed off the boiler to remove the asbestos lagging, but for some reason they left the jacket on the dome and it has some unknown white stringy stuff slowing falling out. Indeed the engine has been painted over the years, so it looks presentable to the public driving by, but shoot I think this was an operational engine when placed in the park in the late 50's or maybe really early 60's. At least if a park engine gets restored with whatever new parts, after someone invests the money to do so, it will surely be housed and spared from the vandalism I have noted above. AND maybe some of us lucky souls will get a cab ride rather than just climbing in the cab of a vandalized derelict. Whew, that was a lot of vented emotion, stepping down off my soapbox.