Re: Operating Vs. Static Locomotives

I must agree with all of my esteemed colleagues above. For me a steam locomotive is a living breathing machine. Throughout it's life parts are repaired and replaced, yet it is still the same locomotive. In my view the restoration process is the same as the original railroads maintenance process. In the years ahead most if not all parts could be replaced, but you can trace the history back to when it came from the original factory. It's still the same locomotive to me. And, I'd rather share in living breathing history, than to see it wasting away dead on some short piece of track. Just my 2cents

Todd