I'm reading below the interesting conversations regarding restoration of a K-37 and I want to add my two cents worth. I've hung around UP Steam for a number of years and I realize that I still don't really know very much about steam engines, boilers and running gear. Ed Dickens is learning right now, if you'll pardon me for bringing his name up.
However, there is one item that I have learned. You start with money and lots of it, no matter which steam engine you want to restore. After that, you hire a qualified boiler expert to come in and assess how much work it will be, and then add more money to that project.
I am told that Marty Knox is a good resource and if anyone can bring a steam locomotive back from the dead, he'll be the one. C&TS will be wise to keep this connection good for future locomotive assessments. Once 463 is steaming again, maybe it would be money well spent to hire Marty to look over the 490 series and issue a report on which one could be restored. From the outside, you can't tell anything about a boiler's condition. And 497 could have developed some issues in the boiler which might make others more desireable (and less expensive) to restore. We all want a K-37 to steam again because this makes the roster more historically authentic.
Again, there are many who are more qualified than I to comment on this subject. There's a recently retired fella in Cheyenne who has incredible experience with all aspects of railroading. Someone from C&TS should approach him to spend a week in Chama and he could give some good direction for the future.
Jim Burrill
Ft. Collins, Colorado
