Would a Replica Mason Bogie Even Allowed?

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WW&F #9
The discussion on the WW&F Museum forums sheds considerable light on something that may not be obvious to casual observers who haven't visited the operation in Alna, ME. The rebuild on Number 9 is not simply a rebuild to "as-built" condition, due to some disconcerting flaws in the original design. I believe that the stress on the draw-bar was effectively being transferred to the boiler, because the connection between the fore and aft sections of the frame WAS the boiler. Obviously, in today's environment, that wouldn't be considered a particularly good idea. As a result, the folks at the WW&F have had to do some re-engineering of the original frame, to physically connect the two sections of the frame, and have the resulting structure support the boiler vs. incorporating the boiler.