Re: Economics of restoring a locomotive

Dan:
Here in NJ building permits and such can be a real problem, and even if we could have built something for the Porter on the farm, then his property taxes would have gone up. So, we went with the tent concept. We started with a tent from Northern Tool but rebuilt it with 12' foot 4x4 posts along the sides and used the extra pipe as added roof joists. It was very substantial, but it was well hidden from the tax man by the “tent” sides. It did survive a hurricane and a couple of snow storms, and kept the locomotive dry. We built the tent near an existing out building where the shop was. We installed stockade fence along the windward side to protect it further. Granted it wasn’t pretty but it was a marvel of design. In a perfect world, and any place other than NJ, a steel building would have been the way to go.

The other key item in my mind is to avoid the idea of complete and total disassembly. Too many projects in this world, whether automobiles or locomotives, end up in card board boxes never to be reassembled. We took on the project in sections which was how I saw various projects at a museum I was active in for many years. No, it was not completed when I sold it off, but it was all there and even ran on air.

I guess to summarize:

1) You need some sort of building, or even a tent.
2) Need a stable (long term, cheap) location for its storage/shop area.
3) Avoid total and complete disassembly.

Private ownership is certainly doable by most anyone, but items #1 and #2 above are critical. I have looked at a few full sized items over the past couple of years, but reality gets me every time. I have no place to keep such an item and it kills me.

J.R.