Jeff Taylor Wrote:
=======================================================
> El Nehi Wrote:
> ==================================================
> =====
> > Pardon my hijack, but where does this put the
> RGS
> > 20?
> >
> > Half of one side of the frame replaced, most or
> > all of the other side replaced. One course of
> the
> > boiler replaced. Smoke box replaced. Dome
> > replaced? Cab replaced (at least all the wood).
>
> > Wheel centers had to be carved away to allow
> them
> > to be repaired. New tires. Half the tender
> > replaced. New tender frame. New or different
> > appliances. New piping. No doubt the air
> tanks
> > will be new.
> >
> > Is that restoration?
> >
> > Well, at least it will run, one day.
>
>
> Hold on now please check your facts. If you have
> been properly following the restoration you would
> know a few simple facts.
>
> About half of the frame rails in total have been
> replaced.
> Yes half of one boiler course has been replaced.
> So what? 346 has a large boiler course patch so do
> lots of locos out there. Thats a normal part of a
> restoration. If they didn't replace it it could
> not be rebuilt. The steam dome was not replaced.
> It was repaired, because the ottom flange was out
> of shape from when she rolled over in 43 and
> landed on something hard. The smokebox was
> replaced because it was very rusted out, and hed
> been patched several times by the RGS. This is
> also a pretty normal thing 463 has a new
> smokebox.
>
> I'm not sure what was done to the cab but I think
> much of it was saved. After all that was once the
> 25s cab.
>
> The driver center did not get carved out. The
> cracked spokes had to have the crackes ground out
> so they could be brazed up.Normal thing.
> New tires, well yeah guess how many tires she has
> had since 1899? Or better how many has 491 had?
>
> Only the bottom and bottom patches/extensions are
> new on the tender. The frame according to Linn was
> repaired, straightened and some wood replaced.
>
> Appliances get replaced regularly.
>
> As a good friend once said "pipes are not
> historical"
>
> The main air resivoir is not economical to use
> being a riveted type. So yes a new one will be
> made and it will be placed inside the original to
> appear correct.
>
> So yes that is a restoration. Some parts of it
> might be more than others would do but no
> restoration is the same.
>
> Again please don't go knocking a restoration
> unless you know whats true.
Jeff T,
Thanks for clearing this up. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. John Bush and crew had the AB removed and replaced the boiler jacket plus a lot of cosmetic repairs on 20 Over 25 years ago. Then the cab was restored a few years later using a lot of original parts by Richard Greer. Myself, Oley Larsen and Roy Altenbaugh sandblasted the tender and repainted and lettered it.(that paint was still on the tender when it went to Strasburg,it was lead based) Old timers will recognize these names. The now defunct Rio Grande Southern modelers club partially replaced the front and rear end sills and rehabbed the draft gear. A few things were not finished and myself, Paul Luning and others had the cracked buffer pocket repaired, rehung the sills, replaced the deck and hung the draft gear and replaced the plate in the coal pocket. Then, we put the tank back on and bolted it down. We were Museum volunteers and 20 was then owned by the Rocky Mtn, R.R. Club which shows the dedication to preserving/repairing/saving this historic engine by a lot of people with an interest in 20 that were not RMRRC members. Maybe Linn should have left the railroad spike that was welded into the crack in the frame by the RGS, that would have been historic?
Some have posted that the funds used to RESTORE 20 could have been used for other needs but, the bulk of the restoration funding donated had the stipulation that the funds be used to restore 20 to operation and the work would be done at Strasburg PA.
Everyone interested in narrow gauge should be happy that one of the most famous narrow gauge engines will be restored to operating condition even though "new parts" are used.
Enough said.
Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/2015 11:42AM by HighCommander.
