C&TS Shop

From time to time a thread is published with many Monday morning ideas how the shop can overnight outshop engines like new, throw money, pay wages, hire manpower, build buildings, no problem! How many folks out in siber land have a clue what goes into overhauling a steam locomotive? Ont shop work, most if not all steam railroads are in the same boat, their engines must be brought up to FRA specs or not run. Almost all parts must be made in house, ( look at Jays fotos ) must be shipped out to be hardened. It takes two weeks to make a piston rod, the railroad needs six! And so it goes!
Now add into this mix a couple of years when no work was done to speak of, work that was dome was deamed shoddy at best and had to be done over, throw in the face there were no raw materials to work with, well forks you could have twice the manpower and the work would still be two years behind. Oh yes, three steam engines were torn down, all wheels and running gear removed, two even have tubes removed!
Now here we are 2003 season around the corner, what to do, throw the engines back togeather ( as past years ) or properly overhaul them? Well folks, the shop has decided to do something new this year, overhaul properly!!! Tram properly, make parts and replace everything that needs replaced, you get the picture!
This year, if everything goes well, you are going to be able to look at a steam locomotive not seen in Chama in years! The best work is being done short of Alomosa 75 years ago!
The shop folks are putting alot of pride in this work, they dont need CMOs, need micro management, studys, officials, other crazies! The work will get done as fast as possible and done right the first time!
So, my hats off to Bobby, Duckey, Mark, Tommy, Steve and all. Hang in guys!
C.H.Irvin
Chama, N.M.