Hey, guys, you are doing the Tweetsie a diservice.Last summer I was on business in the area of Boone, NC, and stopped by at 8 in the AM just because I knew it was there. The park wasn't open yet, but soon a pleasant gentleman came by. I told him I was only interested in their locomotive, he said "hell, those guys have been in the shop for hours. Just let me open the gate, you go on up to the shop and say hello".
When I got there they were just starting to build a fire in their very beautiful ten wheeler. When I expressed interest the engineer invited me aboard to watch the procedure, including blower air from an external compressor.
I was also given a tour of their 2-8-2 Mikado,
US Army from Alaska. This too appeared to be in great shape, being stored at the time under cover.
Their shop which was quite impressive was doing some major work on a Porter 0-4-0 which belonged to some other group.
Unfortunately I could not stay around until the afternoon when the ten wheeler was to be test run, but I am definitely goiung back there first chance I get. Fine people, BEAUTIFUL restoration on the 4-6-0