Re: Lettering on the 30/74?

The point I was making was addressing Steve Stockham’s statement that “the amount of changes necessary to make it look like it did as #30 could make the engine more of a replica than a restoration”. This is not true.
However Steve, I would agree that backdating the #30 would not be a great idea and I hope they never do since I believe she is the most original RGS engine around now. The 41, 42 and now 20 have all been modified to some degree since they left the RGS and now carries parts that were never on the RGS. This was done since all three of them ran, (or soon will run) after they left the RGS.
However I don’t believe 74 ever was modified (You would be the guy to know if this is true or not). She even still has her original C&S cistern on her tender; if she ever gets it back.
In the end, I believe the 30/74 is in good and “historically responsible” hands with Jason and his crew. As much as we all would have loved to see the 74 run again, I give Jason a lot of credit for making the decision not to rebuild it in order to preserve her historical integrity.