Right, they look like in the 30ies and 40ies and that is the ptoblem (How do you think my HOn3 engines look like ???). At that time the D&RGW tried to abandon the whole n g lines and did not invest in them. So everything was run down to close the lines as early as possible. But if you want to preserve this heritage today you must act in a different way. You had to make constant repairs and maintenance to keep this engines in a good shape. I am involved in a Museum RR over here in Germany, we keep our engines as good as possible but they sometime were "artificially weathered" to give them an old look (exsp for films). I like the charme at Chama, this conservation of desolation,this could last but the technical substance of the engien smust be well maintained. Nevertheless their technical condition of our engines is excellent, a boilder is allowed to be used for two years with 6 mayor technical checks within that time. I had been in the Chama and Durango Roundhouse for some times. The maintenance crew in Chama was really good but their money and capacitis were limited. The crew at Durango had one goal keep the engines running to get revenue regardless of their technical status "shareholder value thinking". It is hard to say, but most of the D&S and C&T engines would not been allowed to steam up over here by the German Technical Supervision (TÜV) because of -sometimes - severe technical malfunctions. I had some cab rides in the US(UP, CB&Q, WC, IC, AMTRACK)and found about 70 % of the engines in moderate - poor maintenance.
Beleive me, I had been an engineer for some years over here and I knew what I am talking of.
Steffen
And that is definetly the wrong way when you try to preserve a RR. Our Oldes Engine was built in 1896, 2 1/2 ft Meyer type with two zruck, a very sphisticated engine but in very good condition, she have got a
newe boiler in the 70ies and the frames are still
good I have no doubt that even in 100 years this engine could be serviable.
