Re: The Eureka locomotive

Dan,
Are you trying to tell us that there's a difference between seeing a tiger in the wild and one that's stuffed and mounted? " />
When moving the "Jupiter" at the Smithsonian they had to worry about whether the valves had binded to the valve seats. I doubt that's a problem the Eureka has had to worry about under your care. I'd say the Eureka is in a much better state of preservation.
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I must wholly agree to your thoughts on replicas as well.
A replica of the Eureka just wouldn't be the same. To look up at the date on the builders plates on the smokebox and think about the people who were behind it and how far that engine has come. It can be a humbling moment.
This is also why I?ve decided that as long as the Eureka is operating I won?t take part in the construction of a replica of any engine of that class (8-18-C).
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And a response to your statement on modelers in the earlier thread on boilers,
I?ve told you before, we only work with the small stuff because we don?t have the big stuff, and anyone of us would rather be in your shoes. " />
Though you seem to handle the Eureka more gracefully that I suspect many others would.
Cheers,
Curtis F.