Who Are The Steam Locomotive Rebuilders?

Bobby Ogage posted:

I hear comments about this organization and that organization being so so about rebuilding steam locomotives for operation. So here's my question. Who are the competent rebuilders of steam locomotives capable of mainline operation?

Technically, there aren't any, if you mean "contract shops" that rebuild large steam locomotives "capable of main line service", like shops that rebuild/remanufacture diesel units. Each organization does their own work, such as the Santa Fe 2926 group, the NKP 765 group, the SP 4449 group, the Milwaukee 261 group, the Santa Fe 3751 group, and the UP Steam Shop in Cheyenne, WY.

Both the Strasburg and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum perform contract machine work/services for various organizations that are not able to, say machine drive wheels and/or crankpins, etc..

Is "Age of Steam" included in this group? How much of complete rebuild can they do? What they are doing there looks impressive.

One excellent company is Steam Operations Corporation, www.steamoperations.com, let by Scott Lindsay.

colorado hirailer posted:

Is "Age of Steam" included in this group?

Not really, as they only work on their own locomotives, i.e. no contract work. Thus, one couldn't ship them your big "main line" steam locomotive and have them completely rebuild it for you. They have more than enough of their own projects, with such a small work force.

How much of complete rebuild can they do?

On their own locomotives, they could/can do a complete FRA overhaul.

What they are doing there looks impressive.

John Meixel posted:

One excellent company is Steam Operations Corporation, www.steamoperations.com, let by Scott Lindsay.

They would go to your location/shop to do the work.

There are several competent and knowledgeable steam loco experts in the business. Here are a few...

• Gary Bensman and Diversified Rail Services. Gary is the lead contractor on the WM 1309 rebuild. He has worked on dozens of steam locos around the country. He has also done a lot of work on the 765 and is one of her regular engineers.
• Scott Lindsay and Steam Operations. Scott is with the 611 crew. He served with Ross Rowland on the 614 crew back in the day.
• Robert Franzen and Steam Services of America. Robert was CMO at the Grand Canyon Railroad back when they ran steam. Robert has also worked on many steam locomotives around the country. I think he works on the 261 crew, but I'm not 100% sure of that.

There are several others, including the staff at the Strasburg Railway.

When I use to ship, or store, wheel sets, the journals are coated with a heavy grease, that was wrapped with rags, then wooden slats are placed over the rags completely covering the journal.  The wood slats are then banded in place. In photos it appears that the 1309 journals were protected in a similar manor. In Kelly Anderson's post he said that Strasberg ask if the journals needed work.  They were told no, so apparently the protection on the journals was not removed. It would appear that either the 1309 crew in Maryland either missed the condition of the journals, or they had other plans.   The risk is that the journals are in such poor condition that refinishing them will take the axle dimensions be low the condemning limits and new axles will be required.  All this is doable, it just takes time and money. 

Rebuilding a real steam locomotive is like rebuilding a Lionel 726. No parts are made for it any longer, the tools are all custom and expensive to acquire. And the knowledge base as how to rebuild the locomotive is getting thin with the passage of time.   The difference is the magnitude. 

I believe Zach Hall does private contracting work on steam locomotives across the country.

Hot Water posted:

John Meixel posted:

One excellent company is Steam Operations Corporation, www.steamoperations.com, let by Scott Lindsay.

They would go to your location/shop to do the work.

Steam Operations Corporation is very active in the Facebook world as well. They are constantly updating their Facebook page with current and past restoration projects they are involved with including N&W 611 and USSC 148.

I know that Tweetsie does some narrow-gauge work. At various times, they've done work for Disney (though they cannot advertise that).

One gets the sense that Kelly has had to clean up and fix that what the hacks have done from time to time.

Bob 

Railfan Brody posted:

I believe Zach Hall does private contracting work on steam locomotives across the country.

Zach does indeed do some free-lance steam work, and he is one of the "good guys." Zach is also Operations Manager for the 765, now that I have retired.

But steam contracting work is not his primary job, which is why I didn't list him.

Kelly Anderson posted:

bbunge posted:

One gets the sense that Kelly has had to clean up and fix that what the hacks have done from time to time.

Yes I have, and from a cold hearted business standpoint, its good paying work, cleaning up other people's messes, but that only works if the customer has the funding to do the job twice. 

It disgusts me to think about the projects that have been killed due to the customers being fed a pack of lies, because the funding isn't there to do the job over, or in some cases wasn't there at all (but they weren't told that at the outset).

When new projects and restorations are announced, and certain names are dropped as being the newly hired contract "expert", all I can say is, "Well, that engine will never run again."

Thank you VERY MUCH for your post! The stories that could be told about those various "experts", could fill a book.

Kelly Anderson posted: 

It disgusts me to think about the projects that have been killed due to the customers being fed a pack of lies, because the funding isn't there to do the job over, or in some cases wasn't there at all (but they weren't told that at the outset).

When new projects and restorations are announced, and certain names are dropped as being the newly hired contract "expert", all I can say is, "Well, that engine will never run again."

I have to ask, how often do people in your position get asked to fix someone else's mistakes for free or on the cheap, because they now have no money?

I thank all who have used their wealth, their expertise, and their toil to save and operate steam locomotives for us onlookers to enjoy. Steam built the USA, and it remains in service today providing the energy to power the largest surface ships and deepest running submarines. 

The nuclear power generates heat which makes steam in a boiler which is what actually drives the turbines. It is a closed system which recirculates the feedwater. The steam is not exhausted from the sub.

Can we now get back on the original subject of this thread? The "thread drift" here is amazing.

I'm right with you, Kelly.

The steam locomotive overhaul/restoration business is just like any other business. You get what you pay for.