Question:

Why has Sierra Railroad # 3 gone into restoration?

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I have back to the future 3 but I've always wondered why # 3 is in restoration?

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  1. CSRM and Railtown (same organization) is facing a serious financial crisis and loss of state aid, and there's some question whether Railtown will even continue operating.

    Anyway, steam locomotives take a ton of maintenance - not shoveling coal and all that, but working on the mechanicals also.  It just doesn't compare to modern reliable cars.  (more like military helicopters, lol!)  There's small jobs you do everyday, medium jobs that you have to shut down and cool off the locomotive, and big jobs that require it go into the shop for weeks, months or even years depending on the capacity of the shop.  

    And since 2004, Federal law changed.  Now, one time, every steam locomotive must be inspected and recertified from scratch as if it were a new locomotive.   (this is called "getting a new Form 4".)  This has put several steam locomotives out of business, including PRR 1361.


  2. Andy-

    This particular locomotive has been in their shop for quite some time now.  What Wolf has said is partly true about their financial situation, however, the portion about the new Form 4 is slightly incorrect.

    The Form 4 for Boiler Certification is a very expensive process, and a very accurate one.  Because a Steam Locomotive is nothing more than a large pressure vessel, it must be inspected every 5 years, after the first time it is fired and used.

    I am a member at Niles Canyon Railway.  We have 2 operational Steam Locomotives, and a third on its way to completion.  The process for restoration is a very extensive process, and can take anywhere from 10 to 20 years to complete in most cases.  This is mainly due to the fact that most of the restoration crews are volunteers, (like myself), and donate our time when we can to the clubs we belong to.  But there is also an issue of funding and facilities, both of which are very expensive to maintain.

    Most of these locomotives are approaching 100 years old, and many of the parts needed have to be fabricated from scratch.  Replacement parts are not available, so this means that custom parts have to be made in order to repair the locomotives.  Then in some cases, depending on the wait for parts, the locomotive may need to be recertified in order to be placed back into service.  This issue mainly applies to boiler tube replacement or issues with the superheater tubes.

    Here is my case and point.  In Fort Bragg California, the Skunk Train had it Steam Engine down for nearly 4 years while they were waiting for a new Boiler Plate and Crown Sheet.  Without these, the Locomotive could not be used.

    One club here in San Jose, (Santa Clara Model Railroad and Historical Society), have been working on their Pedistal Queen; a 1926 Baldwin 4-6-2 Pacific Locomotive, for the past 20 years.  They have the locomotive completely apart, and just received the wheels back from a company down in New Mexico, that refurbishes and re-quarters the drive wheels.  

    But now the locomotive is due for another inspection, and the club is worried their efforts may have been in vain.  This is partly their fault for not coming together on some decisions that need to be made in the mechanical department.  They have too many political issues, and rivet counters that want the locomotive restored to its original configuration.  

    Personally, I think this is a tragedy because these locomotives are not going to continue to be operational for too many more years before they are totally unable to run.

    Though my club works very hard to keep out ladies on the rails, we have had to reduce our running times for the Steamers to 2 Sunday's per month in the spring and summer, an one weekend per month after August until October 31.  The operations cease until December 1 for the Train of Lights, (Christmas Light Train).  Then a cease in operations until April, when we run only the diesels until Memorial Day.  

    As for the #3 running again, unless there are some changes made by that particular organization, the #3 will probably be shedded until they can afford to actually get it restored to operational condition.

    I hope that answered your question.

  3. Not familiar with that.

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