[N&W] Re: Steam Train Restoration

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

 >Speaking about steam restoration the younger gen's interest ...
 >
 >The sad part we have seen is that the younger generation has
 >little interest in these machines and this project would be a
 >public support and particupation effort to gain younger interest.
 >Any suggestions for informational sources?
 >
 >     Sam Saufley
 >     Educational Program Director at Valley VoTech Center

Sammy, my boy ... What in the heck are you talking about? You talking bout 
Earth? USA? or ???

There are more young people interested in steam these days than there were 
ten years ago when North Carolina (not to mention other states) was 
catching a mainline steam train on an average of once a month (which is, by 
the way, is exactly 12 more times per year than we see now). Actually, when 
you really crunch the numbers, with Spencer and Charlotte both doing 4 
trips per year, Asheville and Greensboro twice each, plus sometimes 
Winston-Salem and other operators, the typical number exceeded 12 steam 
excursions per year. And yet ... With all that steam action so close and 
easy to access, signs of teen foaming for steam back then were rare.

It's my opinion that while there's less active steam these days, there is 
more serious interest from the "younger generation" (Sam prob means 
teenagers, but "younger" includes a very broad range for many of us). 
Granted, probably fewer than 5 boys age 14 out of every 100 have an 
interest in steam and fewer still have a passion, but that's not a bad 
proportion. Cumulatively speaking over the past half century, model 
railroading, train chasing and all the other railroad hobbies have not been 
huge draws for young people (certainly MUCH smaller than sports 
participation). I wonder if we even beat out coin collectors or bug foamers?

For almost 20 years, from about when I was 15 till I was maybe 35, my 
problem with trains was that there were so many fine women out there ... 
and they were more easily available ... I mean the chasing was great. And I 
suspect that same hobby interference is available in abundance these days. 
So ... That we get any young steam foamers at all is simply terrific.

When you are at Spencer, ask about how long is the line for future weekend 
engineers (a rather depressed situation of recent with all the out of 
service steam). When I first became involved at Spencer in the late 80s, it 
did not take long to work one's way to the top. Now, unless you can 
volunteer on weekdays, the line and time are both lengthy.

And, just curious ... What affect do you think the Thomas The Tank 
phenomenon has had on "younger" peoples' interest in steam? Maybe you ought 
to come to a train show and see young people who come and clearly love 
steam. Ten years ago, there were very few young people who came to train 
shows, much less had a steam interest. Now, that is remarkably different.

I am a dealer at a lot of shows and I'll ask a 4-year old kid if he likes 
Thomas and Percy, et al. Well ... Either he or his Mom will tell me that he 
left Thomas in the dust earlier in the year and now he wants either the 
real thing or models of the real thing ... or both.

And the girls ... I have been so surprised by this -- There are so many 
little girls gung ho about trains ... and it is great. They come up to my 
table (I sell RR videos) and they watch the videos and tell me what's going 
on. They ask questions and they give opinions (such as, they like steam 
better than diesels ... or that CSX's new paint is boring). That did not 
happen at all ten years ago.

Sam ... I'd say you need to approach this thing with the realization that 
there is a huge (relatively speaking) interest in steam amongst young 
people, even though the numbers might not be nearly as large as you'd like 
... or as you think shows a valiant interest.

One more thing ... That teenagers or early 20s people don't tend to join 
NRHS type groups should not be taken as a sign of no interest. My guess is 
that it's the "club thing" they don't like ... not the trains ... or 
railroad history. We've yet to figure out a new way to package interest 
groups that attracts them ... and my guess is that we should be watching 
them for organizational hints instead of us trying to get them to do it our 
way.

Later ... Bob Loehne
_______________________________________________________________
Sam,
As a member of a current restoration effort, I can say, restoring a
locomotive to fully operational status is more than a major undertaking. I
think I'd tell the parties interested in restoring the Berkshire they are
going to need more than a couple of industrial technical engineers to
accomplish the job. Consider the following:
1. For starters, there is the issue of capital. Restoration can easily run
over a million dollars depending how the locomotive was keep for the last 60
years. If housed out in the open subject to the elements, in all likelihood,
75% of the rigid and flexible stay bolts will have to be replace just for
starters.
2. The entire boiler must be inspected and pass rigid standards and pass
government certification before a fire can be lit.
3. All old asbestos insulation will have to be removed and disposed of.
4. There is the issue of tools, a machine shop, and welding/fabricating
facilities i.e consider what if you had to replace the mud ring or steam
delivery pipes. Who would make them?
5. Your going to need a very large shop or engine house to do the work. It's
not practical to do it outside.
6. Last but not least, there is the issue of time. The effort to restore the
locomotive I'm involved with has been going on for several years with a few
more to go. Our project now has four fulltime employees and countless
volunteers such as myself.

These are but a few of the things that must be faced. However, if the funding
is there, I can say there is no better way to spend your time than to
restore a locomotive to operating condition.

Regards,

Charles Cantrell

Ps. You requested copies of prints/drawings, but forgot to mention what type
of Berkshire your need the prints for.