Steam & Excursion > boiler repair help

My question is, what or who is a good source to reach out to for boiler work? Or boiler parts. Flues, sheets, so on.

Posted from Android

Ed Dickens and friends is the place to go. They're the best in the business. Nobody does better work than them. Believe me.

Google "locomotive boiler repair". I don't know where you are, but several local SF names came up. Interestingly the  Strasburg RR is also listed - they have quite an ad for boiler repairs...

Walter

I'd go to the Wasatch guys in Cheyenne, especially if you want straight talk on the code issues.

Out

upheritage6 Wrote:
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> My question is, what or who is a good source to
> reach out to for boiler work? Or boiler parts.
> Flues, sheets, so on.

So,,,,,,just what boiler do you need information about?

There are actually more than you might think.

Wasatch and Strasburg were already mentioned; Steam Services of America, Steam Operations Corp. and several others.

These are probably the most experienced and have the longest lists of successful jobs out there.

Like any endeavor, there are also a few out there who should be avoided at all costs.

I doubt the UP guys would leave the shop to do the work and they have their hands full as it is. I know Wasatch has gone to do boiler work on site if you have the facilities. I would suspect Strasburg would want the loco shipped to them.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Try Steam Services of America.
www.steamservicesofamerica.com

Careful with Strasburg, i know of one engine that's been there for a long time the quoted price changed per what I was told.

Posted from Android

NSDTK Wrote:
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> Careful with Strasburg, i know of one engine
> that's been there for a long time the quoted price
> changed per what I was told.
>
> Posted from Android

You can find that sort of thing with almost any shop, but nearly always there are legitimate reasons for it.

Customer runs out of money.

Loco needs more work than originally foreseen.

Customer takes a long time (years, in some cases) to decide what to do. Meanwhile, labor and material costs climb.

Customer decided to stop the work.

Customer got way behind on payments.

Customer is in no hurry.

Realist Wrote:
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> NSDTK Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Careful with Strasburg, i know of one engine
> > that's been there for a long time the quoted
> price
> > changed per what I was told.
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> You can find that sort of thing with almost any
> shop, but nearly always there are legitimate
> reasons for it.
>
> Customer runs out of money.
>
> Loco needs more work than originally foreseen.
>
> Customer takes a long time (years, in some cases)
> to decide what to do. Meanwhile, labor and
> material costs climb.
>
> Customer decided to stop the work.
>
> Customer got way behind on payments.
>
> Customer is in no hurry.

If I recall Steve Lee say something about not making a time schedule because it always takes more time and more money no matter what you plan. It was about a Western Pacific steam locomotive, I can't remember the number.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/17 16:00 by badtanker1987.

I'm not sure the remark about Strasburg was called for.  Its easy to speculate when you don't know the facts.  I don't know the facts, nor the engine and am not prone to throwing something like that out there.
Any and all dealings that I had with Linn was totally reasonable, above board and honest. 
There does exist, in the industry wandering charlatans who would leave you high and dry.

This stuff is EXPENSIVE.
You must deal only with the BEST loco boiler professionals in the business.

The "art" is in knowing how to do a complete analysis, where to get the BEST crafters and the Best engineering support.
You gotta know what you're doing.

And that is what you're paying for.
  Don't even think about going into this thing without sufficient amounts of cash...completion has to be the goal.  
You don't want to have your boiler crew walk away, half way through, 'cause you ran out of cash.

Your original question reveals a lot of naïveté.  
You should already have a good idea about sources & methods,  and how to go about your intended project.

​W.

If the Strasburg remark referenced a certain California engine the problem is easily corrected, send money!

Out

Long ago I figured out how to make a small fortune running and repairing steam locomotives.




Start with a big one...

FORTUNE, that is.....
Not a big loco...

​W.

They are truly rolling money pits. They burn money for fuel.
Any work done to a boiler needs to be done by pros who have tons of experience and knowledge.  Boiler work is no place to skimp.

wcamp1472 Wrote:
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> FORTUNE, that is.....
> Not a big loco...

Yep...you've got it, Wes.

It involves a Disney locomotive and information i was told by a Disney employee during a round house tour.

callum_out Wrote:
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> If the Strasburg remark referenced a certain
> California engine the problem is easily corrected,
> send money!
>
> Out

Probably should not comment on this, as I work for Strasburg (or at least I did before I sent this...)  The certain CA based amusement company in question made many, many changes in direction during the rebuilding of thier equipment.  These changes completely changed the scope of the rebuilding, costing more than if a good plan was developed and it was stuck to for the duration of said project.