Steam & Excursion > EBT #16 gets a sand dome

On Wednesday I took my grandson to ride the EBT and tour the shops.  We had a very nice time and were impressed with the conditions of the facilities and the welcome we received from everyone we dealt with.  While on the shop tour we were fortunate to see EBT #16 out of the roundhouse having its rear sand dome installed on the boiler with the assist from a truck mounted crane/claw.  The front dome was on a pallet near the turntable pit.  Our docent told us that both domes were newly fabricated.  While no one wanted to project a date for #16 to enter service, from the look of things it won't be far off.  I should also mention that 2 new coaches were on their trucks in the yard.  They looked very well built.    My bottom line take away is that the EBT is in very good hands.      

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As the old saying goes............it will be done when it's done. No doubt that steam will soon be a part of the EBT story as will beginning to open up the railroad South of Rockhill which has been out of service since 1956.

  Wonderful to see their progress.  Ross Rowland 

Nevada State Railroad Museum take note...EBT is a REAL railroad museum!

Thanks for the latest report on the EBT!!   The progress at the EBT puts a smile on my face every day!  I never thought that all this would happen in my lifetime!!

Ron

I'd bet the docent is overstating the case about the sand domes...
There'd be no reason for newly fabricated  sand domes.

In all probability the the original domes were refurbished off-site,
all cleaned and repainted, just like 'new'.
That's all that would have been needed.
Sand domes don't 'wear-out'...

And, the engines have been stored in the roundhouse, out of the elements,
since they were originally acquired.

IMHO.

​W.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/22 14:28 by wcamp1472.

You are probably right Wes - but It wouldn't be a stretch to say the domes look good as new. We didn't get the opportunity to talk to the men working on 16 as you can see they were busy with more important things than talking to railfans that day.  From a distance we could see 16's tender in one of the stalls freshly painted and ready to be lettered.  Two cabs were sitting outside in what appeared to be primer. 
 Ed 

wcamp1472 Wrote:
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> That's all that would have been needed.
> Sand domes don't 'wear-out'...

...unless there's still sand inside that traps moisture, and the dome rusts from the inside.

These are probably heavy iron castings...they're not made out of stamped tin.

The sand boxes contain dried sand, and the dried, settled, sand DOES NOT 
attract moisture from the atmosphere.   

Further, as mentioned earlier, the engines are stored inside shelter....
their whole lives ---- nice and dry.

​W.

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/22 18:43 by wcamp1472.

Looked at the picture of the parts that Straburg is building for the EBT and did not see sand domes.

Out