Strasburg RR Shop

[jsmvmd]

Dear Friends,

Last Friday was Thomas day at Strasburg.  Thank goodness I was there just to visit other stuff, and not that.  I took my son on the 1200 noon tour of the Shop and was pleasantly supprised.  The tour was informal, friendly and very informative. 

They are restoring a Denver, Rio Grande & Western from the frame up;
A Baldwin 0-6-0 switcher with Juniata stampings on the boiler; 
A heavy weight passenger car, privately owned, replaced trucks from 3-wheel to 2-wheel;
A boiler repair from the same DRG&W that had rolled the engine and dented the boiler:  the section was cut out and welded and the weld x-rayed;
Etc, etc.

The gent told me Strasburg trains the feds how to inspect, and lots of times they get telephone approval for work done.

In addition there are all the machines from the 19th century, lubricants, lubrication mods, etc.  We got to see the up close differences for Southern, Baker and Walschaert valve gears.  Very impressive !

I whole heartily recommend this tour to all !

Best Wishes,

Jack