PJ Wrote:
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> #3985 needs fairly significant boiler work. Some
> will say "oh no it doesn't" but yes, it does. And
> I'm not just referring to the superheater units -
> yes, it would need a new set of those. Never mind
> what happened to her old units - the reality is
> they're gone and would require replacement. As to
> the cost - you never really know until you get
> into it, but you can pretty much bet the boiler
> would cost $1m +, especially done the way UP does
> it now.
> I think the running gear is in pretty decent shape
> but knowing Ed he would go through it anyway - add
> another $1m +. Then there's the tender that #4014
> is using now - more $$$ to get #4014's tender
> usable and return #3985's, which I understand
> isn't in pristine condition either.
> Any way you look at it these machines are not a
> cheap undertaking. While I, too, always liked
> #3985 and would like to see her run again, its
> difficult to see how it could be justified based
> on what UP uses the engines for. Two big
> locomotives is more than enough. Lets be happy
> with what we've got.

Been swimming in the koolade again?

Guess you didn't know, or don't care that 3985 and tender got a complete running gear overhaul in the early 2000s. Complete with all new springs, pins, bushings and all moving parts brought back to spec. The tender even got several new wheelsets.

3985 was 2 weeks from running when the rookie manager, who had never seen the inside of a firebox, overruled the Boilermakers with a combined 90 years of experience and proclaimed it not safe.

This was part of the effort to keep 3985 parked and never get it back into service.

You've been had.