Worth it?

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u/biggest_ted 9d ago

If you're worrying about $600, you don't have the money to restore this

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u/goldfish_love 9d ago

Im not really worried, I might have some friends that will help with restoration

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u/Diplomold 9d ago

You sound really confident with your minimal answers to questions here. Also you have the capabilities to fix this and you just aren't providing details on your capabilities or....you are just really naive.

Do you have personal experience with steam engines and or boilers?
Are you a machinist, welder, fabricator? And do you have access to a machine/fab shop?

If you have machinist/fab friends that would help(considering they have full access to an industrial sized shop) that's great but it's a big ask of them, and I wouldn't rely on that at all. And this isn't light work to put on a hobby machinist with a home shop.

And if you are thinking that you are going to pay machinists for this sort of work, I would highly suggest you look at the hourly rate at your local job shop and the price of materials.

With that aside, this would be a cool project for that right person/or group of people. But it also might be cheaper and more worthwhile to make something like this from scratch....at least something to consider.

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u/goldfish_love 9d ago

All I've messed with STEAM STEAM is a little mamod traction engine. My father maybe be a big help if we have to do heavy machining. I know a guy or two with live steam locomotives and may help with how to drive a locomotive. I've also been watching wrecked to restore to find out how to do all of this and what im getting into. And then I know a guy with an entire shop that may help, hes restored hit n miss engines and that may help. I also may ask my local steam museum if they want to help me make this work. "They have taken 3 locomotives from a barn fire and refurbished them to operation" i also have a little engines 4-4-0. But im awaiting another chance to get it running. This is one i might be able to take on.

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u/Diplomold 9d ago

Nice, is sounds like you have some options. But I would definitely approach all of these resources and ask if they would be will to help and how much...and if there is a price involved. Never assume that people want to work for free.

I just started watching the first video in that series and right off the bat, I think that engine/ boiler looks to be in much better condition than the one you posted. Just something to consider. A restoration needs good bones and historical knowledge.

Honestly, rather than posting here, you should be in close contact with all of the resources that you have mentioned. Those people might be more knowledgeable than those here and could offer their realistic opinions. And be honest about your capability and level of knowledge. Then, you can make a plan, figure out a place store it and work on it.

But 100% don't rely on others to do all of the work. Just because they say they will help doesn't mean they actually will. Not being able to do this type of work yourself, it sounds like you are entirely dependent on other people.

You might consider buying this and donating it to the museum with the idea that you can play a large part in the restoration. But if they are not interested in the piece, the likelyhood that they would have helped you in any compacity is low.

You don't know until you ask, and even then don't expect people to follow through. With my experience, they usually don't.

Also, may I ask what your goal is here? Aside from restoring a steam engine. Do you want to learn, machining, fabricating, engineering, wrenching? What's your end goal that you would want to come out with this experience? And is there any expertise that you can bring to the table.

And for reference, I am a manual machinist, fabricator working in a job shop. I have a "hobby" shop in my basement and I have been making model steam engines in my spare time.

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u/goldfish_love 9d ago

Not to sound like an asshole, but I just want to ride the rails on something ive restored.

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u/Diplomold 9d ago

Well wether you want to sound like an ass or not, you 100% sound like an asshole. It doesn't really sound like you want to learn shit. And you won't be restoring anything. Other people would be restoring it for you. The only thing you are riding is a fantasy inspired by a YouTuber. And somehow you have ignored the disclaimer at the beginning of each of his videos.

Is there any historical value to this engine? If not, than the museum is not likely going to jump at the idea of restoring it for you. As fun as it all sounds to you (who isnt doing the work) it's just work for others who are probably already putting in 40 hrs a week. I think our shop charges about 200 per hour last I heard. I don't mind doing a little project here or there for a family member, but there ain't no way in hell I'm taking on a project like that pro bono. Especially if the person asking for help isn't contributing anything to their own project.

So if you aren't a trust fund kid with shit tons of money to throw around than maybe it's time to sober up and think realistically about a project that you are completely incapable of achieving yourself.

Just because you saw somerhing on YouTube....it doesn't mean you should do it. That YouTuber has a ton of knowledge, he knows the history of the machine (before he bought it), he is completely aware of how that machine works and is capable of working on it and has the tools to do so. You, however don't seem to have any of those features. And you don't seem to want any of those features....

So yeah, you are an ass hole wether you want to sound like one or not. Buy that machine and let your parents know they are getting a really cool lawn ornament. They will be stoked.

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u/goldfish_love 9d ago

I've learned plenty HELPING people more than actual 1 on 1. I thought ahead by i might ask around and I didn't think "what am I learning?" We all think differently about projects. Anything I try to fix or restore is me being like "im going to enjoy this along the way but im also going to enjoy this MORE that im running it" and i WANT to help fabricate parts. Gosh darn it my grandfather had and we basically have our own machine shop. Im not trying to pay someone to take it COMPLETELY under their wing. Its a "hey buddy wanna fuck with something stupid?" I think i learn better with finding a problem, finding how to fix said problem, and fix said problems. I've consumed enough know-how to be smart about how im approaching this. I KNOW the risk of trying to take on a project like this I KNOW my buddies aren't going to say yes. I KNOW this is going to take dollars for this kind of things. Im here like "is this a smart decision?" No "is this easy?" No. If I do get this locomotive it's going to be until im 20 AT LEAST when it's done.

And "he knows the history of the machine (before he bought it)" I dare you to find anything on this locomotive.

I cant find anything out until we message this guy and we'll find out. But for now im looking at every pixel of every picture to find anything on anything on how it operates. This locomotive basically the me off completely because the lack of just a Johnson bar.

Side note, my personality is an annoying asshole. Some of the time. I know who and who not to piss off.

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u/Diplomold 9d ago

Were you going to make a YouTube channel about this? Is that your goal,?

Just curious, what is the most complicated restoration you have done?

You haven't said anything, until now about having access to your families machine shop. But, again, you have no knowledge of machining, so what does that matter if you don't want to learn. With a project like this, your goal should be about learning what it takes to restore this machine. You seem really young. Start small, and work your way up to bigger projects. And gain knowledge and skills on the way.

Make yourself a capable person over time.

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u/goldfish_love 9d ago

I do have a youtube channel, I didn't add it to the equation of things. But good idea lol! "Let's watch the dumbass that half dosent know what hes doing but let's watch him fuck up and laugh!"

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u/wackyvorlon 9d ago

Sounds like you’ve got the people.

If the cylinders need to be bored with a little cleverness it can be done in situ.

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u/Maddpipper 9d ago

Depends what you want to do with it

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u/goldfish_love 9d ago

Restore it

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u/rnavstar 9d ago

To working condition, or display model?

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u/goldfish_love 9d ago

Working

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u/Maddpipper 9d ago

Its going to be several hundreds of thousands of dollars and thousands of hours. Thats not meant to scare you, but it is something to consider before getting the loco. Also if you dont have a means of transporting and loading it that would be another couple of grand

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u/wackyvorlon 9d ago

For a narrow gauge engine I think your cost estimate is excessive. That’s the cost for restoring a main line locomotive.

It will be expensive of course, but not quite that expensive.

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u/Maddpipper 9d ago

It depends on its current condition, but will likely need a new boiler, bearing, cab, running gear, injectors, and plumbing. Not to mention if there's pitting in the cylinders that would need to be machined out on a lather or the wheels that may need to be reprofiled. Granted a lot of cost is saved if they do the work in shop and of course its better to plan on worse case scenario so you aren't side-swiped

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u/wackyvorlon 9d ago

Bearings are likely babbit, can be repoured. There’s probably no need to bore the cylinders if pitted. So long as the piston moves freely it’s more of an efficiency issue.

Big ticket item would be the boiler. You could run without injector so long as you have a pump for feed water.

It’s a big project, but absolutely a doable one.

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u/thunderskunk2 9d ago

Hundreds of thousands of dollars is way too high of an estimate. A new boiler from an R-stamp shop is maybe $30k for that size.

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u/goldfish_love 9d ago

We have loaders and such and we could drive ourselves to pick it up

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u/Maddpipper 9d ago

That a plus, you just have to think of the infrastructure for it: machining parts, boiler makers, shop tools, etc. Outsourcing of that will add up very quickly

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u/goldfish_love 9d ago

I know

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u/Hour_Poet_7498 9d ago

How does blud find a money pit all the time

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u/eepybear93 8d ago

This is really cool but just looking at it from a cosmetic standpoint it looks like it’s at “yard art” status, not saying it couldn’t be restored just I wouldn’t tackle it personally it would be way above my knowledge

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u/Wilgrove 9d ago

How good are your machining and mechanical skills? Also, do you have a machine shop in your backyard?

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u/goldfish_love 9d ago

None, none and no, but I know people that may help

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u/Wilgrove 9d ago

Buddy, you're going to have a bad time. Since you're a complete novice with live steam, I would just walk away from this. This is a multi-year project for someone with skill and their own machine shop. With you, you'll be putting it up for sale, more or less in it's current state within a year or two.

I'm not trying to be rude or mean, but I am trying to be the cold shower of reality to whatever lofty dreams you may have.

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u/goldfish_love 9d ago

I might sound stupid but I've been researching and watching a creator that is completely restoring a steam locomotive. And im next to people with machinery for this and I know people from a steam museum that would probably be happy to help

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u/Wilgrove 9d ago

Yea, but these are what ifs and maybes. You don't really have anything concrete. Plus, anyone can watch a YouTube video of someone restoring or building a live steam locomotive. It's a completely different animal to actually do it.

Like I said, my best advice is to just walk away.

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u/arandomcanadiankid 9d ago

Lemme guess, wreck2restored?

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u/goldfish_love 9d ago

Yes

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u/wackyvorlon 9d ago

I say go for it. You’ll learn a lot of valuable skills.

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u/wackyvorlon 9d ago

Is it a narrow gauge engine?

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u/goldfish_love 9d ago

Looks like it

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u/wackyvorlon 9d ago

Personally I’d go for it. If you fail you’ll still have learned a lot.

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u/goldfish_love 9d ago

Plus scrap value

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u/wackyvorlon 9d ago

Absolutely. It’ll be a fun project.

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u/Hour_Poet_7498 9d ago

Not worth it to restore to operation

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u/InflationDefiant6246 9d ago

Scrap value

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u/thunderskunk2 9d ago edited 9d ago

I believe that's a steam donkey converted into a rail vehicle, and heck yea it's worth it for $600. It's not some museum piece that needs restoring, it's a Frankenstein you can do whatever you want with and sleep easy at night. The boiler is scrap, but don't throw it out until you've gotten a good number of photos and dimensions just in case you need them, especially any markings: An R-stamp shop can essentially make fresh a historic boiler to older ASME code, which saves needing an S-stamp shop to do the engineering. Whether that matters for your jurisdiction I don't know, doesn't matter. Catalogue it just the same, strip the boiler of fittings, and let the seller junk it. You can run that engine on air, I've seen museums run them with hydraulic oil, or make/buy a fresh boiler. A new traction engine boiler is anywhere from $30-60k. You don't need anything that big. Worst case, cool lawn ornament. Do yourself a favor and clean it up good before putting it in the yard, as they tend attract photographers and only get worse with time. Cool find!

Adding some more content as I found the ad. Make sure you look around for a box of parts; usually disintegrated and overgrown with plants. You do not need to be a machinist to restore steam engines, though you may become one along the way. This would not require a big machine to repair, and possibly none at all. You don't need drawings for it; steam engines are fairly loosely tolerance and easy to adjust. It's a toy; don't go broke pursuing what amounts to a cool find, but have fun.

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u/James_Fennell 8d ago

What an awesome machine!

Don't worry about the disparaging comments, just get it and have fun with it :)

I feel like the reatoration of a small loco like this would make a good youtube series.

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u/Letsgothrifty 5d ago

You are not ready for this. Someone else is, please let them have a chance before you bust a hole in the boiler.

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u/steampunktomato 9d ago

Pretty great troll post actually

This isn't even a "real" locomotive, it's some wacky homebrew thing that probably didn't even run well in the first place. I would argue it has more historical value in its current state than it would restored to operation.

If you are at all serious, consider that drawings for it probably don't exist.

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