I've seen that several tourist railroads and the Iowa Interstate Railroad have steam locomotives that have been built in China and shipped over. I'm wondering why they're doing that when there are seemingly hundreds of made-in-America steam locomotives that are in need of restoration. Or is it simply cheaper to buy from China then restore originals?
Lone Geep
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It's just easier / cheaper in the long run to buy new engines from China than to work to bring old engines up to snuff...especially if you're looking at an engine that hasn't run in decades. Due to their large coal reserves, China kept using (and building) steam engines long after the rest of the world had gone to diesel or electric engines.
It certainly was cheaper to buy a new steam engime from the Chinese, at least around 1989- 1990. The added bonus was the Chinese engines were almost dead-ringers for American types. Now that wouldn't be the case, the Chinese don't build them anymore.
But they still have some for sale. Almost like new.
daveklepper But they still have some for sale. Almost like new.
You know, that's true! I'm saving my pennies!
Also when you get one IIRC you get alot of SPARE Parts you know the things your going to need to keep it running. Things like Tires Springs Bearings and other parts that wear out. Right now they still have the Part#'s for them in China have tons of Spars for them over there it is a simple matter of ordering the parts you need and shipping them. Not having to custom make everything for them.
wjstix It's just easier / cheaper in the long run to buy new engines from China than to work to bring old engines up to snuff...especially if you're looking at an engine that hasn't run in decades. Due to their large coal reserves, China kept using (and building) steam engines long after the rest of the world had gone to diesel or electric engines.
I seem to think the Iowa Interstate engines as well as the one at Boone and the Corman engine are all rebuilt in China rather than brand new.
Because they used steam so much longer than we did, the Chinese still have a labor force skilled in the repair/rebuilding of these locomotives and the facilites to do so. Here in the States that knowledge is confined to the handfull of organizations that still operate steam. Rebuilding older locomotives in a location where the requisite skills and facilities are available in quantity at reasonable labor rates makes economic sense.
Consider the way 261 re-tired her drivers. For lack of a drop table, the engine had to be picked up by cranes to remove the drivers. The drivers than were shipped to a facility suitably equipped (East Broad Top or Strasburg?) for the actual work. They were then returned and the cranes summoned again. The 261 crew did what they had to do, but it would have been so much easier if their shop were actually designed for steam maintenance. The irony is that their parking lot contains the foundations of a roundhouse that would have been so equipped.
Several of the steam locomotives bought from China were brand new, built with very minor modifications to suit US regulations and practices. The rest were lightly used and modified after they arrived in the US.
The Boone & Scenic Valley's engine was built new. IIRC, the last engine built at Datong. It was purchased because it was cheaper than rebuilding the US steam engine they had. A board member happened to see an article about Datong ending production and that started the idea of getting the last one built there.
The IAIS/RDC"s two engines were used, although at the time of their arrival on the IAIS they were newer than the diesels they had then.
Jeff
Firelock76 daveklepper: But they still have some for sale. Almost like new. You know, that's true! I'm saving my pennies!
daveklepper: But they still have some for sale. Almost like new.
So just how much lunch money am I going to have to squirrel away to buy one? Does anyone have the listings. They're not on E-Bay.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
How much does a Chinese steam engine cost? Well I THINK in 1989 the Valley Railroad paid around $200,000 for the 2-8-2 they eventually sold to the Susquehanna. Now, who knows? Maybe not too much more, or possibly less depending on type.
Undertaking restoration work on a long out of service domestic steam locomotive is a tremendous gamble. Once you get into it there's no knowing what you are going to find. It could be a rusted out smokebox, a corroded boiler that would not pass it's mandatory inspection, bearings destroyed, components missing, tender rusted out, suspension springs broken, pipes clogged or burst, and the list goes on and on! Perssonally I"m all for restoring our domestic steam but if I were trying to get a tourist line started so that it would break even or become a paying proposition I would want to minimise the risk of delays and unexpected expenses and that means importing one of those Chinese steamers at a predictable cost and delivery date. And, with a few cosmetic modifications and perhaps a rebuilt cab, they are good stand-ins for American locomotives as they were in the 1920's or thereabouts.
JimValle Undertaking restoration work on a long out of service domestic steam locomotive is a tremendous gamble. Once you get into it there's no knowing what you are going to find. It could be a rusted out smokebox, a corroded boiler that would not pass it's mandatory inspection, bearings destroyed, components missing, tender rusted out, suspension springs broken, pipes clogged or burst, and the list goes on and on! Perssonally I"m all for restoring our domestic steam but if I were trying to get a tourist line started so that it would break even or become a paying proposition I would want to minimise the risk of delays and unexpected expenses and that means importing one of those Chinese steamers at a predictable cost and delivery date. And, with a few cosmetic modifications and perhaps a rebuilt cab, they are good stand-ins for American locomotives as they were in the 1920's or thereabouts.
Good example of this is New Haven 3025, which was rebuilt from Knox and Kane 1658.
The Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Route of the Black Diamond Express, John Wilkes and Maple Leaf.
-Jake, modeling the Barclay, Towanda & Susquehanna.
jeffhergert The Boone & Scenic Valley's engine was built new. IIRC, the last engine built at Datong. It was purchased because it was cheaper than rebuilding the US steam engine they had. A board member happened to see an article about Datong ending production and that started the idea of getting the last one built there.
Back maybe 20-25 years ago or so, PBS did a documentary series on China, maybe three or four one-hour programs. One episode was in Datong, showing them building the locomotives and what life was like for the workers and the different jobs they had. I think I still have a VHS tape of it somewhere, I don't know if it was ever available as a DVD but would be worth getting if it is.
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