Forums

[Anonymous]

[:)] I have a book called Working Steam Vintage Locomotives today Writen by Hans Halberstadt where he talks about JS-class Mikado type locomotive. purchased as a brand new locomotive in 1989 by the Boone & Scenic Railroad
from a chinese company. I have looked for that company on the web to see where I might by a brand new steam engine.
If anybody has info on this please let me know.

[Anonymous]

[:)] I have a book called Working Steam Vintage Locomotives today Writen by Hans Halberstadt where he talks about JS-class Mikado type locomotive. purchased as a brand new locomotive in 1989 by the Boone & Scenic Railroad
from a chinese company. I have looked for that company on the web to see where I might by a brand new steam engine.
If anybody has info on this please let me know.

[vsmith]

Question: Just how big is your backyard?

Didn't the Chinese stop building new locos a couple of years ago? I read that the Chinese were going to phase out there remaining steamers over the last decade. If you are serious, you might be able to find an older steamer for sale from China, India, South Africa, or Russia. But sheesh, I dont know where you would start and the cost of shipping it might be greater than the purchase price.

I have wondered how hard would it be to find a builder willing to put together a small loco (say a Porter) from scratch here in this country.
I personally feel if you can hold out till Fidel Castro kicks the bucket, there will be a lot of old steamers from Cuba that might become available for purchase.

[vsmith]

Question: Just how big is your backyard?

Didn't the Chinese stop building new locos a couple of years ago? I read that the Chinese were going to phase out there remaining steamers over the last decade. If you are serious, you might be able to find an older steamer for sale from China, India, South Africa, or Russia. But sheesh, I dont know where you would start and the cost of shipping it might be greater than the purchase price.

I have wondered how hard would it be to find a builder willing to put together a small loco (say a Porter) from scratch here in this country.
I personally feel if you can hold out till Fidel Castro kicks the bucket, there will be a lot of old steamers from Cuba that might become available for purchase.

[Anonymous]

There were actually several steamers purchased from Chinese sources during that same time period. One of them lies on the ocean floor, having literally gone down with the ship.

I believe the previous poster is correct, Chinese firms have ceased steam production. There are several specialty firms around the world capable of building a new steam locomotive from the ground up and a handful of new steam locomotives have been produced in recent years.

Its three or four times cheaper to recondition an intact, but inoperable steam locomotive or to cobble one up from existing parts (the engineering design costs and component fabrication costs are what will really get you) - but if you have an overiding need for replication and sufficient capital, the job can be done.

Suggest you check out "The Narrow Gauge Discussion Group", the Bob Yarger and Hume Kading's "Railway Preservation" web site, and Rob Dickinson's "International Steam Locomotives web pages. I've never had any problem finding their URLs using a standard search engine.

Sincerely,
Glenn

[Anonymous]

There were actually several steamers purchased from Chinese sources during that same time period. One of them lies on the ocean floor, having literally gone down with the ship.

I believe the previous poster is correct, Chinese firms have ceased steam production. There are several specialty firms around the world capable of building a new steam locomotive from the ground up and a handful of new steam locomotives have been produced in recent years.

Its three or four times cheaper to recondition an intact, but inoperable steam locomotive or to cobble one up from existing parts (the engineering design costs and component fabrication costs are what will really get you) - but if you have an overiding need for replication and sufficient capital, the job can be done.

Suggest you check out "The Narrow Gauge Discussion Group", the Bob Yarger and Hume Kading's "Railway Preservation" web site, and Rob Dickinson's "International Steam Locomotives web pages. I've never had any problem finding their URLs using a standard search engine.

Sincerely,
Glenn

[Anonymous]

What happened to the Chinese steamer on the NYS&W ? I believe they origanaly bought it from the Crab Orchard and Egyption.

[Anonymous]

What happened to the Chinese steamer on the NYS&W ? I believe they origanaly bought it from the Crab Orchard and Egyption.

[Anonymous]

I would love to know if you find one and all about it if you do. I love the old steam engines. Too bad there are not more running so we can all still enjoy them. Good luck and happy hunting.

[Anonymous]

I would love to know if you find one and all about it if you do. I love the old steam engines. Too bad there are not more running so we can all still enjoy them. Good luck and happy hunting.

[Anonymous]

The NYS&W still owns and operates the 142 (Chinese). It is my understanding that the 141 went down with the ship somewhere in the Pacific. I thought the 142 was purchased new from China as a replacement for the 141, but would welcome more correct information.

[Anonymous]

The NYS&W still owns and operates the 142 (Chinese). It is my understanding that the 141 went down with the ship somewhere in the Pacific. I thought the 142 was purchased new from China as a replacement for the 141, but would welcome more correct information.

[Anonymous]

http://gcdranet.homelinux.com/davehonan/nysw142/nysw142.html You are correct,the first steamer they bought did go down with the ship(no pun intended) this is the most recent info i could find on the 142.

[Anonymous]

http://gcdranet.homelinux.com/davehonan/nysw142/nysw142.html You are correct,the first steamer they bought did go down with the ship(no pun intended) this is the most recent info i could find on the 142.

[Anonymous]

If you go to www.steamlocomotive.com there is a section on the site with for sale and wanted ads for steam locomotives. Of course there are a lot more wanted ads, but if you have pockets deep enough there are some steamers out there for you to buy.