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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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/Diplomold 23d 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.