The Home Machinist!

Local news reports that a spokesperson says that engine 475 only suffered "minor damage" to the smoke box door and headlights. Engine 475 is expected to be back up and running for Strasburg Rail Road’s Christmas Trains which will run Nov. 19 - Dec. 22.

Kerosene is the old school method of wet storage. Dry storage with a small amount of heat through the winter is what I do. I've considered an inert gas blanket as Bill describes. RV anti-freeze doesn't seem like it would gain much for the head ache of washing it out later.

There you go, assuming -> where a clear definition in the original request would have been better. It is like someone asking "does anyone know automobile manufacturers?" It's a qualified answer that might be helpful. Maybe he's 100% new and doesn't know where to start. Certainly a greater...

Someone new to the hobby may not know yet what they might build, what scale, what is available or where to start.

Assuming you are looking for 7-1/4" or 7-1/2" gage there is RMI already mentioned.  Also a few listed below.

https://titantrains.net/accessories/

https://www.cannonballltd.com/catalog.html

http://www.railroadsupply.com/

https://www.banninglocomotiveworks.com/

The locomotives I've seen with working buffers have been difficult to couple up. I have a solid draw bar with a deck plate laying from the cab onto the tender. A buffer the is close enough to look prototypical would look good and stash a drawbar somewhere..

Crews on the major railroads belong to a union. Aside a program like Union Pacific, no Class One railroad will bother to train people on steam. They would send a pilot who knows the railroad out along with the crew that comes with the locomotive.

By the time you strip the paint off an old file cabinet, is it worth bothering with?

Galvanneal makes a nice jacket.

122' is the wheel base of the engine and tender. The T1 driver wheel base was 25'-4" and the engine wheel base was 51'-11". steamlocomotives.com lists the NYC S1b 4-8-4 as having a driver wheel base of 20'-6" and an engine wheel base of 48'-9". So longer than a 4-8-4 but not by a...

Anybody ever use this stuff?

https://www.belmontmetals.com/product/b ... y%20kinks.

I am still surprised though that no one else seems to be able to corroborate my back of the envelope numbers that show 20x reduction in friction between roller bearings vs bronze sleeve bushings. As Bill Shields was describing with plain or friction bearings oil is pulled by the axle to to top side...

Needle bearing are worth it if you want to use needle bearings for the sake of doing it. Otherwise there are simpler to implement options.. I have cars running on shielded lawn mower wheel bearings, sealed ball bearings and one (the oldest) with oilite bushings in wood journal boxes. The lawn mower ...