I've heard much about steam locomotive shops, where the tools, techniques and expertise is available for the maintenance and repair of steam locomotives. How many museums or tourist operations have fully equipped diesel shops that specialize in maintaining first generation diesels? What about a network of diesel mechanics and operators who could talk about and provide advice and assistance for fellow vintage diesel operators? I am aware of several small operations with one or two EMD or Alco products who do not have facilities to handle major repairs, but who could perform moderate work on locomotives, but there seems to be a lack of knowlege, tools and advice available for these people.<p>How about creating a loan system for providing the unique EMD and Alco tools to museums and tourist lines who occasionally need to change a power assembly, or test an injector, or megger a traction motor? It would not be practical for evertyone to buy these tools, especially when they may be used once every couple of years or so. But if each operation owned one particular tool, and made it available for loan through an Internet based loan system, many of us could benefit from having access to all of the tools we would need.<p>Just a thought.<p><br>



bighookx45@aol.com

What about the same for steam?<br>



jkruger504@aol.com