Rimmasch stated that basically we have 3 choices: 1- Rebuilt the existing boiler preserving as much of the original as possible; 2 - Build a new boiler using the original riveting process; 3 - Build a new boiler using modern welding techniques. The expense ranges from a million dollars for the rebuild or build with riveting to 500 thousand for the new welded boiler.
Rimmasch raised an interesting question. Is our objective to preserve the artifact, or preserve the history of the artifact. We have already answered that question partially by rebuilding the tender with largely new materials using original riveting and incorporating some original hardware and trucks. We are preserving the history of the tender, not restore the original.
Rimmasch in the blue shirt talks with Steve Jones, Golden Spike Chapter President
