I just need to know how long does it take to restore a steam locomotive like a 2-8-0 consolidation locomotive for instance, from the ground up and to operational status?
At TVRM we've been doing a major overhaul on SOU 630. I forget what class, but it's is the most or next to the most extensive rebuild you can do to a locomotive. I think it's been in around nine years so far. We just got the all drivers on which have been off for over seven. We've stripped everything off and now we're starting to get everything back together. Hopefully, we'll have her steaming next year.
I really have to say that the UK does an outstanding job on restoring this and other steam locomotives that have been sitting in the scrapyard for many years to near /operating order,and yes that does include the 8F class 2-8-0.