Ridge Locomotive Works

Boiler Page

 

Marty Knox has the knowledge and experience to provide the best boiler service to the live steam community. Like many Live Steamers his initial interest was in machine work. While an Industrial Education student at Kean College he built his first locomotive chassis to the point where it was running on air and needed a boiler. Getting a quote of $600, he decided to build his own, and actually used it as a project for his Metals Fabrication Class. Finding boilers fascinating, he took classes in Non-Destructive Testing, Ultrasonics, and Radiography. Upon graduation he took a job as a Quality Control Engineer with an engineering firm that built code pressure vessels. Later he took a job as a boilermaker in a chemical plant. While there he went to school 40 hours a week for 12 weeks to qualify as a code welder. During this period he started Ridge Locomotive Works, building boilers for live steam locomotives. His railroad interest led him to change jobs, going to work for the Morristown & Erie Railway. After 4 years at the M&E he went full time with Ridge Locomotive Works and in January 1986 relocated to Texas, where he continued to build boilers and locomotives. In January 1990 he was hired as Master Mechanic for the Huckleberry Railroad, a 3’ gauge steam tourist railroad near Flint, Michigan. In October 1990 he was promoted to Chief Mechanical Officer, serving in this position for 16 ½ years. He retired on March 1, 2007 to operate Ridge Locomotive Works full-time. His experience building, designing, maintaining, and operating steam locomotives, from a 30 pound ‘Tich’ to a 400 ton Berkshire, can help YOU with your live steam projects.

 

Standard Boilers

If you are building a locomotive to a common live steam design chances are we have built one or more and have drawings on hand, thus can provide you with a firm quote. We have drawings for most Allen Models, Little Engines, and Railroad Supply 1 ½ scale locomotives. We also have provided the boilers to Tom Artzberger for his RGS 20 project.

Custom Boilers

If the locomotive you are building is not a standard design please complete the information sheet attached and we will be glad to quote. We usually can work from the outside dimensions you provide and will do the tube and stay layout along with the stress calculations to provide a safe boiler that performs well.

Code Boilers

On our quote form we ask for your location so we can build a boiler that is legal for you to use. Some locations require a boiler built to the ASME code. We can advise what your jurisdiction requires and if necessary we can provide you with a code boiler in conjunction wth Hank Marsilio of Eagle Mechanical Services.

Copper Boilers

While we have built and repaired copper boilers, we can usually provide a steel boiler for about on half the cost of a copper boiler. We will do copper boilers, but only on a time available basis. Due to the unknowns involved we will not provide a firm quote or delivery for copper boilers.

Inspection and Repair

We have modern inspection equipment and can examine your boiler internally as well as performing hydrostatic testing. Once inspected we can provide you a report listing recommended repairs. This work is done strictly on a time and materials basis. Please call for our current shop rate. It will save you money to clean the boiler thoroughly before we inspect it.

 
RLW Quote Form

1. Your Location
2. Operating Pressure
3. Outside Diameter of Shell, front
3A. Largest Diameter of Tapered Shell
4. Overall Length at top
4A. Length of First Course - straight or tapered
4B. Length of Second Course
5. Overall Length at bottom
6. Outside Length of Firebox
7. Outside Width of Firebox
8. Is Bottom of Firebox level or sloped
9. Bottom of shell to Bottom of Firebox
10. Overall Height of Backhead
11. Is Backhead vertical or slanted
12. Outside Diameter of Dome
13. Overall Height of Dome
14. Distance from front of Shell to center of Dome
15A. Distance from centerline of first course to bottom of Firebox - Front
15B. Distance from centerline of first course to bottom of Firebox - Back
16. Location and size of water inlets
17. Any additional openings.

 

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