Historic Restoration

National Park Service – Steamtown National Historic Site, Stabilization of Historic Rail Equipment and Removal of Asbestos, Scranton, PA

The COASTAL Project Team took on an important task at the Steamtown National Historic Site, focusing on preserving historic railway equipment. Our goal was to stabilize five passenger cars, restore ten steam engines, and safely remove asbestos from twelve passenger cars.

Our approach was practical and efficient. We brought together a team of experienced boilermakers who specialized in historic steam locomotives. They worked closely with our asbestos removal experts to ensure the project was done safely and efficiently.

To streamline the process, we used an assembly-line method for disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling the engines and cars while in containment. This work was carried out in both indoor and outdoor areas. For the heavy lifting, we used a Grove 6-ton crane with a 27′ boom, which helped us access and remove asbestos from beneath the large engine parts.

This project was much more than just restoring old trains. It was about making sure these historic pieces can be enjoyed by future generations, all while maintaining high environmental safety standards. Through careful planning and teamwork, we’ve helped preserve a piece of American rail history at the Steamtown National Historic Site.