09/28/2026
Hello new followers! RDG’s inspection of Cotton Belt No. 819 has generated quite the buzz this past week — nearly quadrupling our follower count — but that’s not the only steam locomotive project we have taken under our wing. If you’re new here, this is what we’re up to….
READING COMPANY No. 2100 — We have put in time with the American Steam Railroad as far back as 2019 and have done nearly everything from boiler welding to multimedia and marketing. Not only did many of our team members meet here, but the Reading’s reporting marks “RDG” inspired our company name.
GREAT NORTHERN No. 1355 — Our team works side by side with volunteers to return this one-of-a-kind 4-6-2, the pride of the Sioux City Railroad Museum, to steam. Project 1355 recently benefited from a $1 million grant from the National Park Service, and RDG remains the NPS-approved contractor as the rebuild continues.
Locust Heights & Western Railroad — We’ve recently partnered with this unique West Virginia railroad to help restore, maintain and operate their rolling stock, track and steam-powered equipment, notably including their vertical-boiler Class A Climax locomotive.
ILLINOIS CENTRAL No. 333 — In the early phases of this restoration, RDG assisted with the initial disassembly, tube removal and ultrasonic inspection of this hefty 0-6-0. We look forward to the day 333 plies the rails under steam again.
COTTON BELT No. 819 — RDG’s most recent claim to fame was the initial inspection of the Arkansas Railroad Museum’s legendary 4-8-4. While this inspection does not constitute an announcement of an operational restoration, it represents an important step in evaluating the locomotive’s condition and helping determine its future.
If you’d like us to hop aboard your steam project, drop us a line: raildynamicsgroup.com/contact-us
