Originally Posted by jethat:
The Navy still runs some steam ships. That would be a source of boiler trained young people.
Sorry, but Navy steam boiler operations are not even remotely close to a steam locomotive. Navy boilers really aren't that much different than stationary boilers in electrical power plants, since the load doesn't vary all that much, plus they are usually very high pressure water tube boilers. Steam locomotives have fire tube boilers in order to withstand the numerous, and drastic loading changes.
