I read with interest the recent article on Old Abe (Herald, June 5), the wonderful steam-powered tractor that had been a fixture of parades and local festivities for so many years. The hope that Al and John Harper might have interest in it for inclusion in their excellent Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad museum is a good one. As they can attest, returning Old Abe to parade activities is going to be a bit more involved than a bit of oiling and dusting, as steam-powered locomotives, tractors and other implements are required by law to go through a boiler recertification process after a certain number of years. Only in that way can operators and revelers be guaranteed a safe driving and viewing experience, free of the peril of an exploding boiler. Stay safe this Fourth of July!
Stan Mason
Durango