The Porter Locomotive 4390 was built for the
Santa Cruz Portland Cement Company located in
Davenport, California during August of 1909.
This locomotive has lead a long life serving
SCPC until 1924 and later the Betchel Kaiser
Rock Company of Oroville, CA until 1963. Since
that time, the locomotive was stored outdoors
and deteriorated a great deal. I purchased the
locomotive in 2006 and after beginning
restoration was looking for a paint which would
withstand the heat of a steam boiler, paint over
rust with minimal surface preparation, and be
durable enough to stand up to the weather while
restoration continued. After contacting the
people at Rust Bullet and viewing their test
samples I was very impressed with the product.
Currently, I have used Rust Bullet to paint the
exterior of the boiler and am happy with the
results. The paint handled well and has produced
a very durable membrane. I intend to continue
using Rust Bullet for painting the rest of the
locomotive as restoration continues. Steam
locomotives are very demanding on paint due to
high heat, mechanical abrasion, and exposure to
the elements which is common for most of a
locomotive's existence. If it can work here, it
can work anywhere.
Efstathios I. Pappas
Doctoral Candidate
Department of Anthropology/096
University of Nevada, Reno
