The Villages - May 2019 - 51

When it came to testing, trouble could flare up.
Bearings froze. Engines exploded. And sometimes,
people got hurt.
"When a diesel engine explodes, it explodes," Leach said.
"After the initial build, we hooked up the batteries and
the electrical components, checked everything and then
took it outside to run it at full horsepower to be sure it was
putting out its maximum power," Leach said. "Then we
ran it on the test track to be sure it could operate the way it
should on the railroads."
But again, failures were part of the process.
"There were times when 500 gallons of lubricating
oil blasted out, the piping and water-cooling system broke
open and 300 gallons of boiling water spilled," he said.
"We had to crawl on the roof of the locomotive to check
the fans while they were running. It was a dangerous job.
Everything had to work properly, but once we had it right,
a locomotive could go 2 to 3 million miles before any major
problems occurred."

The average lifespan for a locomotive is 20 years, Leach
said. But an engine can be rebuilt to run another 10 to 15
years thereafter.
When it came to building overseas locomotives, there
were nuances to consider.
"We sent locomotives to Mauritania, a country in
Northwest Africa," Leach said. "They operated in the desert
so they needed special filters. During a 300-mile trip to the
dock, the filters absorbed 27 pounds of sand. They had to
run in every environment."
When demand was high, Leach and his crew clocked
around 15 hours daily to build, test and deliver the
machines on time.
"My life was work," he said. "One year, I worked seven
days a week, 37 weekends in a row."
In 1990, Leach decided to end the wild ride. He retired
but was promptly recruited to work for a company that
rebuilt locomotives.
"I set up a quality program for the company then moved
to Topeka, Kansas - my wife's hometown."
In 2005, the couple landed in The Villages.
"Our sons had moved to Florida and they said, "If you
want to see us, come down.'"
Now a Village of Liberty Park resident, Leach spends
his time playing shuffleboard and enjoying the Sunshine
State. He's traded technical manuals for cookbooks and
locomotive building for tart baking. Showing off an
elaborate peach tart with a golden crust, Leach smiles.
"I still like to tinker," he said.

I tore everythIng apart. I had to
see how It worked. My father
just let Me do whatever I
wanted MechanIcally. one year
he bought Me an old outboard
Motor and saId, 'have at It.' I
tore It all apart and put It all
back together agaIn.
- Kenneth Leach

MAGAZINE

51
The Villages - May 2019

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