Polishing the Past: The Team Behind the Restoration of Bullard No. 2

Jack D'Apice and John Bibalo standing next to the cosmetically restored Bullard No 2.

Hours before the first visitors arrive at Steamtown, the locomotive shop stirs to life. Lights flicker on, tools reunite with calloused hands, and volunteer Jack D’Apice joins his supervisor, John Bibalo, to set the day’s goals.

April was National Volunteer Month, a time to recognize and thank NPS Volunteers for their passion and commitment. Here at Steamtown, inspired by National Volunteer Month, we’re proud to spotlight one of our dedicated locomotive shop volunteers, Jack, and the incredible collaboration between him and his supervisor on the cosmetic restoration of Bullard No. 2.

Volunteering at Steamtown: A Unique Opportunity

Restoring locomotives is a hands-on, one-of-a-kind opportunity for volunteers at Steamtown National Historic Site. Several of our volunteers began serving at Steamtown before it became part of the National Park Service, and they continue to volunteer more than 30 years later. In 2024 alone, more than 230 volunteers contributed over 13,000 hours to the park.

Beyond the locomotive shop, we have volunteers who assist with transcribing historic records, greeting visitors, leading shop tours, and even running our train rides! Volunteers truly are the heart and soul of Steamtown, and we would not be able to preserve and share railroad history or operate live steam locomotives without them.

Volunteer Jack in the cab of the Bullard engine.

The Story of the Engineer: How Jack Began Volunteering at Steamtown

In the world of railroading, the conductor coordinates the crew, but it’s the engineer, hands steady on the controls, who powers the train forward. In the Bullard project, volunteer Jack D’Apice is the metaphorical engineer who worked on this project hands on, every single volunteer shift, to keep the restoration plans in motion.

Jack has loved trains for as long as he can remember. When his father set up the family’s first American Flyer model train set around the Christmas tree, Jack was hooked. After a 40-year career as an electrician, even operating trains during his early days as a fuel handler, Jack retired in 2023 ready for his next adventure. That fall, while attending a local museum event, he stumbled upon locomotive shop staff presenting a Ring of Fire demonstration. Once Jack realized he could volunteer at Steamtown, he signed up almost immediately.

Ring of fire demonstration with John Bibalo.

Jack is now one of our most consistent volunteers, working in the shop at least one to two times per week. He logged a staggering 750 hours of volunteer service in 2024, winning the coveted “Most Hours Volunteered” award at Steamtown’s Volunteer Recognition event. Many of those hours were spent working on his first cosmetic restoration project, where he helped restore the Empire Refineries Inc. No. 4525 oil car. He finished that project proud of the team’s accomplishments and eager to restore another piece of locomotive history.

Bullard No. 2 Enters the Station

The before: glass plate negative of Bullard No. 2 sitting outside.

Bullard No. 2 has long been part of Steamtown’s collection, but years of outdoor display left the engine weathered and worn. As the smallest engine at the park, and the only one that was historically oil fired, it was important to give this engine the care it deserves. Before the cosmetic restoration could begin, however, the engine was sent off site to repair its running gear and main boiler plumbing, a job too complicated to be done in house.

Once the Bullard returned to the shop, the fun began. The engine had to be disassembled to be prepped and painted, returning it to its gray color to replace the black and red scheme it had worn for years. New wooden-framed windows and sills were crafted, wooden running boards were painted and installed, and minor repairs were completed. All work followed guidelines provided by our park historian to ensure historical accuracy, right down to the color of the paint and the choice of fasteners.

Some of the materials used in the restoration were made possible through funding secured by the park’s official philanthropic partner, the Iron Horse Society, whose support helps fuel Steamtown’s preservation projects.

Then came the puzzle, trying to put it all back together. From reattaching pipes and hardware to assembling the boiler controls, everything had to be placed with care, in the exact location it came from.

John Bibalo reading historic document to ensure historical accuracy during the restoration.

Conductor of the Project: John’s Career as Park Preservation Specialist

Even for a superstar volunteer like Jack, restoring the Bullard was too big a job for just one person. That’s where the metaphorical conductor comes in, to guide the project and keep things on track. For this project, that conductor was John Bibalo, Jack’s supervisor and preservation specialist here at Steamtown.

John began his career at Steamtown as a carpenter, working on historic buildings rather than trains. His first big project was building the passenger depot, which is still in use today. Over time, John became a preservation trainee and was eventually promoted to preservation specialist. With more than 30 years of preservation experience, John led most of the project and guided Jack every step of the way.

Jack and John posing in front of the Bullard No. 2.

The Dream Team on Track: Conductor, Engineer… and Me?!

Jack and Johnny worked side by side on the Bullard project, and their passion for the project was apparent from the first coat of paint to the final bolt they tightened. I even had the chance to join in, helping with some of the finishing touches—painting red knobs and polishing copper alongside Jack.

In the grand scheme of things these were small tasks, but Jack and Johnny made me feel like part of the team. Together, we solved the restoration puzzle, piece by piece, fueled by a shared sense of pride and purpose.

Thank you, Jack and Johnny

Together, they got the Bullard No. 2 back on track: an engineer with a dream, a conductor with a plan, and a team united by a love for the rails. Thanks to Jack and Johnny’s collaboration and commitment, the cosmetically restored Bullard No. 2 is now on display at Steamtown for visitors to enjoy. Because of their dedication, the Bullard tells a story once more, not just of steam and steel, but of the people who worked together to bring its history back to life.

Curious about how restoration projects like this come together? Steamtown’s volunteers play an important role in preserving and sharing railroad history. To learn more about volunteer opportunities or future ways to get involved, visit volunteer.gov.


This article was written by Steamtown NHS Community Volunteer Ambassador Emily, who also assisted with the Bullard No. 2 restoration alongside Jack and Johnny.