Thanks you again for your work i send some money to the museum this year and i forget there has this projet.... I much look for 1015 restoration sorry

Like Richard Glueck said ((Modernized Americans are fine looking locomotives!))
i am happy to see 311 come back in his 1945 "in service" appearance i am not a great fan of the 19 century locomotive look

Yes 311 was built in the 1890 but she was rebuilt several time and with the others american type in the museum this ((disguised)) look his not necessary.

Wait to see the finish product

Didn't realize that such a group existed. Very glad to hear it! Wish you continued success!

Les

Beautiful work. Since you're almost done, what's your next project?

Dave -

I wouldn't think that they are "almost done" with the work on the 4-4-0, but I'll let the 311 Group @ NMOT speak for themselves.

Les

To answer a question, yes we have much more work to do on 311.
The pilot and headlamp assembly were "visual high impact" items that were the most logical first steps.
It made a massive difference in her appearance right off the bat.
She is missing a lot of items that were on it in regular service, so there is much work ahead of us.
The end goal is a complete authentic cosmetic restoration.
A photo taken by Preston George in March of 1945 is the pinpoint for the appearance we are aiming for.
All 3 of us are Katy Railroad Historical Society members and it's very important to all Katy fans to get it right.
Members of our group do volunteer and work in the library and on holiday displays.
We want to be helpful and respectful to the many other volunteers at the NMOT.
There are always other groups doing restoration work at the same time on other engines and equipment, so we're not alone.
We'll try and post pics and information when we can about progress.
We're certainly having fun, so we'll pass it along.
We don't want to hog the conversation but just ad to it when needed, so let the discussion continue.
311 is happy to have some attention, she's only one of a very impressive collection of artifacts at NMOT.

311 taken March 1945.
Preston George photo.

Updated 311 pics from April during the KRHS Convention held in St. Louis this year.

One little thing that would be easy to apply would be the Pyle National walkway lamp housing that's perched atop a piece of conduit above and in front of the smokestack, to illuminate the exhaust coming out of the stack so the fireman can adjust his firing.

I haven't seen one of those loose anywhere.... seems like it ought to be relatively easy to find one on a parts loco somewhere.

We had one generously donated to our group from Mr. Tucker of Texas.
We still have to strip and repaint the smokebox before attaching all of the conduit and boxes for the lamps and such.
It's been under lock and key in the NMOT library until we're ready for it.
Observers will also notice the 311's original bell and whistle we're finally located in the Museum and reinstalled.

I am glad to see the MKT logo back on the tender; it was not there on the postcard I have
of the locomotive.

The MOT has the largest and most varied loomotive collection with 29 exmples. I am glad that some attention is being given to them!

I would like to see the Fresno loco painted for that main like instead of the Eagle Pitcher
Mining Company.

Ted Miles, steam railroad fan

Eagle Pitcher modified the tender of the 2-10-0 by making the coal space narrow to give the engineer a better view to its back end for the safety of those on the ground during switching. So having it lettered for Eagle Pitcher is more accurate than Frisco. At the Illinois Ry Museum they reversed that modification so it looks like it did when on the Frisco.