630: We had a semi-successful run to Attalla, AL, last week. The oil journals on #4 ran cool (105-110F) at sustained 40 mph running so we're very pleased with that. Unfortunately, a small math error on the tram check following the reinstallation of #4 led to the R4 crank pin overheating on us. The crank pin was not damaged and a new rod bushing was installed in the rod today. The shop crew has now dropped the #1 wheelset for its conversion to the SP Spring Pad Lubricator oil journals. If all goes well, 630 should be back under steam late next week. The remaining two wheelsets will be done at a later date.

4501: Boiler work continues but running gear work is also moving forward. Three of the four wheelsets now have new hub liners, freshly turned journals, and quartered crank pin bores. A brand new set of crank pins awaiting installation is sitting on a pallet next to these drivers. The fourth wheelset (the main) is going to need a new axle after a crack was found adjacent to the press fit into the wheel center. The axles were UT examined weeks ago so we are revisiting that effort to determine how this crack was missed. 4501 will receive the SP style Spring Pad Lubricated journals as part of this rebuild. We may even dig out the Franklin automatic wedge adjusters fabricated in 1968 by Bob Soule, add in the component he left out, and see how well she likes those (she raised hell over them in 1968 - most likely due to the missing floating plate). Plenty of work still remains.

Great news on both locos.

Could you provide some specific info and details about the spring pad lubricators for the driving boxes? I have seen photos of the SP pads in the Cyclopedias; what materials are you using? Are there any changes to the crown brasses (edge relief, oil grooves [or not], plain bronze or babbitted bearing? Will these have force-feed lubrication? This may have all been discussed before re: these two engines,but I don't recall.

Thanks,

Howard P.