Long time no post! Sorry, I have been digging myself out of a number of holes since my last report.


Last spring, we built a set of type A superheater units.


The customer is under state jurisdiction, and the engine has a front end throttle, so the units had to be built per the ASME code, inspected under hydro by our third party authorized inspector, and stamped.


Our car shop completed the overhaul of our coach #70 (ex B&M #1179, Pullman, 1904) last spring. With the completion of this car, our car shops have completed heavy overhauls and conversion to box wall construction on every one of our regular service passenger cars, a campaign started in 1988.


Our Cagney locomotive also received work this spring, getting new side rods in the process.


A complete set of new rods was made for an 0-4-0.


As well as four new driving wheels, shown here in primer.


In this shot, Andrea is boring the axle fit on one of the new driving wheel centers.


Our flat car #122 is in the shop now, receiving a new deck, and sub floor repairs. She was built in 1906 for the P&R as a box car, converted into a flat car by the M&PA in 1920.


We have just completed overhauling two Sellers 6.5 “MS” injectors, rather rare pieces. Here is a new steam nozzle for one of them.


We are assisting SMS Rail Lines with the restoration of their 0-6-0 #9. Here is a new crosshead filler block.


Here is the filler block mounted in the crosshead, ready for drilling and reaming the holes for the fitted bolts to hold it in place.


In this shot, Jeff and Michael are pressing one of the crankpins out of the main driving wheel set of C&NW #1385 as part of the wheel work that we are doing for this engine.


Here is one of the #1 crankpins for #1385 after being turned in our quartering attachment. Polishing is still to come.


The Railroad Museum of Long Island has recently hired us to inspect the boiler of and re-tube their Porter 0-4-0. RRMLI photo.


We were also recently hired to evaluate and overhaul this boiler for a tiny Porter 0-4-0 in Canada. Its owner brought it to our shop in the back of his pickup truck.

Extremely impressive work as usual from the Strasburg shops. I have the strong impression that those side rods and drive wheels are intended for an upcoming "visitor" to the railroad.

Thanks Kelly, these updates are a high spot in my day when they are published.

Absolutely the best of the very best. I love the Strasburg for everything they bring to American railroading and heritage to boot.

Great stuff.. love the pics

In the grand RYPN tradition, I must ask:

Will Percy be painted green?


Seriously, nice work!

Great work as usual. I think your finished coach is absolutely stellar. Looks like a builders photograph.

David Wilkins that was funny and like the humor. Regards, John.

Is that 3 foot gauge track I see?

Heard the engine that's not there will be leaving soon, so the sight of that track makes me chuckle.

Is that green lining in the Cagney rods teflon? (the sleeve bearings)

As impressive as the shop work is, a visit to Strasburg is just as impressive.

The Summer fun pass is one of the best entertainment values out there, and the dinner trains feature some really nice fare (this year we had the "chocolate express") and as usual as the staff was polite, professional and competent.

Something tells me that there's more to the story than this one fella is saying...

Regardless what the story is concerning #39, this thread was not the place for "BEDT16RMLI"s rant. All he did was turn a nice informative thread into a flaming poop bag thrown at the Strasburg RR....

Strasburg turns out some amazing work and it's nice to see what their Craftsmen are up to once in a while. I for one appreciate the time and effort Kelly takes to post these updates.

Tim Wilson

It is http://www.McMaster.com #8664K13.

From the catalog:
"Self-Lubricating Oil-Filled Cast Nylon

Color: Green
Temperature Range: 32° to 230° F
Tensile Strength: Good
Impact Strength: Good

This nylon stays slippery because it contains an oil lubricant. Use it to fabricate parts for applications where adding lubrication would be difficult, including harsh environments and hard-to-reach places. It's an excellent electrical insulator, can be used outdoors, and meets ASTM D5989."




What do you think?

My eight-year old son will be so excited... thanks for posting this photo, Kelly!

Steve Hunter

Can you explain what I'm seeing when I look at the axle in this photo?



To me, it looks like the wheelset from a model electric train - metal wheels connected by a plastic (electrically insulated) axle.

Is the axle primed, covered and/or is the lighting playing a trick on me?