Anybody have an update on the 844?

Thanks

mnfrailhist@hotmail.com

Shes still in Cheyenne having a major overhaul. Complete with a brand new boiler and firebox. No where near completion thought im sad to announce.

PRRsteam4lyfe@aol.com

Sad that the 844 is taking so long, but at least she's coming along!

> Shes still in Cheyenne having a major
> overhaul. Complete with a brand new boiler
> and firebox. No where near completion
> thought im sad to announce.


Wilmington and Western Steam Railroad
SteamTrain84@aol.com

At one time there was speculation that the 838 woud be rebuilt with parts off 844. Obviously this didn't happen, so it goes into the roundfile of railroad rumors. Still, it is interesting to think about. A railroad like Union Pacific could easily rebuild a spare steam locomotive from another sitting in the next stall. There has to be a reason to build a new boiler rather than exchange locomotives.

glueck@maine.edu

> At one time there was speculation that the
> 838 woud be rebuilt with parts off 844.
> Obviously this didn't happen, so it goes
> into the roundfile of railroad rumors.
> Still, it is interesting to think about. A
> railroad like Union Pacific could easily
> rebuild a spare steam locomotive from
> another sitting in the next stall. There has
> to be a reason to build a new boiler rather
> than exchange locomotives.
I believe that I read some years back that the 838 had a crack in the cast frame. I don't know this to be true.

Anyway, thanks for the update.

mnfrailhist@hotmail.com

The engine is getting a new firebox but the boiler stays the same.

Wrinnbo@aol.com

> The engine is getting a new firebox but the
> boiler stays the same.

True. But, it's getting:

All new firebox, combustion chamber, crown sheet, throat sheet, side sheets, door sheet, backhead sheet and both flue sheets. All new staybolts, front tube sheet braces, backhead braces, new pins and clevises for the braces, new washout plugs and sleeves, about 2,000 new staybolt sleeves and caps, a roof sheet patch, some small wrapper sheet patches, some new mud ring rivets, new flues, new firepan and refractory, All new exterior piping, new cab base and cab interior. And a few hundred other little things.

Info above gleaned from the UP guides on a recent Railroad Club tour of the shop. We were also told that the firebox work is 95% complete, and they should be putting the flues in it by June.

DISCLAIMER:

Subject to changes, misinterpretations, misconceptions, misunderstandings, foamer rants, jealousies, divorces, fantasies, hope, excessive optimism and/or pessimism, lies, unknowns, budget cuts, Murphy's Law, unconstructive criticism and other factors. Overdose may cause cancer in rats. There are no guarantees of fitness or suitability for any purpose. Do not try this at home; these are professionals working on a closed course. Some assembly required. Batteries not included. No checked baggage handled on Sundays or Holidays. Stops on flag only to pick up passengers destined beyond Detroit. Westbound trains are superior to eastbound trains, except runaways.

> True. But, it's getting:

> All new firebox, combustion chamber, crown
> sheet, throat sheet, side sheets, door
> sheet, backhead sheet and both flue sheets.
> All new staybolts, front tube sheet braces,
> backhead braces, new pins and clevises for
> the braces, new washout plugs and sleeves,
> about 2,000 new staybolt sleeves and caps, a
> roof sheet patch, some small wrapper sheet
> patches, some new mud ring rivets, new
> flues, new firepan and refractory, All new
> exterior piping, new cab base and cab
> interior. And a few hundred other little
> things.

> Info above gleaned from the UP guides on a
> recent Railroad Club tour of the shop. We
> were also told that the firebox work is 95%
> complete, and they should be putting the
> flues in it by June.

> DISCLAIMER:

> Subject to changes, misinterpretations,
> misconceptions, misunderstandings, foamer
> rants, jealousies, divorces, fantasies,
> hope, excessive optimism and/or pessimism,
> lies, unknowns, budget cuts, Murphy's Law,
> unconstructive criticism and other factors.
> Overdose may cause cancer in rats. There are
> no guarantees of fitness or suitability for
> any purpose. Do not try this at home; these
> are professionals working on a closed
> course. Some assembly required. Batteries
> not included. No checked baggage handled on
> Sundays or Holidays. Stops on flag only to
> pick up passengers destined beyond Detroit.
> Westbound trains are superior to eastbound
> trains, except runaways.
Sounds like the 844 will be in about the same shape as M & NF 14. She getting a new firebox and flue sheet too at Stearns KY on the Big South Fork Scenic Railway.

Thank you everyone for the info and I hope that Steve and crew will get to finish her up this year.


mnfrailhist@hotmail.com