I was wandering what is going on w/ the 3203 in Portland,OR
their website hasn't been updated for a while
Any guesses on when she'll be ready to run?

amraam120c@hotmail.com

> I was wandering what is going on w/ the 3203
> in Portland,OR
> their website hasn't been updated for a
> while
> Any guesses on when she'll be ready to run?

While I am not a member of any of the groups working in the roundhouse here in Portland, I believe that their web cite makes it very clear that the two, count them two individuals that are working on the 3203 work when they can. While I am sure others help out from time to time, the funding source here is limited along with the number of people to work on the locomotive. Further, as their web cite shows, they do a lot of work for other projects in the area including work for the 3203's stable mates. Last time I saw the locomotive, they were still working on the boiler, tubes, flues, stay bolts, etc. I would not expect anything for at least 2-3 years. The tender of the locomotive is stored on an industrial siding in a suburb of Portland. It does not appear that any work has been done on it. This time table is complete conjecture by me and is not to reflect on the people working on the 3203 as not being either capable or driven. The work that is shown on their web cite proves the exact opposite. One of the people working on the 3203 is obviously a very capable machinist and with the SP&S 700, the SP 4449, Doyle's GN F-7 and PA projects and the SMV 100?, there is enough projects in the area to keep a person with these abilities very busy.

Brandon

bhthompson@earthlink.net

As a member of the restoration team, I can say that we are "getting back into the groove" on working on our project. We are taking a break from boiler work to do some cosmetics, such as paint and mounting our reproduction headlight and number boards. While we haven't been aproached by the UPHS, we do want to have something to "show off" during thier national convention here in Portland this year, should they decide to do a tour.

As far as our group goes, we have about a half dozen active "members", and all of us have helped on projects with both the 4449 and 700.

If only these damn northerns would stop braking parts we would be much further along!! LOL

We're still awhile away from restoration of our tender, so she sits.

Look for updates soon on our site.

Dave Brown



smokebox1@home.com