And while it's a shame she will not likely see a fire once more, it's good you have become alert to, and have documented these issues. It would be worse to see her shuttled in for rebuild when there are more viable locomotives in the collection. Still, I want to say "thanks" again, for what you are doing for the old girl.

It's my pleasure. It's fun and a huge learning curve on this stuff. I know the critics are going to come out of the wood work when we are done. So of the parts we have to make are our best guess! The ashpan worries me just because we don't have any pics of it. It's seems that DL&W designed this engine very different from the standard ALCOs. We can't even find an ALCO with the same crossheads. St Louis is helping us with the headlight bracket from 952. But we are doing our homework as best we can and trying to make her right.

A question (and I hope I don't get tarred and feathered for it, and certainly hope you wouldn't if the decision came to go this way)--considering No. 565's tired state, and the chances that NKP 304 is in the same condition, and that NKP 304 was the 565's running mate on the Danville & Mount Morris, what would be the prospect of cosmetically restoring both engines for their last common-carrier operation? From what you've written this would be most appropriate given the condition of the 565 (and the likelihood that 304 will be in similar condition)--both representing locomotives near the end of their working lives, plus the fact that these two engines can represent the entire late steam roster of a particular railroad.

Now, did D&MM have any other equipment (i.e., a steam-era caboose) that might be around to make the picture as complete as possible?

Keep our fingers crossed that the NKP and DL&W boys don't come after us. . .

:-)

This might help answer your questions:
http://www.nps.gov/history/history/onli ... /shs2n.htm

Now some of this might be impossible to do just because she wasn't superheated back in the day. But that's not my call. I just do what management tells us.

D&MM owned two 44-tonners (one of which was the very last one that was manufactured). According to this site http://gold.mylargescale.com/Scottychaos/GW/DMMpage.html they both still survive.

Two speeders from the D&MM reside in the greater Rochester (NY) area:
A Fairmont ST-2 is in the collection of the Rochester & Genessee Valley Railroad Museum in Rush, NY.http://rgvrrm.org/
And a Fairbanks-Morse model 40-B is privately owned in suburban Rochester.

JR

We are planning for the 20 Oct, Thurs, as a workday. Let me know if you can make it.

Planned for the day is:
Weld the cracked bracket on the radius arm
Cut and clean up slots on front springs
Start making brass insert for the Center pin. This will be installed into the frame.

Additionally, we are planning a weekend workday sometime in Nov. It's looking like the 19th. More to follow.

Thanks.

Ok folks, I'm planning a workday on 22 Dec and 29 Dec for working on 565. If you can help out let me know. Thanks!

Well this year we saw plenty of work and parts made for the 565.

We installed the smokebox cover and some of the internal parts for the smokebox.
Bolted up the steam pipes
Removed the wood from the cab. Cab report is under way.

The pilot truck installation was a goal for us but we fell short due to some unexpected parts needing to be made/repaired. We are close.
--Modified both journal boxes to fit.
--Welding is under way for the cracked radius arm.
--Crosstie on the frame for the connection of the radius arm has been refinished and bottom plate is made and just needs final sizing and welding.
--Dan Barrett's High School completed all the parts needed for the pilot truck swivel point to be attached.
--Spring set for #1 driver are ready to be banded.

Still need:
Center pin to be made
Bushing for where the center pin goes thru the frame
Grease wells made for modified journal boxes
Made brass for the axle to ride on