Ok guys back to the task at hand. Sorry for the pic. Just little fun there. No worries.

Anyway, Gary P. Bensman and his guys came up and worked on her Thursday. They leveled her up by the pilot beam. Yes, you read right 565 is finally on jacks and sitting level for the first time in 30 years!!!!!!!! They are going to check the frame and see what needs to be done to make sure it's not bent or if it is how bad and if anything needs to be done. The gap between the boiler and chassis under the smokebox is gone. So once they look at the chassis she will be ready for new bolts to be installed. They are going to make the new mid boiler support plate too. As soon as I get some pics I will post them!

As promised!

Here is the front end before they jacked it. Notice the location of the wheels compared to pilot beam in this pic.

More pics!

In this pic its hard to see but this is the mid support for the boiler. It was gapped at least 3/4" before they jacked her.




Work contiues on cutting up the oil tank in the coal bunker.

Nice photos, and great job by the Project 565 crew! It is a very exciting time to be in Scranton, with this steam project, the asbestos contract and the various diesel repair/restoration efforts. I lost count of all that is being worked on.

Plus the Trolley, D-L, Canadian Pacific and Reading & Northern trains running in different parts of town. Whether it is new, old or ancient, it all seems to be coming through town this year.

Cylinders and valves all done!

Great work on this project, it's a lot more effort than just a repaint.

After 30 years the boiler and chassis have been bolted back together! Congrats to everyone who is working on her since I left. Thanks to Len and Gary's crew for the hard work. We are making huge progress on 565.

Leonard; This week we were able to get all the bolts installed to hold the boiler to the frame. We have 3 bolts yet that were damaged and need replaced. But, we have all 42 of the 1-1/4" bolts that hold the cylinders to the smokebox driven in hard and impact tightened. We have the 6 - 1-1/8" bolts in and tight that hold the front beam diagonal braces to the smokebox. We have all the 7/8" bolts tight in the first waist sheet. I welded the second waist sheet back together - but the welds need dress ground to finish.
We did not do anything with the 8 bolts at the front of the firebox on the furnace bearers. They need tightened - maybe one replaced - and some new plates fitted.
We did install and finish tighten all the bolts at the rear waist sheet to the mudring fit.
I took the new metal to a machine shop and they are producing the duplicate pedestal binder for the R-1 using the L-1 as a pattern.
We have the bolts also to tighten the branch pipes to the valve chests. I'll try to get them in and tight.
Also, Kip and Mark have encouraged us to take a tour through the warehouse to look for other parts of the lead truck. We have looked at the Maine Central engine out in the yard and sort of sketched the #1 cross equalizer to be made up.
Lots of details remain but we are proud to be able to help your project.
Would you want to just remove the oil tank from the tender and then cut it up?
You could move it through the backshop out to the parking lot by the dumpster, get it lifted out and then cut it up there on the ground. What you think?
Hope to talk soon;
Best regards !



The Mid-Boiler support welded back together!

More progress!!!!!! The tender was moved to the backshop and the oil tank was lifted and removed by Gary and his crew. Once on the ground, Len and the gang cut it up and we are keeping the steel for making new coal bunker doors and repairs to the coal bunker itself.
The tender with no oil tank.


Close up of the coal bunker


Side view of the tender

Steve, when can we expect you back in the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Hey, guys - I was just there today looking around in the roundhouse, observing 565 and several other locomotives under restoration. Good job on your project! I know this stuff isn't easy...

Rich, I made it back last week. It's good to be home.

Bob, Thanks she is getting there.

Amen!