Thanks Bruce for clearing the air on that one. Like I said it's all about the manpower and money, there are other places that have engines we would love to see running but they can't because of the money and time.

Maybe because Steamtown doesn't need to restore it to run at present?

dave

Dave, that's probably the biggest thing. Do they need another steamer? Don't know but that's a management decision if they want another steamer running. I would rather see one of the tank engines restored to do demos on yard movement of cars. I think someone mentioned an idea they have a few posts about having the rangers up on the overlook explaining the movement of cars in the yard while the engines were doing the work. Who knows that might be a great idea.

Thank you, everybody who answered, rather than ridiculed the question!
Just an opinion on the premise, does Steamtown need another locomotive? My response would be, yes, Steamtown needs every operable example of steam power it could affordably manage, and US power is a necessity. Can it afford to have more than three serviceable locomotives at any one time? Probably not. Which really is a shame, though a fact of life. The MEC 2-8-0 and a few other small locos deserve a second shot. Getting them under cover so they'll be available someday, that would be the next priority.

There has been some discussion about restoring a smaller engine for the runs Steamtown makes to Carbondale. A 2-8-0 would be a good choice. Keep in mind, the #26 and the #3713 will be running before anything else gets restored.

Bruce

It would seem like a good idea to bring the stable up to operable, or near operable condition as time and money allow. The ability to swap out a particular locomotive for a particular purpose or train, being key. The idea that Steamtown is the national steam railroad edifice being the second.

Saw pics of the progress on 26 she is getting there!!!!! That's going to be a brand new engine Bruce! Hats off to you guys on a job well done! You too Mike!

Richard, management is doing alot of work in the shop getting the guys equipment that they need. The good thing is they have a budget and are making the most of it. I think they finished the weld shop and the new pressurized air for the shop is done too. The overhead cranes are being fixed/replaced too.

Another workday took place this past Saturday, and here is Len's Report


Hi all,
We are making real good progress on DL&W 565. This last workday our special guest was our Leader Steve Boonstra himself, and it was a first time meeting for most of us in person. He is a complete nut; He fits in real well with the rest of us.

I got to Steamtown at 7:30Am and got started right away on our tender coating the top decking with Rust Converter so it would stop the surface rusting. Steve came in at 8:00 AM. and it was interesting. for a Year and a half we were talking back and forth by either Phone or while he was over in Iraq by Email and IM through Face book. Now to talk face to face... it was strange. At 9:00 AM. Matt came in and he started to paint on the rust converter where I left off at.
Then Steve and I walked around the complex and looking over MEC. No. 519 another Alco but a 2-8-0 . Her Lead is the same type for what 565 has. we can use 519's for diagrams for ours of the parts we need to make. Then after looking 519 over we climbed up in her cab to see where our cab parts will go once everything is completed. we found out she's missing stuff too.
We then took a walk over to the scrap dock and looked over there for a set of locomotive springs for our front driver and after we walked around we headed back in. We met up with Mark St. Aubon and he met Steve and we all walked over to 565 , Mark torched off the bolts between the tender and chassis so when we are ready to remove the body from the chassis we'll be already for that.
After lunch we had the guy's from the shop move our tender again for the second time of the day the first time was with NKP 514 for only a few feet back to the doors, but after thinking it over we thought we should have it turn on the table and shoved back in to the stall. But this time with the Case Loader for the Car Movers (trackmobiles) were Land Locked and were unable to be used. Now the front of the tender was facing out. this made it a lot easier to work on taking off the bumper and bolster beam , As Mr. Conrad our historical consultant, said "it looked like Steve was having too much fun." Joe said "he needed to tone it down."
At our next workday which will be some time mid October we will continue on removing other parts of the tender and we still need to sand blast other small and medium parts in the big blasting booth.
Steve is going to contact Mark Birtel and find out when and where we can take the tank off and start to restore the chassis of the wooden beams , but first we need to sand blast the chassis.
So with that we are making good progress on this project thanks to all the help from our dedicated crew members and Steamtown Shop people.
That's all for now.
Leonard F. Shaner, JR.
Co - Volunteer Lead
Http://projectdlw565.webs.com


Lead and Co Lead on the front of 565.


Matt Painting rust converter on tender top decking.


Mark St.Aubon , Len Shaner and Steve Boonstra looking over the tender mounting bolts


Tender taking a spin on the table




Parts that were removed by Steve and crew


Bolster Beam


Looking at tender after bumper and wooden beam was removed.

Here is the video the goes with our workday.
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K8sLKCSCdM

Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3lP8HqWpik

Part Three
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTHTy1LAXVI

We are working on the details where to store the body while we clean up the chassis and replace the decking. We do have some areas on the chassis that are rusted up pretty good. Once we have the body off we will get management to decide on what needs to be done. The body seems to be in good shape but we won't know more until its off and we can see underneath.

As for the locomotive, we have several parts needing to be fabbed by the shop. We are going to use MEC 519 as a guide for the parts we need. We will not take 519 apart but just use it to make the new parts. Of course, we will double check the dimensions prior to making anything. Without the blueprints to 565 it’s very difficult to know what dimensions and parts are needed. Does anyone have blueprints to MEC 519?

We had a workday this past Sunday and started the process of re-building the front pilot. The wheel set is currently in the wheel lathe and the axle is being turned and cleaned up. Many of you may be asking why we are turning the axle. It was decided to turn the axle due to the new journal boxes and brass that will be made up for the pilot. Management wanted the axle to be good to go, so if in the future when the engine comes out for photo shoots there wouldn't be any damage caused to the brass. We installed the radius arm to the frame of the pilot and are finalizing the boxes for the axles. We have a set but they are not for 565. We think they are from a car or LIRR MU? We think we might be able to mill them down and fit but, I found out its difficult to weld on wrought iron. You learn something new every day. So we may just make up new boxes from plate steel. Also one of our new volunteers is a machinist and is starting to make up some of the pins we need to attach the swivel point on the frame of the pilot.

Over the next few months our goal is to get this pilot back in and moving forward on the rest of the engine. We need to get it rolling so we can do several things, sandblast the chassis and boiler and remove the cab for restoration. Keep checking back for updates!

Try aluminum bronze wire in a MIG. Depending on the iron, Euctectic or Nickel rod might do fine as well.

dave

Pics from the workday!

Steve just copy and paste it in.


First photo The 565 crew around the wheel lathe Left to Right Dan, JT, Steve, Matt and Len.


565 lead wheel being resuface for the journal brasses.
First time in over 50 years a lackawanna steam wheel set to be turn in the lackawanna locomotive shop. It was also the first time that the new crane was used since being installed last week.


Lead Wheel frame bolted togther.


Lead Wheel frame with one of the Journals

Yesterday, Nov 21, our crew worked on 565. We finished the journals on the axle and also separated a set of leaf springs that will be modified to replace the #1 front driver’s springs. We have to remove some of the leafs and cut slots in the end to make them work. Sandblasting continues on smaller parts and we are moving forward with ensuring we have all the parts to re-install the pilot. There are a lot of small parts needing to be made and I’m pleased to announce that one of our volunteers, Dan, who is going to a trade school has worked out a deal that we now have the Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County helping us make some of the parts we need to finish the pilot. They are very excited and we are too, that they will be helping us out and getting some real experience making parts. We are starting out small but hope to make some more parts in the future.

Plans are being made for the new pilot journal boxes which we will make new and we hope to have plans for the center pin also for the front pilot.

Three cheers for this development, a strategy that should be pursued more often. In my experience, school students are thrilled for the opportunity to apply themselves constructively for an actual "we need this thing handcrafted" assignment, rather than just another rote exercise done for the sake of testing or demonstration. Similar mentality exists for such things as the Scouts, the National Guard, etc.

Our first winter workday was yesterday. We hot steamed "cooked" the front driver springs in the hot water machine, sandblasted one set, disassembled the links for the fronts springs and sandblasted them, and cut the stock for the new pins for the equalizer bar and radius arm. Also started removing the radius arm connection point on the chassis. The hole is elongated and we need to bore it and insert a bushing.