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It was reported earlier that engine 31 would be used. Is this still the plan? What time is the first train?

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I was surprised to see the truck frames are painted tuscan red. Was this common on PRR freight equipment of the period?

Tim

Great work as always. I am unable to make it Strasburg for opening weekend but hope to visit next Sunday.

I remember seeing photos of engines (not on the SRR) with their couplers painted, perhaps as recent as the 1970s. Someone said that this would be considered an FRA no-no because it could hide cracks in the castings. Any comments?

Joshua

One doesn't paint wheelsets or couplers. That being said, I have seen it occasionally done on Class Ones (I have a great slide of a WM gon right out of the paint shop--EVERY thing is freight car red). The truck frames are OK to paint, but be sure to use one fairly light coat.

Another gorgeous job by the Strasburg shops. Kelly, could you please provide some info about the paint-- brand, what it was matched to, etc? Other PRR freight car restorers might like to know!

is this gonna be 31's last yr.i heard a rumer goin around and strasburg_fan told me todays conducter said so.is this true:-(

Absent some big change in Strasburg's economic fortunes, I find this impossible to believe for several reasons.

First, 31 is just back on the clock after a 1472 day inspection. The inspection was actually done a year ago, but the railroad held her out of service last year to keep her from accumulating service days while the other engines ran the clock down closer to their 1472s. She should be a regular performer this year.

More generally, SRR needs 4 steam locmotives to cover their service--two to run in the summer season, a third available as ready relief, and a fourth will usually be rotating through rebuild, running gear work, or a 1472-day inpsection. I expect to be able to enjoy 31, 90, 465 and 89 for an indefinate time to come.

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Thanks Kelly. And some more ("MOORE"?) questions, if you don't mind. The Interlux (marine paint) is Strasburg's standard for anything wood, is that correct? Is Interlux also used for metal? Is Interlux tintable or color-matchable?

Strasburg does not spray any paint, but brushes everything, as I recall. How long did it take to brush paint that hopper, and are large flat areas (such as side sheets) rolled?

We have used the Benjamin-Moore M22 series paints on many projects in the last few years, notably our CNR heavyweight coaches. These were sprayed in a CNR coach green (matched to a chip). The paint starts off almost a full gloss, and over the course of a few years dulls down to a low lustre. Does Strasburg buff out or wax a painted passenger car or locomotive jacket/cab/tender every season, to bring up the full glossy look? Do you varnish over the paint to achieve that look?

I have long been impressed with how well-painted Strasburg's locomotives and rolling stock are, and I am very interested in the techniques used.

HP

www.rmne.org

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Where did the PRRT&HS purchase this car from and where is the other survivor at?

Tom Cornillie

Tom,

The other survivor that I know of is part of the railroad collection of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in Rush, NY.

http://www.rgvrrm.org/

I will try to get a pic of the car posted to our site soon. It remains in its last original black PRR paint scheme, however, it needs to be repainted which we hope to accomplish in the next year or 2. We plan to paint it as an H-21g so it will differ from Strasburg's which wears an earlier H-21a paint scheme. We hope we can come close to their wonderful job.

Our car does ride on its original PRR trucks that match what Strasburg's rides on. Prior to coming to us as a donaton, it had been used in a recycling facility west of Rochester, NY to hold recyclable glass.

I hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any additional questions on our car.

Regards,
Chris Hauf
Manager, Railroad Equipment
Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum