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2-6-2 #108
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Author:  Robin Warren [ Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:22 am ]
Post subject:  2-6-2 #108
Baldwin Prairie class 2-6-2 #108 has been sold. The engine started its career in the piney woods of East Texas and from there went to the Reader RR. After that the engine was used by the Conway Scenic before being sold to an individual in Texas.
#108 has sat on a siding of the Blacklands RR in Sulphur Springs, Tx for some years. Striped down to the boiler on cribbing with the tender behind it next to a warehouse. Everything taken off the engine is in the warehouse cataloged and tagged. The oil bunker was removed from the tender and sat on the ground. The inside of the water tank is very rusted (I spent about 3 hours inside it with a dustpan getting out the big flakes). Some staybolts are broken and a couple are missing.
Robbins Properties of Tuscumbia, Alabama has purchased the engine. There is a "Tuscumbia Railway Co." in Tuscumbia that operates a park steam engine and a museum. I do not know if #108 will be restored for operation or static display.
Author:  gbrewer [ Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 2-6-2 #108
This is good news indeed!

I had the pleasure of riding in the cab of Reader Railroad's No. 108 -- why back in the '70s. I look forward to seeing her under steam once again.

Glen

Image
Author:  Robin Warren [ Tue Oct 23, 2007 4:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 2-6-2 #108
Glen,
I have a picture of 108 sitting on the cribbing. I took the picture as the last thing I did before the process was shut down. Tried to post here but having problem.
The picture is a shot from the smoke house end. There was talk about cutting that off and welding on a replacement. There is some rust at the bottom where the housing rests on the saddle. There were tarps on all openings back then but not sure about since. The water tank needs some serious work. After I spent 3 hrs scooping scales out with a dust pan it was inspected to see if needleguns would work on the remaining rust.
The cab is/was sitting on the ground between the boiler and the tender. Some alignment is needed, a little out of square. Some of the external nuts and studs had the "Flame Wrench" used on them. Kroil worked on the rest. I used Kroil, cable come-along, open-ended 1 3/4 inch wrench with 3 ft cheater pipe to undo the last of the steam fittings on top that are normally under the roof of the cab. I do not remember if an ultra-sound was completed but know the boiler was marked off ready for same. All the flues are/were still in place and the superheater piping was disconnected. Not sure where the engine sits FRA time wise. I am pretty sure it is over 10 years since it ran on the Conway.
Author:  gbrewer [ Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 2-6-2 #108
I believe the previous owner was going to rebuild her and started with the intention of teaching the art of locomotive repairs to a younger generation. A nice goal; too bad that didn't work out.

The previous owner also had all the paperwork going back to the original purchase if I recall correctly.

Good luck with your new venture -- I would love to hear more from time to time.

Glen
Author:  Dave [ Tue Oct 23, 2007 6:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 2-6-2 #108
I had the honor of assisting the previous owner with the acquisition of 108 and an initial inspection. It is true that a lot of the paperwork did exist at that time. A quick untrasound ot the usual trouble spots didn't reveal any truly nasty situations. The running gear looked to have some reasonable life left it most of it. I recall some flue sheet rivet hole cracking as the worst thing revealed at that time. There's some memory of a thin truck tire, but i may be confusing it with another engine.

She's a good size and in good restorable condition. Best wishes to her new owners.

dave
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