Here is a recent photo of CB&Q 4978, she is displayed without cover but she looks like she has good care.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 975&nseq=0

What do you mean without cover? She looks plenty covered to me!

If I'm not mistaken, Scott Lindsay did the cosmetic restoration on this and did a great job. Where is the Burlington logo on the tender and what is the lettering there?

Hmmm.
Actually, it was originally restored by Steam Locomotive Services, Inc. in the early 1980s'.
We made a new jacket, renewed the bottom of the cab sides, tender beams, located missing parts to restore the cab interior, mounted the "proper" bell, made a replica whistle, etc. We did the caboose too.
Working with me on the project were (at various times): Earl Pardini (Catskill Mt. RR), Steve Zuiderveen (a frequent poster here who's reputation as a passenger car expert is well established), Bob Emmett (a well traveled, ace photographer) and my brother Sean (who Stevie immediately recognized, in the dark, because "he has the Conrad slouch").
We did all of the above while the locomotive was displayed at Ottowa. Perhaps Scott Lindsay was responcible for moving it to Mendota and giving it a fresh paint job.
I painted it with Imron and had a local sign painter letter it (including the Burlington herald).
No. 4978 was the first locomotive on which I abated the asbestos insulation as per EPA guidelines. I got my 1970 Dodge pickup (open top) licenced for "hazardous waste hauling", properly double bagged all the material and hauled it to an approved disposal site. Here, I carefully unloaded it in the designated area and watched in disbelief as a guy with a bulldozer carefully ran back and forth over the bags.
An unforgetable moment in the project occured when I returned from the hardware store to find Earl dangling off the top of the caboose with a chain saw cutting away the rotted cupola cornerpost (his replacement post did fit nicely though).
When Steve first showed up for work (in the "death mobile"),(I'll leave that story to Steve), about the first thing he said was:"Uncle Davey, what if I get hurt on the job, do you have a benefit package?" I told him: "Stevie you are covered under the standard SLSI plan, in the event of an injury, if you are still twitching we'll leave you by the side of the road, if not, you get rolled in the ditch".
J.David

J. David -

I knew that you were the one who restored the 4978 when it was back in Ottawa. I thought I would wait to see if a clarification came in, and I am glad you replied. The Mike is certainly one of the better restored outdoor display engines. You did a great job. Despite her wonderful appearance, I think you once told me that her boiler was in pretty sad shape. Is that right? I sure would like to see one of these Burlington looking O1A's run again. I wonder how the boiler is on the 4963 in Union?

Les

Oh goodness, another trip down memory lane...
Les, you are correct: there is extensive pitting on No. 4978's wrapper sheet and most of the flexy sleeves (Flannery threaded, "D" & "K" head) were rusted off. However, the inner firebox looked decent (although I never UTed it).
Now, No. 4963 is another story. I went to Galesburg with Dick Jensen to help prepare the locomotive for shipment to Chicago and loaded (and unloaded) many tons of parts and tools (to support No. 4960) that he bought with the locomotive. This was not long after the "Q" decided to cease their steam excursion program, so he got all the steam stuff that was at Galesburg. He had previously gotten most everything out of West Burlington along with No. 5632.
Once No. 4963 arrived, we almost immediately uncoupled the engine and tender and put the loco in the most dilapidated section of the roundhouse. Dick, J.M. Hebda (later President of a regional carrier) and myself stripped the piping off No. 4978 and later Jerry & I removed the jacket. One very cold weekend in 1967(?) I removed the insulation, pitching it into barrels because at the time we were blissfully unaware that it was hazardous and always saved it for reuse (broken blocks would be mixed with water to make mud for application to the top of the boiler and firebox and around the flexies (it really worked great around the flexies, I have never found anything half as good).
Anyway the boiler and outer firebox on No.4963 were in great shape. It had never sat around in outside storage for long (indeed, it was inside the roundhouse at Galesburg for a while in the mid-60s'). Jerry and I greased up studs and everything we could think of. Hopefully all that work will make someones job easier someday.
We also greased up all of the thousands of staybolt holes in the firebox and combustion chamber of No. 5632, a monumental project that turned out to be a wasted effort.
Another memory: Dick in a three foot deep inspection pit in the roundhouse picking up the 4963's drawbar pin and "shot putting" it up into the cab of the locomotive which had to be at least 4 or 5 feet above the reach of his arm. Jensen was a really tall, really skinny guy, and incredibly strong (and fearless, read: sometimes dangerous to work with).
GTW No. 5629 had "HURON" washout plugs. I was helping Dick remove them for a boiler wash, me holding the wrench on backhead plugs while he slugged the wrench with a sledge hammer.One didn't "pop" when first struck and he began "windmilling" the hammer. I was jammed between the throttle gland and the waterglass up against the backhead with him wailing on the wrench I was holding with the hammer whizzing wildly right past my head. I was about ready to let go of the wrench and duck out of the way when the plug finally "popped". I was really upset and told him so. His responce:"Gee, Dave, whats' the problem?"
J.David

David,
Well I did cover my butt and said "if I'm not mistaken". I either confused that engine with something else that Scott had done, or he was involved in moving her. As soon as I get my shoe out of my mouth, I'll apologize. At any rate, she looks great.

Don

[quote="J.David"] (broken blocks would be mixed with water to make mud for application to the top of the boiler and firebox and around the flexies (it really worked great around the flexies, I have never found anything half as good).

Mr J.David,

While I admit never having worked with asbestos mud, I can't imagine anything easier than this product:

Calsilite brand
Calcoat 127
Insulating Cement

Have you ever tried it?

It comes in powdered form(50 or 100lb bags) and once miked can be applied by hand. The stuff seems to almost stick to the boiler(or the insulation boards) and dries within minutes once applied.

1522, you're not confused. Scott Lindsay moved the engine to Mendota.
-Chris