Over the last two weeks we were able to get to Steamtown and work 2 days. We have found about 90% of the parts. Thanks to Dave Crosby for the tips on the boxcar. We actually found the parts in a baggage car. 6 wooden pallets worth! We found some big stuff:
Located the equalizer bar and stablizer for the front pilot truck
Front axle journels
Boiler jacket--NEW!
All the drivers and wheel attachment hardware
The dual water injector!
The steam dome
another dome, sorry not sure the name, but its just forward of the cab
We found the headlight
The Doors, windows, and forward cab windows---need to be rebuilt.
Most of the brake linkage

Now the fun can really begin----SANDBLASTING all the parts and getting them painted.
Within the next 2 months the back shop wants to move the tender into the shop so we can lift the oil tank out of the tender and return that to a coal burner. Also they want to get the engine moved over the wheel pit and drop the front drive axle and install the journels and the front pilot. We need to get that done before the engine can be moved around to the back shop. The plan is once it's in the back shop to realign the boiler with the chassis and bolt it back together. If we can't get the wheel pit fixed we will jack her on the spot and work on the journels and pilot.

Some of the chassis parts are missing:
The bar that the equalizer hooks to the front drive axle is still missing along with the springs for that axle. Still looking for that!

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It took 30+years but the 565 is now have all her pieces within 50 feet of her. Anyone who would like to come help please PM me. I'm looking for some carpenters for the doors and windows and anyone who wants to sandblast or paint. Thanks.

Steve B.

More pics......................

All the parts are now in these bins! Those are the journels and air compressor.


Equalizer bar, the dual water injector, what we thought were the pilot journels (don't fit) Oh yeah, the urban legend was true about the equalizer, we found it buried in a weed pile on the scrap dock. I tripped over it!!!!


Front pilot assy


Working in the snow.


More parts


More parts


Steam dome

Question about the windows and doors. Would it be wrong/unacceptable to make them out of pressure treated wood?

Thank you for the excellent report and the wonderfully good news regarding recovery of her items. It sounds as though you have a sound plan for restoration work. Once reassembled, what is the hope of keeping her protected, out of the weather, or even an operational rebuild?

Operational rebuild could always come but talking with Mike and Bruce, 2 mechanics in the shop, the boiler is in need of some big work. The bottom of the boiler is pitted and Mike told me that they would have to cut that out and replace those areas plus the firebox is gone and the grates/ashpan were scrapped when the engine was at the restaurant in New Jersey. Where 565 will be displayed I'm not sure but she would look great either right out front of the roundhouse or keep her in the bay she has now.

A great spot would be in the original roundhouse display. Can't remember if there is indeed room there or not but I hope and pray she stays somewhere INSIDE!

Joshua

Question couldn't new firebox, grates,ashpan be made??
I'm sure the boys over at Strasburg could do the job.

Len.

Hey Len! thought you were coming up? Anyway they could do the work there but do they need another operational locomotive? Sure it would be great but there are better prospects in the yard that could be operationally restored.

Steve.

I couldn't make it Steve, My friend Eric Couldn't make it either. He's still in High School and he had to go to Basketball games. I'm glad to see you found as much as you did. I know what you say about other locomotives that are better prospects, but there's one thing about 565 and it's one of two only Lackawanna steam still around and some day I love to see it run again.
It's a dream now but in time some dreams do come true.

Len.

Great news for the 565 and Steamtown. Thanks for posting.

Great news, Steve! Like I constantly tell my kids, "look under your nose first!" ;-)
But I'll pass the good news along to Al, he'll love to hear it! Now, if we can convince his wife to let him out of the house weekends.......!
Happy New Year to all!

Good news, glad to hear of the progress. Regarding using pressure treated wood for cab door and window construction, I don't see much value in that step. It is a lesser grade of wood (pine versus poplar etc), often still wet and subject to shrinkage, cracking and warping. The best use of PTW is in rough outdoor unpainted service for a year or two, then painted or stained at a later date. Think picnic tables, fences, decks.

Making doors and windows, in a historic manner as the original, is a significant part of any restoration. It is remarkable that IRM has put together a woodshop to do such a thing. Perhaps you can send them some "contract work" - if a good local window maker cannot be found.
O. Anderson

Could you share future work sessions? I could make the 2 hour trip, if it were a Sunday.

Joshua

Thanks everyone. I will start posting when we plan on working up on 565 here like The Catskill group does. We have several pieces that need to fabricated before the pilot trucks can go on and the front axle journels can be installed. We need the pin for the front pilot we have some of it but not all also we need the front springs and the u-shaped linkage to connect the front equalizer to the front springs and we need to fab up the steel plates that go under the drive axle journels. The steel plates are, IMO, needed first before we can jack her up. The chassis is drooping in the front, the journel openings are slightly closed up on the bottom and the steam pipes going to the cylinders are not touching by about 2 inches. So when we jack it, IMO, as we raise the engine those plates will need to be installed as soon as bolt holes line up to stop any more flex of the chassis.

Steve B.

Need some help with another urban legend/rumor. Does anyone know Bob Bolus? I talked to someone at Steamtown and they told me that he may still have some parts for the engine. Thanks.