Here's a recent article from the Hill Country News ~ Austin Steam Train

http://www.hillcountrynews.com/articles/2009/05/21/news/news33.txt

Puffs of white smoke will soon fill the air above Cedar Park once again as the Austin Steam Train brings back its original steam engine, which has been undergoing an extensive overhaul. The engine should be back on track sometime in 2010.

The historic engine will return to Cedar Park thanks to a generous $500,000 donation from the family of Austin Steam Train Association (ASTA) founder Arthur Boone, who died in October 2008 at age 87. The Mary Carol Boone Joy Foundation made the donation to ensure the Southern Pacific 786 engine is returned to service. The foundation is named for Arthur's daughter Carol Boone, who died in August 2008 at 48.

The train runs every weekend between Cedar Park and Round Rock, but has been powered by a diesel engine since the original engine was sent off for repairs in 1999.

The association has been running excursion trains from Cedar Park to Burnet since 1992. They started with a Southern Pacific 786 engine built in 1916. In 1999, the engine was taken out of service for what was expected to be a simple repair job, but turned out to be a complete overhaul. Progress has been slow, because the repairs were completed as the funds dribbled in. The entire project required an estimated $1.5 million.

Donations came from ASTA members, including a $100,000 gift from ASTA volunteer Bill Nash, and many public and private sources. The city of Austin contributed $250,000 toward the project; the city of Cedar Park pitched in $100,000; the Cedar Park Tourism Board gave $65,000. The Heritage Society of Austin contributed $10,000.

It will still take time to get the engine running again, because its parts are scattered among repair shops all over the country, said ASTA Chairman Ben Sargent. The boiler and firebox are in Birmingham, Ala. The frame and running gear are in Mussel Shoals, Ala. Wheels are in Chatanooga, Tenn. Air compressors and water pump are in Denver.

“We hope by the end of this year everything will be back in Cedar Park and we'll be ready to start putting it together,” said Sargent. “We are in discussions with a contractor to do that job.”

In the meantime, the public can still have a great time on the train, which runs each weekend. “Our diesel locomotive is reliable and service goes on uninterrupted,” said Sargent.

For more information about the Austin Steam Train, visit:
http://www.austinsteamtrain.org

Updates on the progress on #786's rebuild can be found here:
http://www.pointech.com/786/

Ricky

Latest update on 786's rebuild as of 6/3/09
http://www.pointech.com/786/

Progress on Various Components

Cylinder Heads

All 4 cylinder heads are being replaced and strengthened. Inside each head is a "cone extension" that matches the profile of the piston. The purpose is to reduce the volume in the cylinder when the piston is at top/bottom dead center. This improves the efficiency of the engine. The cone extensions were earlier cut out of the original cylinder heads and will be welded onto the new heads after all the machining is done.

Pistons

Cleaning up and locating the ring grooves

Drivers

Adding tire clips to the wheel centers and making a few minor repairs.

Frame

After some minor delays (vacations & machine availability) work resumed on machining the cylinder upper frame rails and we are now getting 8 hrs per day. Current schedule has this pace continuing as the mill is operating 24/7. Photos to follow.

Drawbar Casting

The attempted repair to the drawbar casting was started and stopped. It has been determined that is is better to make a new drawbar casting rather than continuing to try to repair the old one. Currently the drawbar casting with drawings are at the pattern maker and a pattern for a steel casting is about 8 weeks out. This is a fairly complex casting. Here is a photo of the original drawbar casting. We'll add photos of the new drawbar as available.

Boiler

The smokebox bottom has been delivered to Bob Yuill, Historic Machinery. It has already been drilled to mate to the cylinder saddle. Bob will weld it on to the bottom of the smokebox for later assembly.

Cylinder Saddle

The new cylinder saddle continues to be machined. Was test fit with the frame. The fit was "better than the original".

Ricky

The smokebox has been welded to the old upper portion and the rivet holes for the circ seam and front ring are drilled. Next we need to make some 7/8" rivets and then drive them.

Robert Yuill
http://www.historicmachineryservices.com

Robert,

Thanks for the photo and additional info on 786's progress. Hope ya'll don't mind me paraphrasing what's been accoplished thus far. Just wanted to give everyone an update. People are starting to get excited here in Austin about having her back.

Ricky