I was aware that the Friends of the 261 had begun work on the locomotive last Thursday, and thought that I would see what was in progress, so that I could share it with y'all.

Thursday, the fireman's side rods were removed from the locomotive and set aside. The engineer side rods will come off later this week. Out of the huge number of staybolts (memory says more than 4000? Can that be right?) they found two broken staybolts which are being replaced, and about 60 staybolt sleeves will be renewed this week.

The removal of the side rods is preparatory to lifting the locomotive off its drivers, which will be done in a couple of weeks. Two cranes will be used for the lift. I will be photographing this and posting the photos here on rypn.

A local company has the necessary lathes to reprofile the tires.

The boiler has not yet been ultrasounded, but it has been inspected and nothing out of the ordinary noted, so no surprises are anticipated during the ultrasound.

While the wheels are off, the spring rigging and other assorted running gear parts will be attended to.

I'm going to try to publish photos of the festivities here every week or so until its back. Work will go on through the winter. They're arranging to temporarily heat a part of the engine house so this may be done.

The hope is to finish the required inspection/maintenance/etc and return the 261 to operation next year. How quickly that happens will depend in part on fund raising. If you've a mind to facilitate this process please drop by www.261.com and make a donation? We'd all really appreciate it.

Great news! Thanks for the update and especially for the new donation link.

Looking forward to the progress reports!

As a side note:
Donations can also be sent by mail (vrs the above credit card link) by printing
the form at the end of the news PDF and sending via snail mail.

http://www.261.com/261release.pdf

and Membership is another option:
https://secure.261.com/membership.html

Steaminfo - if you are in contact with the group, perhaps you can suggest
they append the donation link and provide an easier to find snail mail form
and mail to address.

/Mitch

Hey Steaminfo,

Thank you very much for the updates on 261 and everything else in the works with the Friends! This is very exciting news after much hand wringing over the last year or so....
I'm very happy to see everything falling into place and working out like most of us had always hoped depite the bleak outlook of the situation over the last couple of years. I will definitely be contributing to the overhaul and hope I can help get the word out to other steam fans. This is the moment they have an opportunity to make a difference in the preservation of a very significant steam locomotive that will soon be taking to the rails again.