The Polson #2 has been slowly coming around and should have the final steam up FRA inspection hopefully in the spring of 2012? The piping and appliances are all back in place and has been tested under pressure {and holding}. Had a couple of leaky and persistant studs that finally sealed. Owner told me he had it up to test pressure and was holding fine with no leaks. The FRA inspector was about a half hour out coming to do the inspection and the mid-west monsoon started so he called the inspector off. Being so late in the year decided to just do it in the spring. No hurry as the wheels are still at a Milwaukee, Wi machine shop {as of a couple of weeks ago}.

The drivers were reprofiled and had axles turned 3 of the four are completed, the #3 axle is getting replaced due to under minimal thickness in the journals. That wheel set also reprofiled already. Cyl re-bored, new crown brass {not machined yet}, spring rigging gone through, front and rear pony trucks reworked, one set re-profiled. There is still much work to be done before the boiler goes back on the frame. But the heart and soul {the boiler} is almost ready to go.

This restoration is not a Mid Continent project and is being done with the owner being the Project Manager. Originally he was going to address the boiler and concentrate on the running gear later, but is now getting the much needed running gear in shape as well. Will evade any time referance to actual completion, I am learning!

For those not involved in a restoration project like this, you have to understand that the locomotive {at least this one and many like it}hadn't had any serious work done to it in many, many years. Most of the work done previously by MC and previous owners was patch work at the best. What one finds when you tear into it is beyond most peoples imagination. Especially smaller logging or mining locomotives. It reminds me of repairs to my own worn out farm machinery. It just keeps getting patched up and by the grace of God it keeps running for another season. Same went for these logging and mining locomotives, ran hard and put away wet. So getting them up to FRA compliance is a seemingly never ending project. But a ton of money can be saved if you only do the work one time and don't require re-work of every move you make. Congrats to the successful restorations going on out there. Cheers, John.

PS meant to put this on the "Obscure restorations" thread.

How is Polson #2 going as far as the restoration now. Its already spring and its 2012 so whats the news?

In answer to your questions there has been some work done. I am not the person who should be updating the world on this project, but I will mention what I think is done since the original post. Think the boiler is ready to hydro for FRA inspection, helped put the throttle back in a couple of months back and sealed her up. 4 of the 4 wheel sets are reprofiled and 3 have new crown brass installed in driving boxes, ready to go. The last axle is to be replaced and this might be in process now, but don't know. This last wheel set has been going no where for some time now, but was told they were going to go on it soon. Have not talked with the owner for about a month or so. I know the tank is pretty rotten and am not sure if he is planning on replacing that right away or after it is up and running?

Mid Continent has no set up for coal or oil right now and not set up for water for the boilers at this time. Seems like I am the only one who is in a hurry to see this thing back running. Again this is a private locomotive and the owner is calling the shots. He is also paying for everything out of his pocket, no outside funding that I know of. I am not involved with any of it right now. Maybe Mr Hamster is more informed to what is new?

Cheers, John.

It should be noted that while the owner of the No. 2 is currently paying for the 1472 day inspection out of his own pocket, he does have an agreement with Mid-Continent for eventual reimburesment of his expenses. This agreement allows the MCRHS to proceed with the rebuild of the CNW1385 and will certainly result in two active steamers at the museum within the next few years.