There was a comment on the "C&NW 1385 boiler" thread by Hamster about the two Northern Pacific Q3 4-6-2's at the Minnesota Transportation Museum. Rather than "stealing" that thread, thought I would ask here about their status. At one time, MTM was working to get one, or perpaps both, of those Pacific's back into service. Just trying to find out what is happening at the present time.

Thanks for any info that anyone can offer.

Les

The MTM Steam program is moving very slowly ahead. We are working to get Q3 No. 2156 back on her wheels. This entails work on the frame pedestal jaws, rebuilding all 6 driving boxes and rehabbing both the spring and brake rigging. We are also in the process of having new boxes made for the lead truck. These boxes were in poor condition when we finally got around to cleaning them up. There is much work to do and very little money is available, so the work is slow, relying entirely on volunteers.

All 22 of the Q3's were built as saturated locomotives but all had superheaters applied by the first half of the 1920's.

No. 2156 was constructed in March of 1909 and was superheated in 1917, the notation on her spec card noted a Schmidt type superheater. The specs card called out 1595 SqFt for tubes, 562 SqFt for flues and 444 SqFt for the superheaters.

NP Q3 No. 2153 is in covered storage with no current plans for any restoration work. This locomotive was built in March, 1909 and was superheated in May of 1920.

NP Class S10 4-6-0 No. 328 is also in storage. She is currently being surveyed for a 1472 day inspection and restoration to operation.

hamster -

Thanks for info.


Les