"NKP 190" Alco PA now running

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Mon Oct 07, 2013 10:48 am

Report from Facebook, with photo, indicates that Doyle McCormack's Alco PA, former Santa Fe/D&H and being restored as "Nickel Plate 190", has been "fired up" in Portland. Or at least the engine is smoking.

See https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

Becky Morgan · **Joined:** Tue Jun 22, 2010 4:22 pm **Posts:** 495

Honorary steam engine for the win!
So much for "what's he ever going to do with that rusty old thing?" It always makes me grin when something that was a pile of bolts makes it all the way back.

p51 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 07, 2013 11:47 am

GREAT!
I stumbled across the shells of both PAs near Salem, in 2000, totaly by accident and took a good look. I never thought either would have a rumble coming from inside...

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3010

One of the best seminars at the Tacoma NRHS convention was Doyle's talk about how he was working on this engine and where he acquired the parts from etc.

When purchased form Mexico, it was just a shell, and not a particularly good one. He sourced the other components from all over, trying to use the appropriate ones whenever possible. I seem to recall he got a bunch of stuff from BC Rail in Canada. I don't recall specifics, but I know he found some important items there.

This is a top notch restoration that has been going on for a very long time. Glad to see it finally coming together.

Mark Z. Yerkes · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:47 pm **Posts:** 486

Bobharbison wrote:

One of the best seminars at the Tacoma NRHS convention was Doyle's talk about how he was working on this engine and where he acquired the parts from etc.

When purchased form Mexico, it was just a shell, and not a particularly good one. He sourced the other components from all over, trying to use the appropriate ones whenever possible. I seem to recall he got a bunch of stuff from BC Rail in Canada. I don't recall specifics, but I know he found some important items there.

This is a top notch restoration that has been going on for a very long time. Glad to see it finally coming together.

Among other things, he got the prime mover from BC Rail. Same type of mover (251V12), but this one was made by MLW, as opposed to the original ALCO

daylight4449 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 07, 2013 12:34 pm

Alright, I have to know, but Doyle called the PA his "money pit" when he got interviewed by LTT some time ago... Now, there's no chance in hell that this was cheap, but how deep of a pit are we talking about? Regardless of the "pitfall", I'd say the results are worth the product...

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Mon Oct 07, 2013 12:38 pm

Gorgeous. Even for a Diesel.

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

daylight4449 wrote:

Alright, I have to know, but Doyle called the PA his "money pit" when he got interviewed by LTT some time ago... Now, there's no chance in hell that this was cheap, but how deep of a pit are we talking about? Regardless of the "pitfall", I'd say the results are worth the product...

Well, I guess it is a "money pit" IF he doesn't find a place to run it. If however, he can operate excursions behind it, or if he finds a tourist operation to run it regularly, that expenditure might make sense, even if only some of his investment is recovered.

I agree, she sure is a pretty thing.

Les

p51 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 07, 2013 1:10 pm

Bobharbison wrote:

One of the best seminars at the Tacoma NRHS convention was Doyle's talk about how he was working on this engine and where he acquired the parts from etc.

Yeah, to this day I'm still seething that I missed this because I was asked to attend the board of director's meeting while this was going on...
I was hoping that someone would have uploaded a video of this somewhere but apparently that never happened.

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3010

Mark Z. Yerkes wrote:

Among other things, he got the prime mover from BC Rail. Same type of mover (251V12), but this one was made by MLW, as opposed to the original ALCO

Thank you. That's what I thought I recalled, but I wasn't positive and didn't want to say something only to find out later that I was incorrect.

Here's a photo of the donor locomotive at Brooklyn:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=69570

Catalpa · **Posted:** Mon Oct 07, 2013 5:26 pm

I think it was the late John Rehor who declared the NKP PAs to be honorary steam engines. He'd be happy to see the 190 belching exhaust.

G.F.Payne
Baltimore, MD

Reading 900 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:27 pm **Posts:** 118

Amazing! Doyle has done an incredible job bringing a smashed hulk back to life. I wonder if it will be going to the Streamliner Festival? She looks great! The only operating PA
in the world, if I'm correct.

Alan W.

NKP1155 · **Joined:** Tue Sep 03, 2013 9:50 am **Posts:** 94

Can't wait to see this unit double headed with the 765!

WJPowers

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:40 pm

Before anyone starts the foam into overdrive and demands it go hither and yon, an update from our "partners" at Trains.com:

Quote:

McCormack says he wanted to start and test the engine before winter set in.
McCormack says the stationary test revealed a few mechanical issues that will be repaired in the coming weeks. This winter, he'll also start working on connecting the traction motors, the air compressor and finishing the cab interior. McCormack says it will be at least one or two years before the engine is completed and able to move under its own power. After that, he says he will roll it out into the sunshine, grab a cooler of Pepsi and a lawn chair, and just look at it.

Mark Z. Yerkes · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:47 pm **Posts:** 486

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

Before anyone starts the foam into overdrive and demands it go hither and yon, an update from our "partners" at Trains.com:

Quote:

McCormack says he wanted to start and test the engine before winter set in.
McCormack says the stationary test revealed a few mechanical issues that will be repaired in the coming weeks. This winter, he'll also start working on connecting the traction motors, the air compressor and finishing the cab interior. McCormack says it will be at least one or two years before the engine is completed and able to move under its own power. After that, he says he will roll it out into the sunshine, grab a cooler of Pepsi and a lawn chair, and just look at it.

Sounds like something I'd do if I owned one lol