Volunteer and Director Bob DeWachter undertook this restoration as a four year project of his own. Bob did almost all the machining and labor himself. The video was put together by Bob and sent out to friends who have been involved with the Maine Central 470 project.
Here's a nice little victory for the lovers of steam machinery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhv9prCN0rc

I watched this video last night and have been keenly following Mr. DeWachter's progress with this rebuild since it started. Absolutely fantastic work by a man whose shop experience and knowledge permeate every video. The sights and sounds of the Stoker Motor operating on air and the view of his careful work over these four years to ensure that the motor gives good service for many years to come is a real preservation success and reflects extremely well on the overall effort and dedication of the people working to restore 470 to operation. Congratulations to all involved.

Thanks for your post, Scranton Yard, I couldn't have said it any better.

Beautiful work. Another worthy piece ready to play its role on making the 470 a living engine. Congratulations and keep up the good work.

Ross Rowland

Another piece of the puzzle has been put into place. Bob did an amazing job, i can't wait for the day 470 looks like it did when it pulled the final steam powered train on the MEC.

Everybody was excited the day I put air on 1522's booster engine and ran it for the first time.. It drew a crowd.

Nice job!
Question: How are the bearings lubricated? Do they sit in an oil bath?
Can't wait to see 470 back in service.
Ned

I would like to thank you all for the compliments and kind words. It was a very interesting project bringing this stoker engine back to life.
As to bearing lubrication. The crankcase has a sump full of motor oil with splash lubrication for all the vitals. The cylinders are lubricated with a steam line displacement lubricator. For testing the sump was empty with generous oil can lubrication. The cylinders and valves were generously lubed with steam oil on assembly. I've used paper gaskets for the cylinder heads so they can be popped off and re-lubed. The new copper gaskets will be held in reserve for steam use.
I doubt there is much video out there of one of these stoker engines operating with all the covers off so all the interesting whirling bits can be seen in motion. Much more captivating than watching the flywheel turn!

Here is a higher quality video link. https://youtu.be/em85EqT7rs8

Thought you might like to see the custom reworked shipping/storage/display crate I put together for the stoker engine. Should keep it safe but still easy to peek at.
Probably not many “new” in the crate steam stoker engines out there.
Can now be put in the giant warehouse with Indies Ark. It is after all an ex military hardware crate for F35 JSF fighter bits…..

Whatever you do, don't look at it, Marian!

You did a first class job on all aspects, Robert. This is restoration / preservation at its best.

Lends a whole new meaning to the phrase, "crate motor." I hate to think of it getting covered with ash and grease, but ultimately that's the whole point.

The Standard Stoker motor for PM 1225 was given a slapdash cleanout in the 1970s and ran for years thereafter, but a couple years ago our Master of Fussy Projects Jeff Lis went over it thoroughly and it now runs smoothly. But we don't have any sexy videos.

Aarne Frobom
Steam Railroading Institute
Owosso, Michigan