Good afternoon all!

See below:

Strasburg Rail Road’s Mechanical Services joins FMW Solutions in the restoration of a famous Pennsylvania Railroad engine.

ALTOONA, PA – Efforts to restore the famous Pennsylvania Railroad steam engine No. 1361, The Spirit of Altoona, have increased in the new year, as the Railroaders Memorial Museum and FMW Solutions welcome Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services to join the rebuilding effort. Concurrent with the ongoing project management, engineering, boiler, and firebox work being performed by FMW Solutions, Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services will handle reconditioning of the locomotive’s drivers.

“Fundraising has allowed us to increase our restoration efforts, thereby shortening the timeline for the K4’s completion. By combining the efforts of these two talented firms, we can expand on the work on multiple aspects of the K4 restoration,” explained Joe DeFrancesco, Executive Director of the Railroaders Memorial Museum. “The wheels arrived at Strasburg just before the Christmas holiday, and we anticipate Strasburg’s work to take three to four months. Progress like this is only possible with the help of our dedicated donors and we look forward to sharing more about our progress in 2025.”

“Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services is very excited to become part of the restoration of such an iconic steam engine,” stated Brendan Zeigler, Vice President and Chief Mechanical Officer at Strasburg. “This project means a lot to many people and it's an honor assisting with its restoration. We thank the Railroader's Memorial Museum and FMW Solutions for asking us to partner with them in their efforts”

“Strasburg’s ability, experience, and regional proximity made them a logical partner to perform the necessary driving wheel work on the K4,” stated Shane Meador, Vice President of Mechanical for FMW Solutions. “Similar to the cooperative work of FMW and Strasburg on past projects, we will move the locomotive that much closer to operational status.”

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Additionally, the museum is excited to announce the addition of Ernie McClellan as our on-site project manager. Mr. McClellan is a veteran railroader who served as Director of Mechanical Operations Keystone Division, General Superintendent of Norfolk Southern’s Juniata Locomotive Shops and Director of Locomotive Programs before his retirement; a career spanning Conrail through Norfolk Southern. Mr. McClellan’s special contribution is coordinating the work between the two contractors and our K4 project volunteers. Ernie brings a wealth of welding and mechanical experience to the project, “He is a great addition to our team as he extends his record of delivering superior results with rolling stock projects”, added DeFrancesco.

“The combined forces of FMW Solutions, Strasburg, Ernie McClellan, and our volunteers is an awesome development,” stated Donald D. Graab, Retired Vice President Mechanical for Norfolk Southern, board member of the Railroaders Memorial Museum, and K4 Restoration Committee Co-Chair.

RESTORATION MILESTONES

FMW Solutions' recent work has resulted in the fabrication and enclosure of the outer firebox, completion of two boiler flush patches, extensive riveting, and the beginning installation of the inner firebox. In the coming months, FMW will work with Railroaders Memorial Museum volunteers to fit up and drill hundreds of holes in the inside firebox sheets for staybolts, after which the task of installing more than 2,000 new staybolts can begin.

Additional work anticipated in 2025 includes frame, shoe, and wedge machining, spring rigging repair; trailing truck equalization; steam chest repairs; and continued boiler and firebox work.

FUNDRAISING PROGRESS

The Railroaders Memorial Museum is ecstatic to report that through pledges and contributions, we are well over half funded to complete 1361. 2025 goals will include the completion of boiler work and initiating running gear repairs and assembly. We will now focus on closing the remainder of the fundraising gap to ensure the project moves forward at a steady pace. Bringing such a renowned steam restoration firm as Strasburg Railroad Mechanical Services on board only accelerates the restoration progress.

The Railroaders Memorial Museum seeks to raise an additional $500,000 for the project in 2025. Contributions can be made through a three-year pledge or a one-time gift. All contributions are tax-deductible. During 2024, the Museum has successfully raised $400,000 in donations and an additional $600,000 in pledges to be paid over three years. While a completion deadline has not yet been announced, 2025 promises to be a significant year of advancement for the 1361.
Donations toward the locomotive restoration can be made at //railroadcity.org/k4restoration.

HISTORY

Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) K4s class steam locomotive No. 1361 is perhaps one of the most well-known steam locomotives in the U.S. rail preservation community. The PRR, once regarded as the “Standard Railroad of the World,” was at its mightiest when No. 1361 and 424 sister locomotives were in service. These K4s class of locomotives hauled some of the most important passenger trains of the 20th century, including the Broadway Limited.

Built in Altoona’s Juniata Shops in 1918, No. 1361 operated for over thirty-five years, eventually racking up over 2.4 million miles in revenue service. Retired and placed on display in 1957 at the Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark, the K4 was removed for its initial restoration in 1985 but was later sidelined due to mechanical issues in 1987.

Following FMW’s extensive engineering analysis and inspection process with concurrence from the Federal Railroad Administration, the Railroaders Memorial Museum launched a campaign in 2021 to restore the locomotive to running condition, addressing any areas of concern from previous restoration work.

Talk about a Super Group. All they need now is Bob Dylan.

Agreed, this is great news! It's cool to see two of the best in the business work together for a common goal for a locomotive that is due to have some good luck!

When you put Strasburg in the Mix that become interesting that a good update

Outstanding news, but I have to be curious, as I photographed 1361's drivers and boxes at Strasburg in 2004. I wonder if more needed work was discovered or if records were lost?

Hello,

Are new tires part of the scope of the job? If pin machining is too, would love to get up there and see the quartering machine at work. I am definitely due for a SRR shop tour. (If still offered)

Very good news!

Cheers,

Randy

PRR K4s 1361 restoration moves past halfway point: https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... way-point/