On July 7, an 0-6-0 steam locomotive turned a wheel for the first time in over 40 years.

After sitting on display at the Geneva Recreation Association Park in Provo, Utah, for 46 years, former Columbia Steel Company 0-6-0 No. 300 was removed from the park this morning and transported by truck to the Vivian Park terminal of the Heber Valley Railroad in nearby Provo Canyon.

Once at Vivian Park, ex-Union Pacific 2-8-0 No. 618 met up with the little switch engine for a 16 mile ride back to the shop at Heber City. The trip was symbolic because it is believed that both locomotives may have worked side-by-side in Utah County before they were each retired to become park displays in the late 1950's.

It is hoped that the locomotive will be restored and become HVRR's 3rd operating steam locomotive in the year 2005. Until then, No. 300 will have to wait its turn. Currently, ex-Great Western 2-8-0 No. 75 is occupying shop space to get new flues and other work completed within the remaining summer months of 2003.

No. 300 is the 4th standard gauge steam locomotive (not counting Thomas, of course) to roll wheels on the Heber Valley line in the last 3 years. (Nevada Northern's 2-8-0 No. 93 was a visitor for the 2002 Winter Games.)

- Mike Lewis
Heber Valley Railroad

Photo: No. 618 introduces No. 300 to the Heber Yard Limit at 650 South in Heber City. Photo by Mike Lewis.

Heber Valley Railroad

dakota97@xmission.com

Mike, If anyone took photos of the preparations for this move, I think it would be very helpful for those contemplating a move of a long-standing park engine. Too often, overenthusiastic volunteers try to roll an engine without proper preparation of the journals and other moving surfaces, thus damaging the bearings and other parts.

> On July 7, an 0-6-0 steam locomotive turned
> a wheel for the first time in over 40 years.

> After sitting on display at the Geneva
> Recreation Association Park in Provo, Utah,
> for 46 years, former Columbia Steel Company
> 0-6-0 No. 300 was removed from the park this
> morning and transported by truck to the
> Vivian Park terminal of the Heber Valley
> Railroad in nearby Provo Canyon.

> Once at Vivian Park, ex-Union Pacific 2-8-0
> No. 618 met up with the little switch engine
> for a 16 mile ride back to the shop at Heber
> City. The trip was symbolic because it is
> believed that both locomotives may have
> worked side-by-side in Utah County before
> they were each retired to become park
> displays in the late 1950's.

> It is hoped that the locomotive will be
> restored and become HVRR's 3rd operating
> steam locomotive in the year 2005. Until
> then, No. 300 will have to wait its turn.
> Currently, ex-Great Western 2-8-0 No. 75 is
> occupying shop space to get new flues and
> other work completed within the remaining
> summer months of 2003.

> No. 300 is the 4th standard gauge steam
> locomotive (not counting Thomas, of course)
> to roll wheels on the Heber Valley line in
> the last 3 years. (Nevada Northern's 2-8-0
> No. 93 was a visitor for the 2002 Winter
> Games.)

> - Mike Lewis
> Heber Valley Railroad

> Photo: No. 618 introduces No. 300 to the
> Heber Yard Limit at 650 South in Heber City.
> Photo by Mike Lewis.


ryarger@rypn.org

I think we can get a few photos put together. One thing to keep in mind is that the preparation work was completed under the direction of the chief mechanical officer and shop foreman, and we knew from the start that we would need to look for specific things on the locomotive. It also helps to have necessary supplies available like new journal pads and brasses, and plenty of grease and journal oil.

At Vivian park, we spent the better part of an hour getting the brakes released, and then spent another half hour making test moves with the help of No. 618 to carefully inspect the moving parts. The side rods and pins got hard greased. Since the main drive rods, eccentrics, and eccentric rods were already missing, there was no concern about the valve gear, steam chests, cylinders, or pistons, but if the locomotive was "complete" I'm sure we would have disassembled it as much as possible to minimize the number of moving parts.

618 and 300 made frequent stops along the line (something like 6 I think) for periodic inspection and lubrication.

I moved the 300 today with one of the diesel locomotives, and I was surprised how well it rolled down into the west yard for storage, so I hope that means we did something right. :)

- Mike

> Mike, If anyone took photos of the
> preparations for this move, I think it would
> be very helpful for those contemplating a
> move of a long-standing park engine. Too
> often, overenthusiastic volunteers try to
> roll an engine without proper preparation of
> the journals and other moving surfaces, thus
> damaging the bearings and other parts.



Heber Valley Railroad
dakota97@xmission.com