I remember a number of years ago a story in L&RP about Kershaw Mfg.'s Ex W.T. Smith 2-6-0 that was undergoing restoration at the time. I also remember that they had an ex L&N, nee L&E wooden coach. Does anybody know what the status of this equipment is, or in what condition the coach is in?

wilkidm@wku.edu

> I remember a number of years ago a story in
> L&RP about Kershaw Mfg.'s Ex W.T. Smith
> 2-6-0 that was undergoing restoration at the
> time. I also remember that they had an ex
> L&N, nee L&E wooden coach. Does
> anybody know what the status of this
> equipment is, or in what condition the coach
> is in?

I got a tour of the work in February 1994. Work was being done on a very occasional basis, as the owner felt moved to put some money into it. The boiler was separated from the frame, the wheels were out of the jaws - it was pretty much a kit.

Last I heard the equipment had been moved from Kershaw's original (closed, rapidly deteriorating, later sold) Day Street location to the newer plant out at Mt. Meigs (for the lost, we are talking about Montgomery, Alabama). This was 96-97 or so.

There was also a rumor going round that the FRA inspector caught the contracter had pad-welding some thin spots in the boiler and went off like a bottle rocket. (This was before the new rules, obviously.) But I only heard that once, and didn't try to confirm it.

As I recall, the coach had not been disassembled very far - some sheathing removed to inspect the frame members, and up on jacks, but not much more.

The owner's eventual goal was ad hoc operation on the short stretch of ex-SCL that Kershaw keeps as its connection to the outside world.

I'd be interested to hear an update myself.

JAC

Even before that...she was "confirmed" to attend Railfair '91! I don't think I remember seeing 'er.

sfreer@tvrail.com

Was recently contacted about doing some work on her but I am currently tied up. Her owner is interested in getting more work done but having little success getting his previous contractor on the ball. Maybe later this year something can get started.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

Dave,

I thought that Gary Bensman had been doing the work on this engine. At one convention he mentioned that they had made nearly a new tender body from steel that was run through an automatic punching machine that put all the riviet holes in these sheets using a computer program. The machine used was owned by the owner of the engine. Didn't realize that the project was more than cosmetic though.

James


jkissinger@hotmail.com

He may well have done so James - as I stated, i am currently unable to pursue the project myself and did not get deeply into previous completed work.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

> Dave,

> I thought that Gary Bensman had been doing
> the work on this engine.

Gary was indeed the contractor I referred to. My comment about the pad-welding was not meant to criticize Gary, who I've had the pleasure of knowing for 20 years, but to make the point that that type of repair is permissable today.

Also, as I said I don't know that it's true. Over the years I've seen lots of steam "experts" make disparaging remarks about their competitors. If you can get business only by demeaning the other guy, I'm not likely to hire you - tell my why you're better, not why they are worse.

JAC