The Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Chapter NRHS has a nice update on #3713 in the Winter 2010 edition of their newsletter Laurel Lines. Unfortunately, it isn't available on thier website--but it is posted on The O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum's REAL TRAINS section. I'm not a computer guru, so don't know how to set up a link--perhaps someone on this site can set up a link if there's interest in the story.

Frederick G. Bailey

Thank you Mr. Bailey. I used to receive these updates in the mail...not sure why I have not been getting them lately...
http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a ... /149109043

I hope I can answer Stephen Hussar's comment on the newsletter. When the chapter releases a "3713 special update" it isn't distributed like a subscription, but more like a target audience campaign. The recent issue was made with the intent that it would be at the Springfield show. The leftovers are available at chapter events, the donation box at Steamtown and at the Moscow station. Past issues were sent to regions, such as New England states, Southern states, Midwest, far west, etc. The NRHS membership serves as the main database. Contributors get updates regularly, but I don't think more than two a year are printed.
I'm not aware of anyone having a full set on the newsletters printed.

Tim, thanks. I should have been more specific. What I meant was, I am a contributor and I have not received anything in the mail for a couple of years. I'll send them a note to let them know we're still out here :)

Stephen

Tim,

Thanks for your response on how the L&WV Chapter handles the updates on #3713's restoration. About the only time I've been able to get any information from the Chapter in recent years is when I've been able to attend the Springfield show and pick up a copy of the "special edition" newsletter--and even those staffing the Chapter table there haven't been much help answering additional questions I've had. I don't know why its so hard to get good reports on what's going on with #3713, and other Steamtown shop projects, on a regular basis--the reports you used to give over on the Chaski site were much appreciated! I would think the Internet would be the ideal place to post updates regularly on #3713's progress as it doesn't cost anything to write up a story other than someone's time--and it would be readily available to anyone with computer access. Dave Crosby said he was going to suggest better Internet communication to the Chapter a while back, but nothing ever happened.

I have a few questions regarding #3713 that are of interest to me. Perhaps they were answered in previous "special edition" newsletters that I haven't seen or maybe even on the Internet that I missed. Anyways, Strasburg Rail Road was contracted to do a boiler survery a while back. Is that survery the basis for the boiler work that is being done today? How much money was wasted on firebox work done by the Chapter's previous contractor; certainly a lot of time and materials went into staybolt replacement that is now obviously being redone with the current sheet replacement work? How much cost has the current boilerwork added to the locomotive's restoration? The NPS says it is going to concentrate on #3713's restoration rather than overhaul CP #2317. Is the NPS ready to supply funding and manpower for the #3713 project or will the Chapter's contractors be the only ones plodding along on #3713's restoration for years to come? Did any of the stimulus money the NPS received last year find its way to #3713's restoration?

Frederick G. Bailey

Fred,
The L&WV chapter tried something new this year with the Springfield show, they invited the contractor(there currently is only one full time contractor) to be part of their exhibit and he brought a short powerpoint showing the current status of the project with lots of photos. He also answered all questions sent his way.

Not all of those special edition updates are sent out by the chapter, approximately 2500 are distributed with newletters sent out by the Mass. Bay RR Enthusiasts and the Boston & Maine RR Historical Society, as part of their effort to help raise funds for the project. (Thank you to both of those fine organizations)

To answer your questions:
Yes the scope of the current boiler work is defined by the boiler survey performed jointly with the chapter and the Strasburg RR.

I do not have a dollar figure for the work previously performed.

The additional work discovered by the boiler survey will add around 5% to the projects cost. Part of this is being funded by Steamtown National Historic Site(SNHS), the rest by the chapter.

The managers at SNHS have expressed to me that after the 26 project is completed and the bugs worked out of the locomotive, they are going to commit manpower and funding to complete the 3713 restoration.

I do not know if stimulus funds are being used on the project or not, but the SNHS managers are looking at additional funding for the project, which is great news, not approved yet but the paperwork is advancing.

I have left a lot of the updating to the chapter, their volunteers currently are very busy raising funds for the project along with getting ready to host ENDLESS MOUNTAIN RAILS 2010,
http://www.endlessmountainrails.com/
the NRHS National convention this June.

I will attempt to post a more technical work update within the next week here on RYPN. Any further questions please feel free to ask.

Mike Tillger
Contractor to the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society