The folks at the Fillmore and Western Railway have been hard at work in recent weeks making their 1913 Baldwin 2-8-0 operational. Much of the mechanical work was done some time ago, evidently and now the assembly and boiler work is underway.

I mention this as I don't see much about preservation activities west of the Rockies and hope this news will spark a discussion on what's happening at other western state's railroads, museums and preservation groups.

I have been following the restoration of Westside tank car #5 on the Sumpter Valley website. Those folks are doing, in my opinion, a first rate job. Near as I can tell all the wood and truck work is done with the tank rebuild happening this summer (anybody with first hand knowledge of the #5 project feel free to correct me if I haven't got it right).

So if you know what's happening in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada or Idaho post here!

Thank you for your participation.

S.O.

Nice to see some work done on the #14. That rebuild has been going on for some time now I believe. Does anyone have a Timetable for when the #14 will be ready for a test run? I would love to make the trip out there to see it.

In the early 1960's I was blessed with a cab ride on 14 from Cloquet up to Saginaw and return.

>I mention this as I don't see much about preservation activities west of the Rockies and hope this news will spark a discussion on what's happening at other western state's railroads, museums and preservation groups.

Just a few of the projects going on in Niles Canyon can be found on these constantly updated web sites:

The only existing Krauss Maffei ML4000C'C' diesel hydraulic locomotive:
http://sp9010.ncry.org/

Our Alco S6 which just returned to life from an engine rebuild:
http://sp1218.ncry.org/

The activities of our steam department which is currently rebuilding our Clover Valley Lumber Company Mallet #4:
http://plasteam.ncry.org/

Howard W

I can't really say we are actively restoring yet, but maybe soon. At PSRM in Campo, CA, we are working on ex-Coos Bay Lumber #11, an ALCO 2-8-2T. We have removed the tubes and flues and firebrick, and cleaned off the scale and other crud in preparation for doing an ultrasound exam. That exam should happen in the next couple of months. IF (a big IF) the ultrasound shows that the boiler doesn't require really major repairs, we'll take a shot at restoration.

In July or August, I plan on starting to post progress reports on our website, http://www.psrm.org.

Jim Baker, Steam Foreman, PSRM

Here is some information on restorations at the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad in Washington. Some if it is what I know and the rest is provided by the individuals below.

Currently I believe the only operational locomotives are Rayonier Willamette #2 and Hillcrest Climax #10. Hammond Lumber 2-8-2T #17 is down for its 15 year inspection. I have read Pacific Coast Shay Pickering #11 needs boiler worker but otherwise is in good shape.

Here is information on Rayonier 2-8-2 #70 from the GM of the railroad:

The trailing truck has been completely rebuilt and installed. Both pistons have been pressed onto their rods and await new rings (on order). Both crosshead slippers have been machined (one had new babbitt added) and installed. Injector plumbing is almost completed. Air brake plumbing is about 95% complete (can't finish the copper lines and gauge installation just yet). The dynamo was rebuilt by Backshop Enterprises and is awaiting installation. A pesky repair to the firebox wrapper sheet which involved replacing four rivets at the throat sheet has been completed. New 2" tubes have been ordered and should arrive next week. The FRA Form 4 is almost done and the FRA performed an internal inspection of the boiler with no problems noted so we're planning to hydro the boiler during the third week of May.

We were hoping to have the locomotive under steam by Memorial Day weekend, but that's just not going to happen. We are currently getting Heisler #91 back in service to pinch hit until the #70 is done. We are confident that the #70 will be in steam during June.

Brian Wise
GM/CMO
Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad



Here is information Heisler #91 from an engineer at MRSR.

I'll take this one for Brian. The third truck isn't going to happen just yet. The right #1 and 2 tires are being replaced and a few other odds and ends will be dealt with (re-doing some plumbing for the dynamo, air pump, etc). The other tires are ok for now, and ALL 3 trucks need some work, but most of this will likely be after the 70 is in service.

Scott Gordon

Here is a link to the MRSR’s news site with photos on the restoration of Rayonier 70 and other projects.


http://mrsr.info/news/

You should also be able to find information on the restoration of Rayonier Willamette #2 completed last year on the web site.

Brandon

What has the Fillmore & Western done to her? New tubes, obviously, but was major running gear work required? Will she be substantially changed, appearance-wise, when she makes her debut?

An speaking of No. 14, I'm finishing up an article about the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum for the August 2010 issue of Railfan & Railroad. Richard Thompson, along with his twin brother and a friend, started the museum back in 1963. Before that they used to travel to the Duluth & Northeastern frequently, and over the years became friends with the management and employees there. Of the four 2-8-0s that the D&NE was running then, No. 14 was his favorite. He mentioned that the railroad offered to sell them No. 14 for $4000, and would have stored it for awhile, but that was just to much money for three teenagers to come up with at the time. They eventually purchased an 0-4-0T from Dresser Trap Rock for $1250. The museum does have a D&NE rail truck, a D&NE caboose, and the tender from D&NE 2-6-0 No. 1.



Jeff Terry

The Western Railway Museum has three multi-year projects about to come out of the shop around June.

* The WRM's flagship, the Sacramento Northern 1005, a Holman interurban. Went into the shop ten years ago, worn out and with a pretzeled frame; got a "jack up the roof and replace everything below" level of restoration work including a lot of work by Glenn Guerra. It's now down on its trucks, has motored around the property under its own power, and it's getting coupler hangers overhauled. Next seats and it's about done.

* Municipal Railway PCC 1016, which is a "ground up" restoration of a PCC car, putting it in "as-built", close to new condition. This has been happening for about five years and is principally the unfaltering work of one man, with 1-3 helpers depending on the place in the project. This car just got Shaker Heights trucks and has been test-run the length of the line.

* Sacramento Northern 1632 caboose. Donated two years ago by the Portola group, it went promptly into the shop and has been rolled back to as-built condition, including K-brake, coal stove, removal of electrical system, etc. A lot of failed paint was hand removed. Some parts (window braces) were missing and had to be reproduced from similar cabooses. Paint is Fine Paints of Europe over Awlgrip primer.

Jeff -

I remember, many years ago, an article in TRAINS Magazine with a photo of a Panama Mogul in service on the D&NE. I don't think the number of that engine was number 1 though. Is this the tender from THAT engine, or an earlier 2-6-0? I seem to recall that that Mogul had a sloped back tender, but the article is many moons ago and my memory is more than a little hazy after all these years.

Les

I am going on hearsay so maybe someone with direct knowledge can comment in greater detail. The drivers and driving boxes were taken off the frame, I assume for some amount of work. The boiler was thoroughly surveyed and has had some repairs.

As for looks, the Fillmore and Western does a lot of movie work so I imagine the locomotive's appearance will be fairly traditional, but this is purely speculation on my part.

S.O.

Les,

I think the Panama Mogul you remember from the photo is D&NE No. 21, which was a Baldwin and had a slope-back tender. There was a photo essay by Phil Hastings in the March '55 Trains, and it was shown switching cars. The Panama 2-6-0 that the IHC has the tender from was a Cooke product, and the locomotive was scrapped in the 1940s.

D&NE 0-6-0 No. 30 also had a slope back tender, and it (but not the locomotive) has survived; it was sold with D&NE 14 to William Heckman, and today it's in the storage years at Hill City, South Dakota on the Black Hills Central.

Incidentally, one of the No. 30's side rods was used to create a new drawbar when the IHC converted 0-4-0T No. 4 to a tender engine in the early 1970s.

Jeff Terry

Thanks for the info about 14 and the rebuild, Stan. I hope to see it under steam in the near future. I've often wondered why the D&NE sold off No. 14, considering that it was always the favorite. Sister No. 16, which nobody liked (it was considered the "hoodoo" engine since it had been in so many accidents and incidents) was the engine chosen to be preserved at Cloquet.

Jeff Terry

Stan Ottoway (in hat) working to wheel #14 yesterday, 5-1-2010:

^^ Nice pic. Do you have any more?

A few more from yesterday. We didn't have time to settle things down on the driving boxes- need to work it down slowly and safely.