Well, I looked at the drawing you linked to, and it shows rail, ties and ballast on the pad... I hope so, as it should at least be on rails. The plastic ties would be a good choice as well, as there's no drainage under them and wood ties would rot out. (If it was me, I'd have gone with concrete ties, even though they wouldn't look quite right, just for the longevity of the support structure)

I would have prefered that they bolt the rails directly to the pad, as was done with 6213's old pad, so that we would have a nice flat surface to work on while working under the locomotive.



Here is the new pad as of yesterday, ready to accept the engine. I don't think the planks of wood at the other end of the pad are staying.

I've just completed a five part article examining the first day of CNR 6167's move (June 15). As usual its jam packed with tons of photos and even several videos.

http://www.trainweb.org/j.dimech/journal/100615-1.html

I wasn't able to attend the unloading the next day and therefore don't have any of my own photos of the 16th. Hopefully I'll will be getting my hands on some next week, at which time I will of course post them online.

The Three Amigos?

"Wherever they need us, our destinies lead us..."

Great job guys. I will come to see her, and fairly soon.

Following old CNR practice, I see, with the sling under the smokebox...

Thanks for all the good work you and your group are doing on the old girl, Joe! I remember her and 6153 from when I was a small child, but didn't get to ride behind either of them. That honour was reserved for 6218 and many other engines since.

Steve Hunter
Cardinal, Ontario

http://www.sfrmeo.ca/
http://public.fotki.com/elliottd/sfrmeo/

Practically all the work (except for the really big jobs such as the asbestos abatement, sandblasting, painting and moving) have been done by those Three Amigos (and sidekick). Its really amazing what such a small group has been able to accomplish.

Great news Joe! I like the three amigo's picture! The infrastructure and planning that has been used on this move is staggering Well done!

Is there a plan to keep her well oiled and lubed, as well as painted and maintained, while she continues her rest?

Well at some point we are going to have to develop maintenance procedures.

Personally I was thinking it would be neat to type up an instructions booklet on how to maintain the engine that anyone could could follow. That way in the distant future, 'regular' people (i.e. city workers) could carry out neccessary maintenance on engine. Hopefully that will keep us from repeating the same problem that 6167 faced before when the original group of "caretakers" fizzled out.

Here are photos from Wednesday, June 16, showing the engine and tender being moved and unloaded.

http://www.trainweb.org/j.dimech/journal/100616-1.html

In case anyone was wondering just how we got the tender drawbar pin out, it took three solid hours of heating it with a "Tiger" Torch, while occasionaly attempting to lift it with a jack to see if it was free. The first time it was lifted up, it brought a bushing in the hole with it, and that too had to be heated off. Apparently, this entire operation only used about 3 lbs. of propane.

So even the rustiest, scaliest drawbar pin can be removed. That pin was soaking in wet coal dust for 43 years. The scale in the drawhead casting is insane. Hopefully with this lesson learned, we will never have to see another engine get its drawbars cut for a move.

awsome, thanks for sharing. my Dad drove truck for years, and it amazes me just how hughe the locomotive drivers are compared to the truck wheels.

I just received word that 6167 received her first graffiti attack over the past few days. I'm trying to get more detailed info from my comrades in Guelph, and will elaborate on the extent of the damage once I know more.

Has she been "re-dressed", with lettering, logos, windows, and fixtures? Is her cab closed and locked? This might be a great time to press for a fence or shelter.

The cab has been stripped, and is secured. Of course, the restoration is still in progress (several more years to go), so I doubt that a real fence will be coming up anytime soon. And no lettering or anything like that. We were actually considering painting the tires etc at some point this summer.

Here are some photos. We think it says "Liberal".