The peak visitor season continues at Steamtown NHS in Scranton, PA, while the loyal workers of Project 565 continue laboring on the 1908- ALCO Schenectady built 2-6-0 in Steamtown's Roundhouse. Len Shaner provided me this recent update of recent progress.

DL&W 565
* Crew removed the oil tank from the tender.
* They made and installed a binder for the right side number 1 driving wheel.
* They bolted the waste sheets back to the boiler.
* They straightened the sagging on the front of the engine frame.
* I issued more requested special tools to continue with specialized work.
* The asbestos contractors removed all the asbestos from the steam chest, and fabricated new sheet metal jacketing for the chest.
* The crew is working in the smokebox.
* The crew now has the bell from the locomotive shop , The bell was off DL&W 365 a 2-8-0.
Here's a link to a recent video on the project.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUM6Gwi-eLQ

The photos Len sent didn't copy over to here, and my own photos won't post for me today. Obviously I am missing a step along the way.
As with any other project, this is much bigger than anyone expected, but the job is coming along.

Can I congratulate and thank this crew? I had really written off this derelict as a "lost cause" in my head decades ago. This job may not be on par with casting new cylinders to a one-off custom design or fabricating new drivers (as has been done in the UK), but it's remarkable nonetheless.

I think congratulations are in order. As screwy as Len is, he has kept the project alive while Steve was away in Iraq. You can follow their progress at www.projectdlw565.webs.com.

J.T.

"As screwy as Len is, he has kept the project alive while Steve was away in Iraq. "

How about declaring open season on Len over, then?

We don't need fratricide.

Amen to that!

Len and his crew are doing some excellent work here. Congratulations, guys. You're taking the time to do things right and this engine will be gorgeous when you're done!

And Steve, it's good to hear you're back from Iraq. Welcome home!

Steve Hunter
Cardinal, Ontario

This has been one of the preservation success stories of the year, for the following reasons:

1. An important, but neglected piece of equipment is getting long-overdue attention.
2. The two co-leaders of the project, and probably many of the volunteers are new to railway preservation, it's gotten them involved.
3. Good publicity for Steamtown, finally restoring an important piece of equipment.

I can't see any negatives here, and hope the project is completed. Congrats to all involved!

Friends,

Please remember that our guidelines specifically state "attacks on other posters ("flaming") are all prohibited". Even if you feel it is deserved please don't do it here. Posts containing personal attacks will be deleted. There is only one RYPN and we want to leave that sort of thing to the other boards while we focus on preservation. If you have a problem with a post please report.

Thanks,

Tom Gears
Moderator

Thanks everyone. Len has done an awesome job keeping this going!!!! I'm back to my normal Air Force job now and working on getting my troops back up there. Still have alot of work to do!
We now have parts being made and looking to get the tender work underway as we wait for parts. Len's gang is leaving my crew to the front pilot. That is going to be fun. We still need to install #1 driver's journals so we can move her around. I will be talking to Gary and Steamtown about the best way to install them without moving her. Stay tuned.............

OK, there are some newer photos from last Saturday's work session on Facebook, but for now, here are the photos that Len has passed on to me.

Looking at the rust and corrosion in the smoke box.
Photo One


Looking at the rust and corrosion in the smoke box.
Photo Two


Looking at the flue sheet after the rust converter was applied, That's why it looks black


In the coal bunker


Before the rust converter was applied to the flue sheet.
[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs310.snc4/40842_453270184133_133629534133_6101715_2049764_n.jpg[img]


Top of the tender on the Left side, this side has been clean a ready for rust converter to be apply at next work day. Daniel Barnett hard at work with the Needle Scalier
[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs280.snc4/40324_453167859133_133629534133_6099285_1788591_n.jpg[img]

Another view of the Left side of tender.
[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs280.snc4/40324_453167864133_133629534133_6099286_4098206_n.jpg[img]

Fixed the links!


Before the rust converter was applied to the flue sheet.



Top of the tender on the Left side, this side has been clean a ready for rust converter to be apply at next work day. Daniel Barnett hard at work with the Needle Scalier


Another view of the Left side of tender.

Great job by Len and crew! What a wonderful job they're all doing!

John, send me a PM and I will get you the info. We are looking at another workday very soon.

I think I see a dummy coupler in that pile of parts. It goes on the pilot and is used to prevent dust and dirt from getting into the brakepipe as well as prevent damage to the hose when hanging down.

And a cylinder cock, electrical hardware, maybe rear half of a sander valve, pin grease fitting, air pump intake strainer, basic globe valve and misc junk.

dave

You are going to have to be more specific....but the bits you show more of than anything else of all the stuff are brake valves and water glass / gage cock fittings. LOTS of other stuff in those bins.

dave