HI All

I have not read any recent information , on the restoration of this engine , the last information I read about was in Trains magazine , so what is the latest . Thank you Pat

Last I checked, the boiler has been painted. Looks like this page pre-dates the pic I've seen.
http://www.smsrail.com/steam-engine-9-sms-rail.html

SMS is busy keeping the bread and butter Baldwins in operation at present. #9 has gotten more attention and service in the past 12 months than in the past twenty years. Patience.

Here's 2 from last month:
http://trainspot.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2771855

http://trainspot.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2771856

They are in the process of building a new shop, things will pick up after its completed!

http://trainspot.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2771848

I guess you could say, like their #300 in the photo, things are up in the air right now!

That looks like it shall shape up to be a very nice shop! I wonder if the are going to go the easy route and remove the boiler from the frame(so that it may be rolled over) to facilitate installation of the new firebox?
Though not something traditionally done in this country in preservation due to the size of the boilers on even medium sized locomotives, and the lack of facilities, it would do them well to take this approach.


Cheers, Jason

Certainly makes the world an easier place to be in when you turn the boiler upside down doesn't it Jason? Would of never of thought of it on my own, can learn a lot from professionals. When I was a welder we turned most things over with overhead cranes as we were working on large/heavy weldments using flux core wire. Don't know why I wouldn't of applied that naturally to boiler work, so simple a concept. That is probably why!

Glad your hot flanging and not me, can't hit the broad side of a barn with a sledge. My back and sense of balance just isn't there. When attempting this I melted the soles off my Red Wing work boots, both the tread and the glue that held the soles on. Not to mention sliding down the radius while trying to maintain my balance. Rather useless at hot flanging, better at passing meds. Sending some wet snow your way.

Cheers, John.