Noting how far this engine is from completion and how the 3254 is nearing the limits of its serviceability, would it be prudent to move ahead with the rebuild of 2317 after 26's completion?

Loaded question. Who is going to opt for less steam at Steamtown? Actually, 3713 has come along fairly well since I last saw her in May, 2012. Baldwin 26 looks much as she did, at least in my eyes, at that same date.

I'd love to know what's on the official docket for restoration. I was told by the shop people that they discuss this topic regularly. Rahway Valley #15 is spoken of regularly. The Canadian Pacific 4-6-2 has just come off the running line, so it's probably closest to a quicker fix. We all have a short list of Steamtown locomotives we'd love to see fired again, in my hopes I'd like to see MEC 519 and CNR 47 go into tear down and rebuild.

A national "press" to supplement funding for 3713 would be a good way to empty that particular stall. Thinking aloud.

How was my question loaded? What I was proposing was to achieve the exact opposite of less steam. 3713's reconstruction has been largely funded, from what I understand, by funds external to Steamtown's budget. All I'm wondering is if 2317 can be completed sooner than 3713.

From what I hear:

3254 has issues and may or may not be operable this season. The question is if it would be wise to invest the money and man power to keep her limping along, or to divert it to other projects. Her clock runs out in 2016. Long range, she may be retired to static and parts mike 3377 brought back online. I think she only had 500 miles on her after class 5 repairs before being put in the dead line.

Fan favorite 2317 will be the next Canadian engine to return to operation. While SNHS takes a lot of flack for running non-US locomotives, they will continue to do so as they allow the park to offer the steam experience while not consuming the American pieces. She does have some quirks and the big question in my mind is how much they will find that needs to be corrected when they open her up.

3713 is coming along fine. Do not forget that she is almost or completely funded by an outside entity and most labor comes through a private contractor. The group in charge of her has spent a lot of money lately stock piling parts so that when help from the SNHS shop comes available, they will not be waiting on parts to be fabricated and can dig right in.

26 should be operable this season, she is entering final assy. From what I am hearing, once 26 is up, the staff will be split with half going to work on 3713 and the other half starting the tear down on 2317 for her 1472 work. That will dictate which is out first, 2317 or 3713, depending on what is found on '17.

The 3713 project is exciting, as it is a very modern 4-6-2 pacific, with all kinds of interesting appliances.

In particular, and as mentioned elsewhere, the 3713 contains one of a few extant examples of the Locomotive Valve Pilot.

Hopefully in a few years, we'll be able to see this interesitng device at work.

Locomotive valve pilot?

I tell you, this is one of the best places to find out some steam technical information--provided the qualified posters aren't too busy actually rebuilding locomotives and cars!

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=24527

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34376

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/r ... 10,1893740

Now, I wonder where this photo is from--doesn't say with the data provided, I'm afraid. At the same time, I don't think too many existing locomotives still have these cam boxes:

http://insynchification.tumblr.com/post ... ainstation

Actually, the poster does say where the picture was taken: Collierville, Tennessee (about 5 miles from me). This is SLSF 1351, one of the Frisco 'rebuilds' (where for tax reasons an old 2-8-0 was reconstructed into a 2-8-2 with lots of modern appurtenances).

Notable is that, as I understand it, all the parts of the Valve Pilot apparatus are preserved in restorable shape on this locomotive.

Overmod -

For tax reasons? Actually, the reason for the rebuild was the Frisco line between Amory, Mississippi and Pensacola, Florida where light bridges couldn't take Mikado's. By rebuilding the old 2-8-0's without increasing the weight on drivers, 2-8-2's could be used on that line. The program began in 1943 and ended in 1946 with the construction of the seventh engine in the class. The end of the Second World War and the pending arrival of diesels for the line probably helped end the rebuild program.

Les