First movement under steam.

https://youtu.be/U61sfEilTXs

.

Here's a great video by Eric Schade:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX9Asc0F9uA&feature=youtu.be

Well done to all involved. She looks amazing.

That being said, full speed ahead on #11!

For those wondering, #11 will be a new locomotive duplicating #7, the last new WW&F locomotive. It was lost in the engine house fire of 1931.

Small pieces of the new #11 have all ready been fabricated as well as a few patterns.
Stay tuned.

If I read my WW&F roster correctly, number 7 was a Baldwin built 2-4-4RT that weighed about 10 tons more than number 9. Look forward to the progress on number 11.


Les

Here is the website for the WW&F No. 11 project:

http://www.build11.org/

Let's not get too excited too quickly about No. 11, folks. The WW&F's Board still must approve the project, a whole bunch of patterns must still be made, and mostly importantly, several hundred thousand dollars must be raised before anything like a new locomotive emerges.

The WW&F is noted for its careful handling of its funds, as well as carefully planning five years out. There are other priorities, such as building a replica coach, building a turntable, laying more track north of Top of the Mountain, and building a roundhouse ahead of No. 11, at least at this time. Of course, if someone came along and offered to fully fund a replica locomotive, priorities could change.

NOTE: I have just been informed that the No. 11 project has been approved by the WW&F's Board. I apologize for the misinformation.

A number of years ago I talked to Jason about this project and I believe he really wanted to see it come to fruition. He really seemed excited about it and passed it on to me. Way back then I understood the realities of building a locomotive from scratch, but proceeded anyway to make patterns hoping to see some castings and get the project out of the drawing stage. The only castings made were the wheel center castings used on the railcar and lead truck wheel assembly. I got another person involved (he can pipe in but at this point I won't mention his name because I don't know his opinion about the delay). I believe there are enough patterns (his and mine) on hand for several years of part-time work.

Due to several reasons I have stopped making patterns but mainly because I don't want to waste any more time and money on what could become a dead project. If I see some castings and a small amount of work being done, then I will start again. Patterns do deteriorate somewhat over time and some may need refurbishing if the need to use them comes up. I just turned 70 and even if I live as long as my parents I probably won't live to see an operating #11.

I heard a while back that there was someone who was willing to pay for some castings. I wonder what happened to this offer? I believe there was some sticker shock concerning the cost of castings. I had this happen to me when Wayne and I had the bell bracket castings made at a large commercial foundry. This is now displayed in the gift shop as an incentive, but so far it has not had much of an impact on interest or funding.

I believe that with the completion of #9 the need for a #11 has diminished even if #10 has to go down for extensive repairs.

Bernie Perch

WW&F has just pulled off a remarkable locomotive restoration, vividly showing capability and the desire to see a project through. #11 is patterns and drawings at the moment, but I think whoever does the development for projects such as funding #11 would be missing a chance to capitalize on success. If it takes as long to raise the funds as you believe it will, this is the time to begin.

Starting an all new steam locomotive from stock steel to operation will be a stunning accomplishment, and you have the shop and personnel to do it.

Discouragement is a poor way to begin an effort, and people who aren't even involved are all too glad to serve it up. You guys have skills to leverage.

Creating a new steam engine from scratch in the 21st century is certainly a daunting task. I have been following the T1 Trusts quest to build a new T1 Duplex. Just to build a casting for a T1 Boxpox driver required $20,000. That was just 1 casting--no actual wheels can be poured until a lot more money in. I wish you luck on #11, but it will be a long and costly road. If interested, the link to the T1 newsletter on the wheel casting follows:
https://www.prrt1steamlocomotivetrust.o ... r.php?id=7

I have recently been in touch with Jason at the WW&F to offer my support for the construction of No.11. We have casting capabilities and would be willing to cast whatever components are within our abilities, and do it at a much reduced cost. An issue is that some of the castings were originally steel, and we can only produce grey iron or ductile iron. However ductile iron may be a suitable substitute depending on how the engineering works out.

After the J&L 58 project is complete our intrepid band of locomotive restorers would like to tackle the construction of a new locomotive. We have a Porter locomotive boiler available to use for such a project, which amazingly is the same shell diameter and length of the proposed No. 11's boiler. My proposal is that we would help the WW&F with the 11 project where we can, and in the process of making their castings also make castings for our proposed locomotive. We have the free use of the WA Young Foundry & Machine Shop (lineshaft driven 1900 era fully equipped machine shop nestled along the Mon River 50 miles upstream from Pittsburgh), where we can make and machine parts for both locomotives basically for the cost of materials and whatever time it takes.

Our proposed new build would not be a replica of any previously existing locomotive, but a more freelance design based upon what is available for us to use. Possibly a 2-4-2 with a tender, but the design is pretty much up in the air at this point.

Tour of WA Young:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cSW9KQWIoY
Yeah, everything there works!

The WW&FRy shop has been focused 9's restoration as a major project for several years. Now that 9's restoration is wrapping up expect the 11 project to start ramping up over the next year. Like every other museum we have all the necessary day to day maintenance needed to keep the railroad running and only so many volunteer hours. We're also excited to partner with Rick Rowland's organization and hope the partnership wil be beneficial for both organizations. Look for an announcement from the WW&FRy's board on fundraising in a few months.


Brendan Barry

Member WW&FRy Board of Directors

Yep, I'd always wondered whatever happened to that locomotive. I hope they put some type of plaque or something on the engine for the lady and her husband who saved and cared for that locomotive all those years...