So anything new happening is she back together yet?
Thank you
Al

It looks like progress is still being made on Baldwin #26, and she's slowly making her way closer to being fully operational again.

https://www.facebook.com/15128656821722 ... 60/?type=1

At the rate things are going (which I'm glad that progress is still being made), I'm curious as to how long it will be before she is running the rails of Steamtown again.

July 21, 2015 update. With all of the valve setting work complete or nearly complete, Baldwin 26 will take a short trip over to the Steamtown paint booth this coming Thursday, the 23rd. Today, the firebox door was reapplied to the backhead. The first photo is by Kenny Ganz.


A few hours later, I took this photo of the backhead. The light reflecting off the new paint is distorting the look of the black. She is sharp. This and the rest of the photos were taken by me.


Of course, the backhead is too bare to function. We still have to add these parts and more to the engine.


Also missing are the seats for the fireman and engineer. Can't leave them just standing around.
Almost all elements of the valve gear is in place, and on the engineer's side, they tested the reverser with air power.
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The valve on the fireman's side:




I know we keep saying, "she's almost there." But each day brings us closer to operation. We plan for her to be under steam when Nickel Plate Road 765 is in town.

Wow, it has a steam heat connection. Will it get a Conductor's signal hose?

I admire the way the main rod connected driver can be rotated in situ with a ratchet wrench using two pairs of small roller bearings which can be pinched together to lift the wheel set slightly off the rails. Should make setting the valve events relatively easy and precise.
Alex Huff, not a steam expert

Will she be ready for Railfest?

I have not seen her in the yard yet...

Not stealing a thread here, but have any crews shifted over to another locomotive for restorative purposes?

Unless things have changed the plan was to have everyone on 26 until she was online and then devote manpower to 3713. I am sure there is also a need to maintain the active rolling stock, complete or spruce up exhibits for Railfest, etc which would pull some staff away. I don't think they have made any commitments beyond 3713, but discussions were leaning towards 2317, albeit those decisions are a long ways off.

3 men, plus a welder when needed, are working on the 26 full time-40 hours per week. Two of those men are occasionally needed for train crews or contract work. The shop forces will move over to the 3713 when the 26 is done unless the 514 takes priority.

The now permanent steam heat line is for fall/winter yard shuttles and trips toward Carbondale.

There will be no conductor's hose.

Bruce

The restoration of Baldwin 26 is nearly complete. We look forward to her next career in leading short journeys in and around Scranton.

Today, she was pushed into the roundhouse, and a fire put in her firebox.

When I last walked into the roundhouse, around 4:00, Bruce and Mike were putting the packing on the piston rods around the steam chest. Various steam tests take place on Wednesday, December 9.


DSC_1120 by Tim O'Malley, on Flickr

DSC_1117 by Tim O'Malley, on Flickr

God to hear. I saw her in September in the shops and she was looking like a steam up wasn't that far off...

Playing catch-up since the last few weeks in preparation for Baldwin No. 26's return were really hectic for all of us at Steamtown. On Sunday, April 17, 2016 we debuted her in a formal ceremony at the turntable. Here we see her running through the roundhouse to reach the turntable.





A short turn on the table brought her over to where the podium and the flags stood on the turntable plaza.





Superintendent Debbie Conway and Assistant Regional Director (Northeast Region of the NPS, in Philadelphia) Jonathan Meade said a few words and complimented the dozens of people involved in the restoration before cutting the ribbon.








A long whistle blast initiated her first day of service hauling the Scranton Limited trains through the railroad yard.

And Off she rolled. Her first day of "revenue service" was beginning.

After Sunday's seven spectacular runs through the railroad yard with No. 26, I figured we would not see her for a few days. Lo and behold, I hear her whistle early on Tuesday morning, the 19th of April.



Turns, out, a seminar or training session with the FRA was taking place at Steamtown's theater, and arrangements were in place to run a special to the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel to escort the folks into Steamtown. Here we see her pushing the coaches up to the hotel.



Bon Voyage!



Here she is arriving in the roundhouse area.


Barb Klobucar leads the guests to the theater.

Then!!!

Wednesday, April 20 was supposed to be a diesel day for the Scranton Limited, but as fate would have it, F3 No. 664 was still disassembled enough to be unready for the trains. With No 26. still hot, she was called to work the Limiteds the next several days.
As 26 sits in the above photo waiting for the high-ball east, we see her roundhouse mate Lackawanna 663 (the other F3) looking out the window.



AS the saying goes, you have to make hay while the sun shines, so I went to my favorite yard location, alongside the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel to catch her in the sun.



Bruce Mowbray was the engineer that day. HIs comment on Sunday evening was that she performed flawlessly.



Roaring off to the Scranton station sign, about a quarter mile up the road.


Drifting back, she is about to pass the Mattes Street Tower, restored in 2005.



Just arriving at the boarding location for the trip, she is observed by a frequent poster on RYPN. ;) Recognize that fellow?