The wrapper sheet is really the only thing wrong with the boiler. Most of the firebox sheets are new as is the backhead. Install the new wrapper, assemble the firebox end and place it on the frame. The running gear has been rebuilt and is just about ready to go.

No need for a new boiler.

Hi,

I was wondering what had actually been repaired. Glad to hear the main bearing has been done.

A lot seems to still be done but a wrapper sheet is a lot less work and expense than a new boiler.

Doug vV

I've just been informed by somebody a lot smarter than I am about the roof sheet issue - if the stays were nutted on top - as is standard Belpaire practice in may parts of the world - Constant C would increase from 2.1 to 2.8 for .375" plate, thus providing the margin. PRR did not use nuts on their stays since fireboxes were replaced very frequently - they found it less costly. So, perhaps replacing the deteriorated roof sheet and using nutted stays is the solution? I leave it to experts who have actually been there and seen it to decide.

I wonder if the new boiler advocates buy a new car every time they get a flat tire?

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Hypothetically if a thicker roof sheet were to be installed to meet the F of S 4:1 requirement would the added weight require modification to the trailing truck suspension and bearing*? Locos being a system of systems what gets done to one system can require adjustments to another...

* Naturally any serious attempt at getting this thing mainline worthy would require a move to rollers on the lead and trailing trucks. (edit already has rollers on trailing truck - thanks for the flicker link below Mr. Rowlands - IMG_8077...)

The problem at this point is, who in their right mind is going to donate any more funds to this money pit? You would literally have to secure free materials and skilled volunteer labor to put her back together. The best option at this time, honestly, is probably for what's left of the project to change hands and for some well known and well respected person or entity to take control, ideally with their own cubic dollars. This is no reflection on those who are currently heading the project, as I know next to nothing about them, but the 1361 may be the most infamous locomotive in all of foamdom. It's going to take a lot of hard work before the money starts coming in again.

NEVER make the mistake of believing Foamdom has anything to do with the rest of society or objective reality - when it does it's most likely accidental or a form of cross pollination, like Thomas. Many problems have been solved already and a lot of work done on this project, even if the process was inefficient and costly, so looking at it from that perspective the remaining work seems pretty easy compared to other potential candidates out there. Done is done and funds sunk are sunk. It's what happens from here on that matters.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news...but....there's only 1 way this basket case of what was once a proud locomotive is ever going to run again and that is if someone is willing to raise the several million dollars needed to have a new boiler fabricated and the running gear completely gone over.

Short of that you all are just wasting time and bandwidth.

IMHO-Ross Rowland

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Ross, have you seen 1361 lately? There is no running gear work to do. Its been done. The frame needs moved from the old building into the roundhouse, then drivers installed. The boiler requires the firebox work already mentioned, placed back on the frame and the tubes and flues that are already on hand reinstalled. Then final assembly, lagging, jacketing, piping and appliances applied. Speaking in overall terms the rebuild is already 80% completed.

Kelly,

Was there or was there not concern with the loading on the crown bolts as well? I recall the PRR Belpaire having an unorthodox staybolt pitch of something to the order of 5.125" x 4.500"? I would imagine this fact would put the stress factor per bolt at or close to the allowable limit depending on what size bolt was installed.

DC

I extensively photographed the 1361 on Sept. 26, 2015 and have uploaded these photos to a Flickr album. See for yourself.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33523379@N03/albums/72157675020325136

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Kelly and Rick,

So if I am following correctly, a thicker roof sheet, stayed with washers and nuts on the outside end of the stays as Kelly described, placed at the current spacing pattern would essentially solve the major boiler issues?

Rob Gardner

Rob,

Thicker roof sheet is the most feasible option I would suspect. The existing roof sheet exhibits areas of reduced thickness so even if they wanted to attempt to use it by replacing the crown bolts with ones of appropriate lengths to accommodate the nuts, it may not necessarily achieve the required margin of safety. If it did, you more than likely would not have much of a corrosion allowance and thus, after it's first Form 4 the work would likely have to be undone and a new roof sheet applied anyway.

The other less feasible options would be to install a new 3/8" thick roof sheet AND the longer crown bolts with the "finial" nuts. Both scenarios require replacement of the roof sheet. IMHO, it would be more efficient to have the crown bolts installed in the traditional "headed-over" manner on a 1/2" thick roof sheet than to go the route of nuts and washers.

Best,
DC