Does anyone know how the rebuild of the Wilmington & Western's 4-4-0 No. 98 is coming along? I understand that the entire engine was diassembled and it is getting an A-1 overhaul for the first time ever in their new shop building. What has been done so far and is it close to running?

Locomotive 98 of the Wilmington and Western Railroad, originally built by the American Locomotive Compaany in 1909 for the Mississippi Central, is indeed being rebuilt! The boiler has been removed from the frame. New firebox sheets have been manufactured by the Strasburg Railroad, and have been installed by Bob Yuill and employees from Historic Machinery Services. New crowfoot boiler braces were designed by Linn Moedinger and fabricated by the Strasburg, along with new flue sheets and a new smokebox. Currently Bob and staff from the W&W are installing all new staybolts, and the locomotive's air pump is being rebuilt by Bernie Watts in Colorado.

The locomotive is being restored in full compliance with the new FRA Rules governing steam locomotives. Work remaining to be done includes installation of flues and the new smokebox, hydrotesting the boiler, installation of lagging, dome covers, jacketing, piping etc. A new ashpan is being fabricated, and restoration work will be completed on the cab, running gear, and tender. When the boiler work is completed, a new FRA Form 4 will be calculated, and hopefully the locomotive will reenter service later this year.

The Wilmington and Western Railroad is owned and operated by Historic Red Clay Valley, Inc. The line was originally constructed in 1872 and became a branch of the B&O Railroad. The railroad and its equipment is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and motive power includes a 1907 Baldwin 0-6-0 from the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic, a PRR Doodlebug, #4662, and two EMC SW-1 desel electrics from 1940, one of which is original to the line as B&O power. The railroad also has a 1910 Canadian National 2-6-0 in out-of-service storage. Information on the railroad and its equipment can be found on the web at www.wwrr.com.

> Does anyone know how the rebuild of the
> Wilmington & Western's 4-4-0 No. 98 is
> coming along? I understand that the entire
> engine was diassembled and it is getting an
> A-1 overhaul for the first time ever in
> their new shop building. What has been done
> so far and is it close to running?


Wilmington and Western Railroad
rbailey@supernet.com

Thanks for the update, Ron. Sounds like 98 is in very good hands.

john

> Locomotive 98 of the Wilmington and Western
> Railroad, originally built by the American
> Locomotive Compaany in 1909 for the
> Mississippi Central, is indeed being
> rebuilt! The boiler has been removed from
> the frame. New firebox sheets have been
> manufactured by the Strasburg Railroad, and
> have been installed by Bob Yuill and
> employees from Historic Machinery Services.
> New crowfoot boiler braces were designed by
> Linn Moedinger and fabricated by the
> Strasburg, along with new flue sheets and a
> new smokebox. Currently Bob and staff from
> the W&W are installing all new
> staybolts, and the locomotive's air pump is
> being rebuilt by Bernie Watts in Colorado.

> The locomotive is being restored in full
> compliance with the new FRA Rules governing
> steam locomotives. Work remaining to be done
> includes installation of flues and the new
> smokebox, hydrotesting the boiler,
> installation of lagging, dome covers,
> jacketing, piping etc. A new ashpan is being
> fabricated, and restoration work will be
> completed on the cab, running gear, and
> tender. When the boiler work is completed, a
> new FRA Form 4 will be calculated, and
> hopefully the locomotive will reenter
> service later this year.

> The Wilmington and Western Railroad is owned
> and operated by Historic Red Clay Valley,
> Inc. The line was originally constructed in
> 1872 and became a branch of the B&O
> Railroad. The railroad and its equipment is
> listed on the National Register of Historic
> Places, and motive power includes a 1907
> Baldwin 0-6-0 from the Atlanta, Birmingham
> and Atlantic, a PRR Doodlebug, #4662, and
> two EMC SW-1 desel electrics from 1940, one
> of which is original to the line as B&O
> power. The railroad also has a 1910 Canadian
> National 2-6-0 in out-of-service storage.
> Information on the railroad and its
> equipment can be found on the web at
> www.wwrr.com.