I found out the answer over on TO. Not sure why it seems to be such a secret but unless what I read is wrong it's going to the Roots of Motive Power where they have a 1/2 mile of track to run on. Again.. seems a shame she can't show off on the line in Oregon, I would love to just take a nice ride behind her. But I understand the owner gets to decide obviously.

If things were to fall right someday, that isolated museum trackage in Willits could possibly span a small creek and acquire a connection with the former NWP right within yard limits. This would give the group a choice of either trying to extend operation North to the old siding of Longvale, a distance of approx. 13 miles. Pretty flat, steel bridges and at least one tunnel. The other direction South to Ukiah , would be about 25 miles with a steep grade out of town.

Just musing here, but I can't help but think that this has already been quietly thought about in the past by some of those that are heavily involved.

Agreed, what a shame and waste to be locked to a 1/2 mile loop. Looking at a map, that museum seems very land locked with buildings surrounding it. Might be quite hard to get a connection to the NWP.

You'd think if you spent that much on it, you'd want to see it be somewhere where it could actually run and pull tourist trains etc.

No one mentioned California Western

The railroad, via a FB post, says Skookum is "out and about".

Great news!

Indeed it is!! Sounds like they got that bent steel fixed already!!

And apparently Why metal got bent and How it was fixed and corrected will remain a secret?

From the Trains Newswire story today (currently not behind a paywall):

"Parts that had been bent on the low pressure engineer side were straightened, machined, and re-installed. Then the engine was towed in the yard to make sure all running gear parts were moving freely. Then a fire was lit and Skookum’s boiler brought up to working pressure of 200 psi.

Team Skookum diagnosed the problems suffered by Skookum’s low pressure engine as a timing issue that actually originating in the high pressure engine valve train. Once this was corrected with new keys made to set the high pressure eccentrics and installed, the bind in the low pressure mechanism went away, and Skookum was ready to be tested."

For the full article, click here: http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/20 ... s-resolved

Maybe somebody smarter than I am can explain how having the rear high pressure engine's valve gear out of whack cause the front engine's valve jam and turn the valve gear into a pretzel.

Most low pressure steam engine cylinders are designed for about 60-80 PSI if I remember my triple expansion steam engine setups right. The middle cylinder of those was low pressure the 3rd was very low pressure. Well you hit a cylinder designed for 80 PSI with a full shot of 200 PSI steam when it expands to try and condense back into water and things are going to break and bend. The back cylinders where exhausting to soon feeding higher than expected pressure steam into the front cylinders and things got bent. It would be like shoving a turbo from a C15 Cat OTR engine onto a VETC Honda 2 liter. Things are going to shatter.

i.e. too much pressure on the slide valve, causing it to seize, and then the momentum of the wheelset bending the return crank and link motion.

It's Facebook video, but I think you should be able to see it.

https://www.facebook.com/martin.hansen. ... 8845774357

.

I’m glad people took notice to the silly “explanation” of why the valve gear got all bent out of shape.......
Further showing they are not willing to admit and explain what in all really happened.

I’m more curious as to how exactly the parts were repaired. From a few people that were at the charter I’m told the parts were bent more then once.......curious as to their integrity now if they decided to try to repair again.