Does anyone know if Black River and Western #60 will be completed in time for excursions this year?

Thanks

steven.emerson@verizon.net

The BR&W Yahoo group is reporting that NYS&W No. 142 may be running steam trips on the Bel-Del this Spring!!

> Does anyone know if Black River and Western
> #60 will be completed in time for excursions
> this year?

> Thanks

> Does anyone know if Black River and Western
> #60 will be completed in time for excursions
> this year?

> Thanks

Steve,

If #60 is ready this year it would most likely be in late 2004.

I know that initial Draft of the FRA Form 4 has been completed and the calculations are being re-verified prior to submission (the numbers were within acceptable limits to attain the MAWP of the boiler).

Once that has been completed I've been told that the initial boiler inspection will be scheduled soon so that the re-tubing of the boiler can begin.

Hope this helps.


dave@hensarling.org

The Belvidere & Delaware River RR (BDRV), a sister operation of the BR&W, running on the riverside line between Phillipsburg and Milford. The original Bel-Del ran from Trenton to Belvidere, and was later a PRR property.

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

Scenic PRR branch extending northwards up the northern bank of the Delaware River from Trenton to Belvidere NJ. Originally the independent Belvidere Delaware Railroad Company. A portion is now operated by BR&W:

http://www.brwrr.com/Freight/bdrv059.htm

BRW's Bel-Del
eledbetter@rypn.org

"Bel-Del" is short for the Belvidere and Delaware Railroad which extended from Trenton, NJ to Belvidere, NJ and ran along the east bank of the Delaware River. It eventually became a branch of the PRR. The southern portion of the line was torn up in the 70's - 80's (?). The northern portion was cut back from Belvidere to Philipsburg around the same time or a few years earlier, I think.

The remaining portion, from Philipsburg south, is part of the Black River and Western system.

I grew up right across the river, and in the winter when the leaves were off the trees, could see the trains from a upstairs window. The first train pictures I ever took, with an old Ansco snapshot camera were of a PRR doodlebug making one of the last passenger runs on the line. The pix are blurry and I didn't wait for the train to get close enough, so they aren't much to look at, but they are memorable for me. The doodlebug's number was 4662, and it happens to be one of the few that have survived. It's presently on the Wilmington & Western, but I have yet to go see it in person.

Dick

rwilkes99@yahoo.com

You've got to give BR&W credit. #60 was purchased from Great Western in the early '60's(?) and has been in operation more or less ever since (40+ years!) Yes, it takes the crews with limited time & resources several years to get her out of the shop, but she'll be out. How many other locomotives have been in operation on small, family-owned tourist railways for that length of time? BR&W: Keep the (coal) flame burning!

mrcooltrains@yahoo.com

No. 60 passing the Birds elevator near Loveland in 1946, a long way from New Jersey.

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00012146+OP-12146
ryarger@rypn.org

Dave,

All the boiler work in the world won't help the engine until it has its drivers reprofiled, and other assorted running gear work attended to. Last I heard, 60's drivers are so badly "dished" that the FRA reportedly told them the engine is a no-go until the tires are cut.

Of course, when the previous BRW master mechanic thought the answer to the running gear problems was by replacing all the hard grease fittings with soft (and selling off the alemite gun), one might expect some of those "needs" to have since been forgotten ... :-)

IMHO, anytime in 2004 is a longshot. I'm thinking 2005 at best ...

> If #60 is ready this year it would most
> likely be in late 2004.

> I know that initial Draft of the FRA Form 4
> has been completed and the calculations are
> being re-verified prior to submission (the
> numbers were within acceptable limits to
> attain the MAWP of the boiler).

> Once that has been completed I've been told
> that the initial boiler inspection will be
> scheduled soon so that the re-tubing of the
> boiler can begin.

> Hope this helps.


Fiv4HghStk@aol.com