I think this was discussed recently here, but what is the status of this engine's restoration at Steamtown?

Funny you should ask. A little ceremony held on Friday, Apr. 15 was held in the locomotive shop for presentation of the original whistle which this engine has been missing since the early 1960s. Dave Barnes, who presented the whistle to Steamtown staff and the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society, was given it by F. Nelson Blount. The whistle was used until recently at the Edaville Railroad. The whistle weighs 60 pounds and was given an air-powered "toot" during the ceremony. This may not fully answer your question, but a little event like this gets bigger exposure in the papers. A news article on staybolts and firebox repairs means little to the casual reader, but everyone understands what a whistle is. It's also a morale booster, when you can celebrate times like that, making the mundane firebox and staybolt work more bearable.

Josh,
Here is a brief list of what we have been up to on the B&M#3713.

As you may know, the entire locomotive has been sand blasted inside and out. This brought some new items of concern to light. We knew of some cracking in and around the fire box, (staybolt holes) and mud ring. After blasting, it was discovered that many more staybolt holes with cracks radiating from them than before blasting. It was determined that making a totally new firebox would be more economical than repairing all of the cracked holes. With the firebox removed, we were able to closely inspect the mud ring. Nearly 2/3rd's of the mud ring rivet holes need work. Many torch gouges and bell mouthed holes would need repair before riveting. All four corners are cracked. The tab where the two, sliding boiler shoes are mounted is badly rusted and needs repair. Again, it looks like a new mudring (or at least sections) will be made. The frame is in good shape. The drivers have some questionable areas. The trailing truck frame is bent and has a few cracks. We are working on a way to straighten it out.

Work is moving forward.

The smokebox shell is being put back together and the new liner and door ring will be riveted in soon. The smokebox front has been repaired completely and the door is getting a new liner. New boiler washout sleeves and plugs have been made and are threaded in place. New staybolt and rivets material is in house and will be made into bolts and rivets in the near future. Many of the appliances are being cleaned, inspected repaired (if needed) and reassembled. The main steam turret and valves have been cleaned and lapped.

These are most of the items that are in progress right now.

Bruce Mowbray

P.S. Thanks for asking about the #3713.