Here in the Bay Area a local steam restoration is the Robert Dollar 2-6-2 logging engine. The Pacific Locomotive Association is making good progress in getting it ready to run on their Niles Canyon Railway. Can anyone comment on when it will steam? Or if the loco is going to run with a tank or a tender?A volunteer there told me that they has some parts made in Strasburg, PA. What did they need?I understand that the engine was worked hard and every moving part needs work of some sort. Is this true.Ted Miles

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Ted:The PLA has been working on the #3 since we acquired it from Rio Vista in 1998. The project has been a long and difficult one as you mentioned the engine was beat up pretty bad during its service life. The engine will be restored as a tank engine. However, our major problem has been re-engineering and remaking parts (an example is the valve gear parts Strasburg made for us) that "disappeared" during the acquisition. We have couple major projects left and as we are an all volunteer organization determining when it will be running again is difficult - but we hope no more than another year. Of course, donations and any volunteer help would help speed the process up.