As made clear on the Mid Continent website www.1385.org/steamstatus2.html, the progress on the #2s boiler is slower then hoped, but real progress is coming along. Without a fulltime shop crew with unlimited funds to pay them it takes longer. Gary Bensman was at Milwaukee Boiler a few times this summer directing the slow process of repairs. Staybolt bushings are now welded in place on the outer side sheets. The purpose was to replace the oversized staybolts with 7/8 stays. The lower 26" of inner side sheets will be new material. I was told that the side sheet patches were fitted and layed out and are back at MC shops getting drilled out. The door sheets were formed and stress relieved from the company next door to Milwaukee Boiler. Sorry I don't have their name, but having there services next door is real handy. I think there is something like 450 staybolts to be replaced all together. There was also some riveting done on the backhead which had to be done before we could continue into the project. Some rivet holes had been reamed out to 1", they were welded up and drilled back to 7/8". The damaged front of the mud ring is replaced/welded in place The work is coming along slowly, but it is getting done right. Most of the boiler patches are already formed up, but the work must be done in a orderly fashion. When you fit a big patch in it looks like big progress, but it is all the small and tedious unseen work that takes so long. Unfortunately I am unable to help much because of school and work. Did get to help rivet back in the cool July weather. Passing hot rivets in July makes me glad I don't live in Savannah or FT Benning. To those down there it was probably quite pleasant out. Cheers. John.

What about WC&C 1?

Most recent status of WC&C #1 at the following links:
http://www.1385.org/steamstatus1.html
http://www.mcrwy.com/news/news12.html

Can't really help you out other than what is on the web site. They finished riveting the boiler courses and that is where the shop quit I think. Most of the shop crew is also the operating dept so they are busy in the summer running the trains and keeping the active equipment active. Heard some things about the welding of the rear flu sheet in, but that was hearsay and I don't think it was ever done. They had to do some more prep work before that could be put in by a contractor. Don't know the story on that one. I haven't been able to get down to MC much this summer and when I did I was involved in getting the UP #440 parts rounded up and taken to Antigo for that group. Keep looking on the web site for more progress on the Montreal #1, they add to that site pretty quickly these days. Thanks for the interest. John.